› added 7 years ago

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TIL Candace Bergen’s ventriloquist father left $10,000 to his dummy, Charlie McCarthy, and $0 to her. Charlie also had his own bedroom, which was bigger than hers. She also recalls "A gentle squeeze on the back of my neck was my cue to open and shut my mouth so he could ventriloquize me.”

O1aY TIL there is a tree is known as a “novice tree” because only one unfamiliar with the tree would dare touch it, soon discovering that the ants that live inside it are aggressive and venomous.
xV7M7 TIL Alaric, who became King of the Visigoths and sacked Rome in 410 CE, was conscripted as a Roman soldier earlier in his life. While fighting in the Alpine passes, he likely learned the weaknesses of Rome's natural defenses.
4kvDg TIL of Père Fouettard, the antithesis of Santa Claus (St. Nicholas) who would accompany Santa and dispense coal and beating to bad children while Santa gave presents to the good ones.
QJGMa TIL that despite its signing into law in 1983, MLK Day wasn't observed in every state until 2000. Before it was made an official state holiday in South Carolina, employees could choose between celebrating MLK day or one of three holidays in honor of the Confederate States.
W504 TIL: Mike Merrill has modeled his life after the stock market. He’s issued 1,000 “shares” of himself and life decisions are made by his shareholders’ votes. Some of the life decisions his investors have made for him are his hair color, the car he drives, his love interests, and even his diet.