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TIL Some jazz musicians in the 40s converted to Islam to get around segregation problems. “If you join the Muslim faith, you ain’t colored no more, you’ll be white”

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OoPre TIL of the Great American Horse Race of 1976 - a 3,500 mile long race with over 100 contenders mainly riding thoroughbred stallions. The winner ended up being Lord Fauntleroy, a mule ridden by a teenager, who beat the second place finisher by nearly 10 hours.
A44n TIL that the oldest living chicken was also in a magic act and met Jay Leno on The Tonight Show
M7wrm TIL the US Postal Service's (unofficial) motto, "Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers...", comes from Greek historian Herodotus' description of the Achaemenid Persian's Angarium couriers who ran a Pony Express style courier service for their king.
VMk70 TIL Stephen King considers 'Dolores Umbridge' from Harry Potter & The Order of the Phoenix the "Greatest made up villain since Hannibal Lecter."
oBP97 TIL that dogs instinctively like squeaky toys because it mimics the sound of a terrified small animal being mauled and killed.