› added 8 years ago

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TIL a Chinese business man bought a non-functional aircraft carrier from Ukraine, allegedly to use it as a floating hotel/casino. It took more than 4 years to tow it to China. Later the Chinese government bought and modernised the carrier, making it its only aircraft carrier its navy owns today.

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v1g8L TIL: Dolly Parton has a book gifting program called the Imagination Library, which gifts free books every month to children, from birth until school
rLn4 TIL the Swiss Guard, known now as the guys in the vibrant clown-like costumes that stand around the Vatican holding halberds, once stood against an army as it sacked Rome. 189 Guard stood against 20,000 invaders at the Vatican long enough for Pope Clement VII to escape the city.
LJlP TIL The term Third World arose during the Cold War to define countries that remained non-aligned with either NATO, or the Communist Bloc.
r5W1 TIL Elephants can recognize themselves in a mirror. The only other animals that can do this are dolphins, great apes, and humans.
Anvx TIL in 1996 the ‘Titanic’ crew accidentally ate PCP spiked clam chowder