› added 6 years ago

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TIL: When Nintendo released the SNES in November 1990, it sold 300,000 units within hours; the ensuing social uproar led the Japanese gov to request all future gaming consoles be released on weekends. The Yakuza also took notice of the release; Nintendo shipped the systems at night to avoid robbery.

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yQrbl TIL the Russian Standard Bank was founded by entrepreneur Roustam Tariko in the 90s to circumvent the advertisement ban of alcohol in Russia and promote his Vodka, the Russian Standard. Today, it is the largest consumer bank in Russia and Tariko is one of the most successful bankers in Europe.
0mBL TIL that Jesus was described as a short, bald, hook-nosed, ugly man without a beard by all his apostles. His European features were actually modeled after Cesare Borgia, Pope Alexander VI’s murderous son.
l7Bpa TIL: In 1965, Heinz Holzapfel, his wife Jutta and son, fled the communist east Berlin ziplining from a government building over the Berlin Wall.
1Wm7 TIL America’s main beers (Budweiser, Coors, etc) are light and relatively flavorless due to WWII making them rely on cheaper ingredients
kJvME TIL there is a maid café in Japan where maids pretend to be your wives. Inside, a delicious home-cooked meal is ready on the table…oh, and she’s wearing a bikini. Also, the cafe in question is obviously still in operation today, after 7 years.