› added 8 months ago

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TIL I learned that Andy Weir, author of the Martian, worked at Blizzard Entertainment to make Warcraft II

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lWO1 TIL that Mark Twain blew the bulk of his book profits and his wife’s inheritance investing in the failed Paige typesetting machine, the inflation-adjusted equivalent of $8million USD, which lead him to file bankruptcy in 1894.
v1edr TIL In the Netherlands sex is seen as a human right, disabled citizens can get grants for legal prostitutes up to 12 times a year. Reports show this has significantly reduced depression and suicide rates among the disabled, many of whom have previously never had the chance to have sex before.
nObY TIL that Lactase Persistence, the ability of humans to digest milk as an adult, is only common among Europeans and those of European ancestry, as a unique mutation. Most of the global population, including 90% of Asians and 100% of Native Americans, have some degree of lactose intolerance.
X0P8X TIL they eat what is known as “Fairy Bread” in Australia and New Zealand, which consists of slices of white bread topped with butter or margarine and colored sugar sprinkles.
AKd7 TIL that there is a non-profit organization that provides free course books. Free, not pirated. The organization is funded by the likes of Bill and Melinda Gates foundation, Rice University and the Hewlett Foundation and aims at making higher education available to more people.