› added 12 years ago

91

TIL that Speedy Gonzales was fully removed from Cartoon Network due to racial stereotypes until fans–including large Hispanic organizations–demanded he return

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lojEA TIL of the 555th Parachute Infantry Battalion, an all-black airborne unit. Instead of overseas deployment, they fought wildfires started by Japanese balloon bombs on the US west coast. The "Triple Nickles" parachuted directly into affected areas for half the fires they fought.
4M16 TIL that a Roman merchant who sold fake jewels was sentenced to face a lion in the arena. When the gate finally opened, a chicken walked out. Emperor Gallienus proclaimed “He practiced deceit and then had it practiced on him.”
olbr TIL Angola holds a Miss Landmine beauty pageant to raise awareness of live landmines still in the country, by only allowing landmine survivors to enter the pageant
nMB9 TIL Mathematicians at London’s King’s College used statistical modeling in a study commissioned by Sky Movies to conclude that The Shining was the “perfect scary movie” due to a proper balance of various ingredients including shock value, suspense, gore and size of the cast
0w1MM TIL that a retired U.S. Army sergeant and Vietnam veteran became the first paralyzed American to successfully finish the New York City Marathon. She used a robotic exoskeleton device to complete 26.2 miles over 3 days.