› added 4 years ago

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TIL that Saddam Hussein had a copy of the Qur’an written in blood, which is considered blasphemous in Islam. However, destroying it is not allowed under Islam either, so the book still exists and Iraqi authorities still haven’t decided what to do with it

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via reddit.com

WVV4 TIL that in the late 1970s, the US Government sprayed Paraquat (a deadly herbicide) on Mexican Cannabis fields and subsequently warned Americans that the chemical rendered Marijuana unsafe to smoke in order to deter users.
5YxlR TIL Washington, DC, is home to one of the largest Ethiopian populations in the world, 2nd only to that of Ethiopia’s capital, Addis Ababa. While official census data shows about 30,000 Ethiopians in the DC area, others estimate that the true number is closer to 250,000.
MeGNm TIL that in 1990, a pilot was partially sucked out of his plane when the windscreen failed. The cabin crew couldn't pull him back in so he dangled outside the plane for 20 minutes until the copilot landed the plane. The pilot made a full recovery.
7r7L TIL Raccoons can figure out how to open several complex locks in less than 10 tries, and they can remember solutions to tasks for up to 3 years.
xV9Lo TIL that Paris holds an annual contest to find the city’s best baguette. Around 200 bakers each submit two baguettes (must be eligible) to be graded on quality, look, smell, taste, and crunch. The winner wins €4000 and a contract to supply the French president fresh baguettes every day for 1 year.