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TIL Middle East deserts were once home to rivers, lush green grassland with hippos: Study

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5Y54P TIL that there’s going to be a backup of the backup of the internet located in Canada, to shield data from some possible American legal action.
QJGYe TIL Beauty and the Beast was written in 1740 as a critique of the forced marriages between 13-15 yr old girls to adult men common at the time. Later versions shifted the emphasis to teach young girls "good manners and how to deal with the idea of marrying young and being in an arranged marriage."
J17Am TIL in Beijing 2012, a Ferrari crashed during sex-orgy between a naked driver and 2 women. Driver (who died) was son of Ling Jihua, Chief-of-Staff serving then Chinese President Hu Jintao. Ling reportedly denied body was his son when visiting morgue. He was eventualy sentenced to life for corruption
9YEKB TIL Saint Augustine of Hippo almost married a 10 year old heiress when he was 31. He had to wait 2 more years for the legal marriage age of 12, but became a Catholic Priest before the marriage could happen.
QNvK6 TIL that the smiley face was invented way back in 1963 by Harvey Ross Ball an American graphic artist