› added 4 years ago

54

TIL The government in various states used to call their electric chair "Old Sparky"

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eplr6 TIL: When St. Patrick was 16 years old, he was captured by Irish pirates. His enslavement eventually led to his conversion to Christianity.
kakg TIL that in Ethiopia ‘marriage by abduction,’ which is often followed by rape and forced pregnancy accounts for 69% of all the nation’s marriages.
X0Xyr TIL The water boatman insect, which is 2mm long, sings at an amazing 99.2 decibels, which is the equivalent of standing by a hurtling freight train., making it the loudest animal for its size yet discovered. Even more impressive is that it makes this sound by rubbing its penis on its belly.
v1rjR TIL that despite no longer possessing any territory, the Sovereign Military Order of Malta (founded in 1099) is considered to be a sovereign entity under international law. They maintain relations with over 100 countries, had their own air force until the 1950s, and are recognized by the UN.
Erjd TIL more than 500 Indian workers were lured into working for shipyards in America with the promise of American citizenship. The company sent them into a labor camp, held their passports, extorted them with lies about various fees, and threatened them with legal and physical harm.