› added 9 years ago

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TIL that in 1911, Vincenzo Peruggia, wanting to bring the Mona Lisa back to Italy after “It was stolen by Napoleon”, simply walked in the Louvre, lifted off the painting, took it to a nearby service staircase, removed the frame, put it under his smock, and simply walked out with it in plain sight.

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GYV57 TIL the Parliament building in Bucharest is so massive that even though it already contains both lower and upper houses of parliament, three museums, and an international conference centre, 70% of the building is still empty. The heating and electrical bill alone amounts to $6 million a year.
8QwK TIL that Jonathan Lee Riches got the Guinness world record for having filed the highest number of lawsuits in the world. When he heard of this, he sued the Guinness Book of World Records
Qak9 TIL that Gary James Paulsen (“Hatchet” author) watched his mother beat a molester to death, hunted for sustenance while a teen, was molested by his parents servant, ran away and joined a carnival at 14, witnessed a plane crash/passengers get attacked by sharks, and completed the 1,150 mile Iditarod
OoKW4 TIL that when flatworms go to space, they can grow two heads. Usually a flatworm will regrow its head and tail after they are cut off, but one with its head and tail removed regrew two heads and a second mouth. (The flatworm's mouth is located on its belly.)
v1yDr TIL about Mimas, one of Saturn’s 53 confirmed moons, which looks a lot like the Death Star. It’s even oriented correctly, North being up in the image.