› added 6 years ago

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TIL that in 1667 the Dutch were given the rich, nutmeg producing island of Run in the Pacific by the British. In return the British were given a swampy backwater island: Manhatten.

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Ry91 TIL of illegal “Gutter Oil” in China, where raw sewage and other waste is boiled down to make cooking oil, which is then used by street vendors and restaurants to cook with.
DVEg TIL A nurse was in vegetative state for 42 years after sexual assault while the perpetrator was out of prison in 14 years. She recently died.
pEwG TIL an estimated 400 women disguised themselves as men to fight in the US Civil War, including one whose cover was blown when she absentmindedly tried to put her pants on over her head, thinking they were her dress
d8WOB TIL Mars, Inc. refused to let Universal use its M&M products for the 1982 movie "E.T." because they found the E.T. character to be terrifying and ugly. Hershey agree to have Reese’s Pieces be used in the film, which boosted company profits by an incredible 65% during the film's release.
Y7MQW TIL that “under the weather,” meaning, feeling ill, is from sailors. On the high seas when the wind blow hard and rough water crewmen would go below deck and down to their cabins in order to ride out the storm to avoid seasickness. They literally retreat to a location “under the weather"