During coffee this morning, I checked out some top ten lists at Listverse. If their research is to be believed, some of the #1 choices were surprising. Did you know…

The most dangerous of all herbivores in Africa, the hippo kills more people every year than lions, leopards and crocodiles.

It’s true. I’m a longtime fan of Cecil Adams, the world’s smartest human, and he quotes some pretty impressive facts about hippos over at The Straight Dope.

The #1 Most Fascinating “Only Existing Photograph” award goes to Frederic Chopin. Cool. He was so afeared of being buried alive, he decreed that his heart be cut out after his death. His hands were also cast. Look how long his fingers were. YIKES

Taken the year of his death from tuberculosis (1849). He was sickly and frail all his life.

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#1 on the list of “Fascinating Facts that are Wrong”:  You can see the Great Wall of China from space. Funny how you just assume that such impressive-sounding declarations are true. I never disbelieved it. There seems to be a microscopic grain of truth to it, but as far as seeing the wall from space with the naked eye…nuh-uh.

It's the subject of much...subjectivity.

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I’ve saved the most amazing for last. Have you ever heard of the Superb Lyrebird? I hadn’t. It can mimic everything it hears. Check out this vid. You’ll hear an incredibly convincing camera shutter, car alarm, and chain saw. Unbelievable.

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Welp…out of time. It’s Jon’s birthday feast tonight, and Mavis and I have some shopping/cooking to do. Requested menu: burgers on the grill, homemade mac and cheese, salad, and strawberry cake. Wahoo — get yer grub on, pard.

FO