› added 12 years ago

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TIL that Google Earth was originally called Earth Viewer and was created by Keyhole, Inc., a company who were partially funded by the CIA via venture capital firm In-Q-Tel that invests in high-tech companies for the sole purpose of keeping the CIA equipped with the latest in information technology.

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N7agP TIL: In the 1980's, Catholic priests were dying of AIDS at a rate four to six times higher than the general population despite being celibate.
w6o6 TIL during his time as President of South Africa, Thabo Mbeki banned the use of antiretroviral drugs in hospitals because he did not believe HIV caused AIDS. During his presidency over 330,000 people died of AIDS.
R7vpl TIL Beethoven was once asked to an improvisational battle by a rival (Daniel Steibelt). During the duel, Beethoven took a piece of his rival's music, turned it upside-down, then improvised on that theme for over an hour. Steibelt left halfway through the performance.
VBdJk TIL the reason why schools start on September is because a holiday in the summer meant that children could work on the fields with their parents
JYyeQ TIL about "Roar," a 1981 comedy dubbed "the most dangerous movie ever made." Most of the crew was injured by untrained animals. Cinematographer Jan de Bont was scalped by a lion, and star Melanie Griffith received 50 stitches and nearly lost an eye. It cost $17 million but made only $2 million.