› added 11 years ago

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TIL a 2005 supreme court decision declared that it is NOT the duty of any police force in the US to protect citizens, just enforce laws.

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69V7w TIL the world's longest constitution was the Constitution of Alabama from 1901-2022. At 388,882 words, it was 51 times longer than the U.S. Constitution and 12 times longer than the average U.S. state constitution.
R8Dw TIL the U.S. pays Cuba monthly rent for Guantanamo but the checks are never cashed
yQaQX TIL the phrase "running amok" comes from a folk sickness in Malay/Indonesian cultures in which a man with no violent history will attempt to kill anyone he encounters in a sudden frenzy. It is thought an evil tiger spirit entered his body, therefore no ill will is held towards the man afterwards.
7rVQ7 TIL about Krista & Tatiana Hogan. Conjoined twins with a thalamic bridge allowing them to know each other's thoughts and share senses, yet each retains a distinct sense of self. Biologist Peter Watts has described them as the first natural hivemind of the human species (second source in comments)
AN0Po TIL the way the sun "gives" people vitamin D is by converting cholesterol in the skin to vitamin D.