› added 11 years ago

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TIL a Raven named Jimmy has starred in over 1,000 films between the 30s and 50s and could understand several hundred words and it took him just 1 week to learn a new word, 2 weeks if it had two syllables. His footprints were enshrined in cement at a large Los Angeles pet store, alongside Lassie.

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XY56 TIL: In 1952 Lindberg confessed that during the 9th hour of his historic flight, gremlins appeared in his cabin, demonstrated advanced aviation knowledge and assured him that he would be successful.
wL8Q7 TIL in the UK for at least 300 years there was a dog bred to aid in the kitchen by walking inside of a wheel, called the Turnspit Dog. Automation caused this breed to go extinct.
p6GA TIL: The slow loris is a mammal that is both poisonous and venomous. To access its poison, it rubs its hands under glands near its armpits, then applies the poison to its teeth, the bite can put a predator into anaphylactic shock. The mothers also put the poison on babies before leaving to forage.
78pJO TIL Dictator Manuel Noriega was allowed by the CIA to traffic cocaine into the US from the 1960s-1980s, until he stopped cooperating with US foreign policy directives. A subsequent US invasion of Panama resulted and he was sentenced to prison.
ADZea TIL that 3 years after illegally joining the Marines at the age of 14, Jack Lucas snuck onto a ship bound for Iwo Jima, stormed the beach without a rifle, and threw himself on top of two grenades to protect his team. He survived, and is the youngest person to earn the Medal of Honor at 17.