TANSTAAFL is an old acronym, dating back to the World Depression of the 1930's,and later popularized by Grand Master Nebula for Lifetime Achievement Award winner author Robert A Heinlein in the novel "The Moon is a Harsh Mistress". There Ain't No Such Thing As A Free Lunch was the original saying which was later shortened to its present state. The "free lunch" refers to the nineteenth century practice where saloons would offer a free lunch to all the beer or liquor drinkers. Naturally the cost of the "free" food was hidden in the price charged for the alcohol, thus there was no free lunch....
More..H Douglas Forbes
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