› added 10 years ago

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TIL that the Colonel-in-Chief of the Norwegian Army is a penguin called Sir Nils Olav

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via reddit.com

BronK TIL Walt Disney was once filmed physically performing the role of Mickey Mouse as a reference for the animators of a 1930s short. Sadly, no known copies of the footage exist.
R7Lwl TIL that most work to restore paintings is designed to be removable, so that future conservation efforts can undo any changes
P1pGE TIL there was a species of marsupial lions in Australia. The now extinct Thylacoleo ("pouch lion")
E1aAX TIL the phrase "Turn a blind eye" (willfully ignore information) originated from Admiral Lord Nelson in 1801, who used his injured eye to see through his telescope during the Battle of Copenhagen when he wished to ignore his commander's signals, which resulted in their victory.
Wk1RL TIL that a "white elephant gift exchange" gets its name from the legend of the King of Siam gifting rare albino elephants to those who displeased him in hopes that the upkeep costs would financially ruin them.