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TIL The creator of The Sims, Will Wright, was inspired to make the game after losing his home and most of his material possessions in a fire in 1997. Thinking about the value of material needs as he rebuilt his life gave him the idea of a game where players managed the life of a suburban household.

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4k6Og TIL that It is believed that the idea of a ladder was used over 10,000 years ago. Cave paintings of them were discovered in a cave in Spain. Whoever invited the first ladder is still unknown.
mxrnv TIL that in Washington state you can challenge someone to mutual combat and fight in the street. Both parties have a free pass to engage in violence with their bare fists with no weapons. As long as both parties consent to the fight, the police will allow it to occur.
1aDpO TIL Tom Hanks Steve Martin, and Martin Short have their colonoscopies done together and even ride in the same car...
x6KNB TIL of Toussaint Louverture, the most prominent leader of the Haitian Revolution. Born a slave, his tactical brilliance and commitment to freedom resulted in the abolition of slavery in Haiti in 1793. His leadership saw the island emerge as the first independent republic in Latin America in 1804.
7rBeM TIL that "the Defenestration of Prague" was an actual historic event that shaped world history and led to 8 million deaths. (Yes, they really mean "defenestration". I never knew how that hilarious word came to be, but turns out this is the origin.)