› added 9 years ago

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TIL in the mid-1800s USA, “Native American” political parties (descendants from the original 13 colonies) grew popularity because many thought new Catholic, Irish and German immigrants “followed authoritarian leaders, imported crime and disease, stole native jobs, and practiced moral depravities.”

4kEQJ Today I learned that a rooster was prosecuted in Switzerland for laying eggs and thus, going against the laws of nature in the 15th century and again in the 18th century. The rooster was condemned to be burned alive in public.
yP8v TIL of the Brabham formula 1 fan car. Fans were used to suck air out from under the car. Air-tight ‘hover-car like’ skirts allowed the fans to develop negative pressure beneath the chassis. This effectively allowed the car to 'stick to the road’. It won its only race before being banned.
jNjkN TIL the original Pong game created by Al Alcorn had a glitch that would make the paddles on both sides not go all the way to the top. This was due to a defect in the circuit. Alcorn wanted to fix it but decided it was important because two good players would have played forever if it had been fixed.
nJQr TIL that Nestle actively supports child trafficking and child slavery in Africa to obtain cocoa. Several organizations have been trying to end Nestle’s involvement, and in 2005 Nestle signed an ILO agreement to stop supporting child labor. 10 years later, Nestle hasn’t stopped.
ne6KB TIL collecting toad sperm is easy; many release it in urine. Scoop 'em up and they urinate/ejaculate in fear. But what if they don't? According to Diane Barber of Fort Worth Zoo: "It's kind of weird, but if you hold them in your hand and look at them and bark at them like a dog, then they will pee".