› added 12 years ago

182

TIL Mexico City is sinking 8 inches per year

Read more news.bbc.co.uk

via reddit.com

Lk5d0 TIL that the most successful pirate in history was a Chinese hooker.
pkeQ TIL that the word CURFEW comes from “cover fire” and dates back to the Middle Ages, when people were required to cover their fires by a certain time of night.
5VDOD TIL about IIMSAM. A geopolitical entity recognized by the UN, but who's treaties all seem to be fraudulent, as well as their status in international law being practically nonexistent. One of their only confirmed treaties being with a micronation, and it seems as if this entity barely exist at all.
N7ewQ TIL there was only 1 victim of credit card fraud in Canada 2016. They lost $214.
DdbJ TIL carob seeds were used to verify the purity of gold. A solidus (pure gold coin) would equal 24 carob seeds. Any variation indicated impurity. Carat, the measure of purity of gold, is derived from Carob seeds and even today pure gold is called 24 carat.