› added 11 years ago

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TIL dust / dirt devils are called “djin” meaning “genie” or “devil” in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Kazakhstan, and Jordan. This is where the mythical genie came from and why genies are typically depicted without legs.

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MbD8 TIL that refining a 42 gallon barrel of crude oil yields 20gal gasoline, 7gal diesel, and 17gal of petroleum byproducts such as propane, ammonia and plastic material, totaling 44 gallons; a net gain of 2 gallons.
N7D5e TIL that South Korea is the second leading consumer of Spam. Spam was introduced in Korea during WWII, and it was "godsend" for people in Korea and Japan who were starving as result of the war. Koreans view Spam as a delicacy and it is a popular gift item for the Lunar New Year.
N79ob TIL Barter wasn't what societies used before money. Gift-giving and credit were the main means of exchanging goods and services.
l710B TIL The British Post Office falsely prosecuted over 700 Postmasters for fraud and theft due to a faulty computer system
yVB5J TIL that there is little evidence that antioxidants in the diet prevent disease. Some antioxidant supplements actually increased lung cancer rates in smokers, while others increased rates of heart failure and stroke.