› added 4 years ago

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TIL that there's something called Bechdel Test which measures the representation of women in fiction, asking whether the work features at least two women who talk to each other about something other than a man.

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kQN4 Today I learned that under Mao Zedong, a dentist was executed for malicious slander for comparing a mango to a sweet potato.
XEOv8 TIL that Polynesians may have traveled to the Americas in pre-columbian times. Sweet potatoes originated from the Americas were found in the islands when Cpt. Cook discovered them. The Maori word for sweet potato "kumala" is almost the same as the Quechuan's word "k'umara" for sweet potato.
jrBQ TIL The NDAA act of 2013 amended the Smith-Mundt act of 1948. Legalizing the use of propaganda and psychological manipulation (lies) against American citizens.
jNY1M TIL that a 12-minute Hobbit "movie" was made in 1967 because the production company was about to lose the film rights unless a movie was released. It was produced quickly and cheaply, released on the very last day the rights would expire. Tolkien had to pay $100,000 to get the rights back.
woL0E TIL about the XF-84H airplane, which was so loud it caused ground crew members to throw up.