› added 7 months ago

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TIL Dian Fossey, the conservationist who lived with Gorillas for several years, was murdered while doing research in Rwanda

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GoBN TIL that when medieval Islamic scholar al-Biruni was trying to determine the exact position of qibla (the Muslim direction for prayer), he realized that a vast span of Earth’s land was unaccounted for in the modern maps of the time. This turned out to be the American continent.
oZZA TIL that Odin, a precursor to Santa Claus, rode Sleipnir, an Eight legged flying horse. In the winter, Odin gave out both gifts and punishments, and children would fill their boots or stockings with treats for Sleipnir.
Xear TIL that in Turkish, the bird we call a Turkey is called “Hindi” (“from India”). In India, it’s called “Peru.” In Arabic, the bird is called “Greek chicken”; in Greek it’s called “French chicken”; and in French it’s called “Indian chicken.” The bird is indigenous to none of these places.
ADXJo TIL charges were dropped on an Australian man for displaying the word "C*NT" on a public billboard because judges ruled the word as 'commonplace vernacular that is not deemed offensive' in Australia.
GYAw5 TIL: The NHS in the UK had only one man registered as a rectal teaching assistant, offering his anus to be examined by trainee doctors. TIAL: He has lost his job to a robot anus.