› added 12 years ago

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TIL that Federal employees will go unpaid for an unknown amount of time if the US government shuts down next week. Except for members of Congress.

Read more thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com

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KOVoR TIL of the Dracula parrot found only in New Guinea. Despite its name, the parrot eats no meat but rather feeds almost exclusively on figs. Just as vultures adapted a featherless head to feed cleanly on bloody carcasses, a Dracula parrot's lack of face feathers keeps its face clean of sticky figs.
5VmlB TIL that globally, we produce over 9,900,000 tons of butter a year, and India produces 3,797,550 of that, making it the largest butter producer in the world (via Atlas Big). The United States, which comes in second place, makes less than half that amount each year, with Pakistan coming in third.
9wZdM Today I learned that Elvis Presley's daughter, Lisa Marie Presley, was married first to Michael Jackson and then to Nicolas Cage.
PmAO TIL that Joseph Stalin ordered his top scientists to create a hybrid ape-man. In the dictator’s eyes, this hybrid man would be the greatest solider, capable of great strength but with an underdeveloped brain so as to be easily controlled.
LDGQ TIL William Herschel discovered Uranus and two of its major moons, Titania and Oberon and discovered two moons of Saturn which were Mimas and Enceladus. He was also the first person who discovered infrared radiation. In addition, he composed twenty-four symphonies, and many other musical pieces.