› added 13 years ago

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TIL that there are at least 22 cat statues scattered about the city of York on top of buildings and houses. They are thought to have been put in place as far back as the early 19th century. Residents personally decorate these statues and the cats are said to protect the residents of the city

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via reddit.com

5Y9PD TIL that Cambridge University Library's 17-storey tower holds one million banished books that were considered 'not academic enough' and is now a literary time capsule and treasure trove for researchers.
woPGY TIL in 2007, Malaysia sent its first astronaut to the ISS. The government and Islamic scholars also wrote that in order to pray, Muslims in space should face Mecca if possible; but if not, they could face the Earth generally, or just face “wherever.”
KOmQ TIL that in Jackie Chan Adventures, Uncle’s chant “Yu mo gui gwai fai di zao” means “ Evil demons and malevolent spirits, be gone!” in Cantonese.
OonQ6 TIL a pigeon named, Cher Ami was awarded the Croix de Guerre Medal for her heroic service in delivering 12 important messages during WWI. Most importantly, the message from a trapped 194 man battalion. Arriving with a shot through the breast, blinded in one eye, and her leg hanging by a tendon.
MeeMA TIL a lawyer in Toronto fell to his death after he threw himself against a window on the 24th floor of the Toronto-Dominion Centre in an attempt to prove to a group of visitors that the glass was "unbreakable." The glass did not break, but popped out of the window frame, and he fell to his death.