› added 11 years ago

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TIL that the most powerful pirate in history was Ching Shih, a Chinese woman that commanded the Red Flag Fleet, which the British, Portuguese and the Qing dynasty were unable to defeat. She also instituted a Pirate Code.

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xpno TIL In 2009, scientists at India’s Defense Research and Development Organization announced plans to use ghost peppers in hand grenades, as a non-lethal way to flush out terrorists from their hideouts. It would also be developed into pepper spray as a self-defense/anti-rape product.
Br9yk TIL about Superman vs. Muhammad Ali, an oversize celebrity comic book published by DC Comics in 1978. The 72-page book features Superman teaming up with the heavyweight boxing champion Muhammad Ali to defeat an alien invasion of Earth, but first they have fight each other in a boxing match.
yNp8 TIL that during WWI, a lone Portuguese soldier convinced the Germans that they were fighting against an entire unit.
Ga8G TIL A homemade speedboat built in an Australian backyard has held the Water Speed Record of 511.11 km/h (317.521 mph) since 1978
vPeo7 TIL that the closing song, "(I've Had) The Time of My Life", from the movie Dirty Dancing, has been listed as the "third most popular song played at funerals" in the UK