› added 12 years ago

138

TIL there is country that ranks lower than North Korea in the Press Freedom Index, which measures how much freedom journalists have. Eritrea surpassed North Korea as the bottom spot in 2007 and has held it since.

Read more rsf.org

via reddit.com

6ngw TIL during the 1936 Olympics, Liechtenstein and Haiti realized their national flags were identical. A gold crown was added to Liechtenstein’s as a result.
R5k5a TIL Paul Winchell was a comedian/ventriloquist who invented one of the earliest artificial hearts. Winchell also invented a flameless cigarette lighter, a garter belt without visible lines, and owned over 30 patents.
KwK6 TIL The most prolific female serial killer in history, Elizabeth Bathory, sexually abused, tortured, and killed over 600 young women.
1axP7 TIL that in 2016 France blocked an attempt by Belgium to issue a 2-euro coin commemorating the anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo. Using a loophole in Eurozone guidelines, Belgium simply minted a 2.50-euro commemorative coin and put it into circulation anyway
JNbl TIL when Disney Characters from different stories are featured together on posters and puzzles, Disney never lets them make eye contact in an attempt to keep their individuality intact. Each stares off in a slightly different direction as if unaware of the others’ presence.