› added 2 weeks ago

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TIL about Penelope, the platypus who escaped the Bronx Zoo in 1957. After multiple rejections of her mate and a faked pregnancy, headlines dubbed Penelope a "brazen hussy" and "one of those saucy females who like to keep a male on a string"

OGODa TIL about Victor Jara: an artist and activist who supported the Socialist Chilean government. After the coup in 1973, Jara was imprisoned by Pinochet’s regime. He was tortured and shot over 40 times, before his body was put on display for other prisoners.
vKgB TIL on January 27, 1992, then President George H. W. Bush said that he wanted the American family to be more like the Waltons than the Simpsons. Matt Groening responded by making a short segment in which Bart said, “Hey, we’re just like the Waltons. We’re praying for an end to the Depression, too.
4XO4g TIL of TABOR, the Taxpayer Bill of Rights, which currently only exists in Colorado. It ties tax revenue increases to population & inflation, and larger increases have to be put to a vote. The author was named Douglas Bruce, and efforts to find work-arounds are known as "de-Brucing."
XZvR TIL The “Body Mass Index” (BMI) was never intended to be applied to individuals but continues to be used as such because it is, “quicker, easier, and cheaper.”
MeKN7 TIL One night, Audra H. fainted and hit her head on a table with only her cat, Shad, at home. Shad dialed 911. The responding officer, who had a hard time believing the cat had learned to call 911, set up his dash cam and Audra simulated a fainting spell. Shad rose to the occasion and made the call.