› added 4 years ago

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TIL that one of the top security experts at the FBI, Frank Abagnale, was also one of the most successful con-mans of all time. He posed as a pilot to travel for free on over 250 flights to 25 countries aged between 16-18, and had scammed his father out of $28k (adjusted for inflation) aged just 15.

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R7Lja TIL about Mandate of Heaven, theory in China, according to which the ruler must have the support of Heaven to rule. Moral rulers who care for their people gain the mandate. If a despot sits on the throne, the Heavens can withdraw it, which they signal through e.g. eclipses, floods, wars, plagues etc
YJbA TIL a man who made fruit drink powder realized kids were eating it like candy. He repackaged it and sold it as Pixy Stix. He added a spoon, later replaced by a candy stick, which became the Fun-Dip. Parents complained about them being too messy, and Sweetarts were created with the same basic recipe.
9YZNm TIL that after struggling to sell his product in drug stores, the inventor of Vaseline would travel around the US intentionally burning himself with acid or an open flame in front of audiences. He would then spread the product all over the wounds and show off old lesions he claimed to be healed
GwQ5 TIL Houston has a program that allows citizens to give tickets to those who abuse handicap parking spaces, after taking a four hour course.
J1861 TIL that William Higinbotham, creator of the first video game (Tennis for two), also developed the ignition mechanism of the first atomic bomb.