› added 10 years ago

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TIL in 1971, a woman petitioned a Judge for permission to sterilize her “somewhat retarded” daughter. Without a hearing, evidence, or representation for the daughter, the judge granted permission. The daughter later tried to sue the judge, but the Supreme Court voted 5-3 to grant the judge immunity.

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E189P TIL that hockey goalie Clint Malarchuks throat got slashed by skate during a live NHL game, the injury was so bad that 11 fans fainted, 2 got heart attack and at least 3 players vomited on the ice. The wound was so bad that it needed 300 stiches. Clint was back on ice just a week later.
Wkkwd TIL Nude hiking is not allowed in Appenzell, Switzerland. If caught, nude hikers can be fined for practicing "immoral habits".
6EyK8 TIL Qian Xuesen was a Chinese scientist/colonel in the US army partially responsible for helping America go to space. But because of racism, he was deported to China. He was the father of Chinese rocketry and is one of the reasons why China is a world power today with ICBMS.
8eBlP TIL Philip Oakey of The Human League did not want "Don't You Want Me" to be released as a single because he thought the song was a "poor quality filler track." He finally agreed on the condition that a poster accompany the single so fans wouldn't "feel ripped off." The song became their biggest hit.
m56E TIL 60% of gun-related deaths in the U.S. are suicides (see 4th and 5th leading cause of death in far-right “Total” column) [PDF].