› added 9 months ago

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TIL Roald Dahl (author of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and many other children's books) also invented a cerebral shunt that has been used to treat thousands of children with brain injuries.

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VMRxm TIL Jacklyn Lucas joined the Marines at age 14 (via forged documents). He saved 3 comrades in Iwo Jima when 2 grenades landed near them, by pushing one into ash/sand and covering it with his body, and pulling the other one beneath him. One exploded. He survived and earned a Medal of Honor at age 17.
e0njJ TIL that Dolphins can stay awake for 15 days by sleeping with one half of brain
KOwvB TIL that Gandalf and Saruman are not human, but actually part of a race of beings called the Maiar. They were part of a group sent by the Valar (basically gods) to help elves and men fight against Sauron (also Maia). In fact, the Maiar came into existence at the beginning of time like the Valar.
ANX5n TIL the father and stepmother of Dee Dee Blanchard, the murdered mother of Gypsy Rose Blanchard would not pay for her funeral and flushed her ashes down the toilet
X05rR TIL that in Vermont, an apple pie is legally required to be served with a glass of cold milk, a slice of half an ounce of cheddar cheese, or vanilla ice cream.