› added 11 years ago

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TIL that Japan was almost completely isolated from the outside world for over 200 years between the 17th and 19th centuries due to a policy called “Sakoku”. No foreigner could enter and no Japanese could leave the country under penalty of death.

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XPw8 TIL that Brazil participated in WW2, the only independent South American country to do so. The 25,000-troop Brazilian Expeditionary Force worked alongside the Allies, and managed to take 20,573 Axis prisoners, consisting of two generals, 892 officers and 19,679 other ranks.
v1bG4 TIL Apple doesn't own the iOS name and trademark but licenses it from Cisco Systems
1lED TIL The plane crash deaths of Stephen Colbert’s father and two brothers was the catalyst for the “sterile cockpit” rule, prohibiting flight crews from participating in any activities or conversation outside of their flying duties while the aircraft is below 10,000 feet
m11jO TIL of the Sydney Tar Ponds, an area in Sydney, Nova Scotia where a local steel mill was continuously pouring over 750,000 tons of sludge and toxic chemicals into the area for over 100 years. The $400m cleanup finished by burying the sludge in concrete and turning it into a local park.
Ap4l TIL In the 1996 Paralympics in Atlanta, 11 athletes were sent home after cheating their way into favorable classes. At the Sydney games in 2000, the Spanish mentally handicapped basketball team won the gold medal. It later turned out that 10 players were completely healthy