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TIL of a book entitled Atlanta Nights that was written by a group of sci-fi authors to be intentionally terrible as a test for the publisher PublishAmerica. It included a chapter containing computer generated random sentences and two word for word identical chapters. The publisher accepted it.

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loZja TIL about the Sacred Band of Thebes, an elite group of Theban Greek warriors composed of 150 couples of male lovers.
vDdj TIL in 1971, a woman petitioned a Judge for permission to sterilize her “somewhat retarded” daughter. Without a hearing, evidence, or representation for the daughter, the judge granted permission. The daughter later tried to sue the judge, but the Supreme Court voted 5-3 to grant the judge immunity.
Xw8 TIL that cats are directly responsible, over the years, for the extinction of no fewer than 33 bird species worldwide. Meow
YpREA TIL Sir Walter Raleigh, British explorer and historian, first brought the potato to Ireland and planted them at his Irish estate. His cooks, who had never cooked potato before, served the leaves and stems (which are poisonous) making everyone sick. Potatoes were then banned from the court.
M7Kd8 TIL Segregation academies are private, mostly Christian, schools founded after Brown v. Board of Education to prevent white children from having to go to school with black children. Many remain open today.