› added 6 years ago

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TIL that during WWI, officials didn't trust units of the D.C. National Guard to secure infrastructure around the capital because so many of their men had foreign ties.The job was given to the only unit they felt they could trust as 100% American: the all-black 1st Separate Infantry.

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nWDgr TIL ancient British law says any man who sleeps with the Princess Royal before marriage commits high treason. This is a lifetime title bestowed, not inherited, by the monarch on their eldest daughter. The eldest daughter of a new monarch must wait until the previous holder dies, to be granted it.
pYxnZ TIL Vicki Lawrence was actually in her 30s she played the role of Mama (Thelma Harper). The character Mama is in her late 70s during "Mama's Family". Vicki Lawrence did not turn 60 until 2009.
e0AYL TIL: A man named Robert Shields wrote the longest diary in history - 37.5 million words written over a 25 year period until he was disabled by a stroke. He spent hours every day chronically the most minute details of his daily life and even limited sleep to 2 hours at a time to record his dreams.
6O08 TIL That there is a network of fungi (mycorrhizal fungi) that connects plants to each other at the roots. The fungi give the plants nutrients and the plants give the fungi sugar. The vast connection of plants and fungi is called the “Wood Wide Web”
klQ5 TIL Swedish Auto maker Saab make vehicles with floor mounted ignitions. They believe this is safer considering drivers can shatter their kneecaps on steering column ignitions during an accident. This also makes Saabs more difficult to Hot-Wire.