› added 7 years ago

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TIL of Bill Anders, who achieved a Masters in nuclear engineering, logged 8,000 hours of flight time as a US Navy pilot, became 1 of the first 3 astronauts to orbit the moon, and served as Ambassador to Norway all before age 45. He then went on to become one of the most succesful CEO's of his time.

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v170j TIL Ty, the manufacturer of Beanie Babies, was one of the first businesses to use the internet to engage directly with its consumer market. This was a major contributing factor to the popularity of Beanie Babies.
GYJwE TIL in 2012 there was a massive solar flare, at least as powerful as the Carrington event in 1859. It could have devastated the electrical grid and even disabled the water supply, but missed Earth by a week. The chance of another hit was 12% in the next 10 years. "We need to be prepared."
KOGm6 TIL After the sack of Baghdad, the Caliph was surrendered to the Mongols on the belief that their practices prevented them from shedding the blood of a man of such a high royal and religious status. Sure enough, the Mongols kept to their custom by wrapping him in a rug and trampling him to death
mxd8y TIL: UHaul rarely runs advertisements. The founder viewed having trucks all over the road with his logo on it as the only advertising he needed.
NXMXM TIL that barbie doll actually has a full name and birthday! Her full name is Barbara Millicent Roberts and her birthday is March 9, 1959, when she was first displayed at the New York Toy Fair.