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TIL about Don Ritchie, "The Angel of the Gap", who, over the course of his life, successfully talked down over 160 people from jumping at a popular suicide spot near Sydney, Australia. For his efforts he was awarded the Order of Australia medal in 2006.

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6EGLY TIL 7 years after the Republic was established, Mao Zedong allowed people to express their opinions on the way the country was being run in a campaign called the Hundred Flowers Campaign. Once this happened,those who said things against the government who were then jailed or unheard of since.
OYXe TIL the U.S. is the only country that does not dip its flag to the host country at the Olympics opening ceremonies. When the U.S. flag-holder was asked to do so for King Edward VII at the 1908 London games, he supposedly responded, “This flag dips to no earthly king.”
EgZQd TIL that percentages are reversible
4w5N TIL Kids are more inclined to turn to their pets than their siblings for support when faced with adversity. This is even though they know their pets don’t actually understand what they are saying.
v1gVj TIL Gene Roddenberry lost control over Star Trek after TOS