› added 9 years ago

103

TIL that a parrot named “Alex” was the very first (and only) non-human animal to ask an existential question. He asked what color he was, and learned that he was gray.

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b9Y97 TIL that 4 of the last 10 (article says 7 due to age) Illinois governors have been sentenced to time in prison. So 40% of Illinois governors since 1960 have gone to prison.
lDgV TIL in 1905, President Teddy Roosevelt threatened to ban football completely, unless the sport shaped up and outlawed moves like throttling and eye-gouging.
YjnP TIL that the bacteria used to ripen cheese, Brevibacterium, is the same bacteria found under toenails. This is what causes (dirty) toenails to smell similar to cheese
0vEp TIL that the actor playing The Mountain in Game of Thrones Season 4, Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson, is only 25 years old.
0dwr1 TIL that Harry Houdini had skepticism of anything mystical and had intense anger at miracle workers, spiritualists, and mediums that preyed on vulnerable people.