› added 12 years ago

98

TIL that in 1962 the US government planned for the CIA to commit perceived acts of terrorism in U.S. cities. These acts of terrorism were to be blamed on Cuba in order to create public support for a war against the country, which had recently become communist.

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Xrpr TIL: Adult frogs of the species Pseudis Paradoxa are only a quarter of the size of their tadpoles. They are commonly known as “Paradoxical Frog”.
OoyNY TIL that South Korea formed a covert military unit in 1968 with the intention of assassinating North Korea's leader. Unemployed youths or petty criminals were recruited and trained on an uninhabited island for 3 years. The existence of the unit was covered up until the 1990s.
Wknxo TIL there’s a species of parasitic nematode that induces “fruit-mimicry” in tropical ants. Infected ants develop bright red abdomens, tend to be more sluggish, and walk with their abdomens in a conspicuous elevated position. This causes frugivorous birds to confuse them for berries.
OoZp7 TIL Nintendo Power had a comic mascot named Nester that progressively grew up and eventually had a son during magazine's run. In the last issue his son states, "You're kind of sad to see it end, but really proud and happy too. You know what I see when I look at this final issue? 100% completion."
Z8o0B TIL, that the N. Korean Air Force lacks enough jet fuel to train pilots using aircraft, and instead pilots hold a cardboard cutout of an instrument panel while another pilot walks in front of them moving a toy model of the aircraft.