› added 9 years ago

402

TIL: Walmart uses 22 shell companies to avoid paying taxes.

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oaOW TIL the Toyota prius is described as “the biggest user of rare earths of any object in the world” as each battery pack uses 10–15 kg (22–33 lb) of lanthanum, and each electric motor contains 1 kg (2 lb) of neodymium
Wk5O8 TIL a Romanian urban planning program referred to as Systematization, implemented under communist leader Ceaușescu, forced people in Bucharest to move en masse to apartments. Many abandoned their dogs in the process, creating a stray dog problem that persists today.
gMoK4 TIL That during Eurovision 1978 the Jordanian broadcaster censored the Israeli performance, instead showing pictures of flowers. When it became apparent that Israel would win, the broadcast was cut off and it was announced that Belgium had won instead.
6EBeZ TIL at Gettysburg a Union regiment sacrificed itself by charging into a Confederate force that outnumbered them 5 to 1. They suffered 82% casualties in 5 minutes, including the commander. However they managed to buy time for Union forces to establish defensive positions that stopped Pickett's charge
EgrV7 TIL in 2009, Stephen Hawking threw an open party for everyone, only announcing it after it was finished to ensure that only time-travelers knew about it. Unsurprisingly, no one came up.