› added 5 years ago

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TIL in the 1920s, a strange disease known as encephalitis lethargica spread throughout the world, effecting 5 million people. It killed 1 million, and many of the survivors were left unable to move or speak, but were conscious and aware. No cure was ever found, and it disappeared by 1926.

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oRmE8 TIL Alex Ovechkin was such a highly regarded NHL prospect that the Florida Panthers attempted to draft him in the 9th round of the 2003 draft, despite the fact that he was born two days after the eligibility cutoff date. The Panthers argued he should be eligible taking leap years into consideration.
6Edgl TIL Oxford University is 200 years older than the ancient city of Tenochtitlan, which was founded in 1325.
Oom0R TIL Pres. Jimmy Carter was fishing in his hometown of Plains, GA in a boat alone. A rabbit chased by hounds jumped in the water and swam towards him, trying to board. The event was sensationalized by press and critics framed the event as emblematic of Carter's presidency as hapless and enfeebled.
8eMDG TIL in June 2009 the patriarch of the Orthodox Church of Ethiopia, said he would announce the unveiling of the Ark of the Covenant, which had been kept safe in Ethiopia. The following day he announced that he would not unveil the Ark after all, but that he could attest to its current status.
8axeP TIL of Helen Gandy who was Edgar Hoover's secretary for 54 years. The day of his death, she resigned and destroyed all of his personal FBI files that he used to manipulate key Washington figures.