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TIL that in 1981 a UK politician tried to have Space Invaders banned - arguing it caused ‘deviancy’. The bill was narrowly defeated by 114 votes to 94

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wLL87 TIL Dennis Hopper went on T.V. and told a story about how Rip Torn pulled a knife on him. Torn sued for defamation and won. Hopper had to pay compensatory but not punitive. Hopper later appealed the ruling. Appellate not only upheld the decision but also made him pay another $475,000 in punitive.
Arbl TIL Ford released the ECOnetic line of cars in 2008 that average 65 MPG (US), and there are currently no plans to release it in the US.
5BE9 TIL Oklahoma passed California last year as the most seismically active state in the continental U.S.
D1Dbr TIL Christopher Columbus had experienced a hurricane or tropical storm in 1495 near Hispaniola, the first known recorded and reported hurricane ever. He later declared that "nothing but the service of God and the extension of the monarchy" would induce him to expose himself to such danger.
ZpmYa TIL that two hurricanes can merge sometimes forming a larger, stronger hurricane. It's called the "Fujiwhara effect."