› added 11 years ago

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TIL Yahoo gave the Chinese government access to the e-mail of two pro-democracy journalists who were subsequently imprisoned for 10 years for “incitement to subvert state power”.

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D0Re TIL Carrots used to be grown in a range of colors. Until the Dutch wiped out all the others apart from orange.
BrxKb TIL that Malaria is theorized to have killed half of all humans who have ever lived (Approx 50 Billion people).
BlxL TIL that Dragonflies have a high power/weight ratio, and have been documented accelerating at 4 G linearly and 9 G in sharp turns while pursuing prey.
R5x78 TIL about the Book Women: during the Great Depression women would ride packhorses loaded with books to rural Appalachian towns, the Pack Horse Library project aimed to promote literacy.
wLK7P TIL New Zealands first tank (the Bob Semple tank) was built from a tractor, sheet metal and 6 machine guns. When ridiculed for the design Bob Semple said "I don’t see anyone else coming up with any better ideas."