› added 4 years ago

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TIL in 2005 Sony BGM released copy protection measures on 22 millions CDs that was classified as 'spyware' and installed itself on user's computers without permission causing a wide range of security and provacy concerns

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jdnQ TIL that pencils are yellow because, in the 1890’s, the world’s best pencil graphite came from China. In China, the color yellow is associated with royalty, so American pencil manufacturers started painting their pencils yellow to indicate they contained high-quality Chinese graphite.
8arQ8 TIL that five Lithuanian soldiers serving in a reconnaissance unit were declared missing during a military exercise. They thought the drill was ongoing and successfully evaded all forces sent to find them, including trained dogs and a helicopter
6EwXl TIL that in Australia, from late August to late October(during their mating season), Magpies attack anything, including dogs and cats, that gets close to their territory/nest. It is known as “Magpie Swooping Season”
ZDd4 TIL to justify the > $1 trillion spent on counter terrorism since 9/11, homeland security would have had to prevent more than 4 dozen deaths and $400 million dollars of damage from terrorist attacks in the US per day… NOT counting the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.
BrwVk TIL that the African Spiny Mouse can release it's skin (like a lizard releases it's tail) on attack and completely regrow it. This feature, which is called autotomy, has given hope for replicating regeneration capabilities in humans. The African Spiny Mouse is the only known mammal, to do this.