› added 9 years ago

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TIL After Nigel the English-speaking African grey parrot vanished from his owner’s California home for four years, making a return fairly unlikely, amazingly he not only returned but could now speak Spanish.

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E110w TIL of the "Kiss of Deaf," aka "Reiter's Ear-Kissing Syndrome (REKS)." It's a hearing loss syndrome caused by a direct kiss in the ear, and although it's temporary, it often causes permanent partial hearing loss.
Q14M TIL That Robert Louis Stevenson wrote The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde while on a 6 day cocaine binge.
awdeZ TIL A stream in New Zealand has a brain eating amoeba in it and you're still allowed to swim.
DJjv TIL that there is a town in the Alps that does not get any direct sunlight for 84 days. However the town fixed that by installing a giant mirror on the side of the mountain.
oRVdR TIL that court dwarfs were strategically positioned next to the king or queen during public appearances and ceremonies, which, due to their small stature, had the effect of visually enhancing the monarch's presence. They were owned, traded, and delivered as gifts to kings and queens.