› added 11 years ago

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TIL In 2009, General Motors declared bankruptcy, took billions in government bailout money and issued new stock for the “new GM,” with no compensation for the old shareholders now worthless “old GM” stock.

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V1oZ TIL that Tyrannasorus Rex is a species of extinct beetle, not to be confused with dinosaur Tyrannosaurus Rex
b1Kj TIL that there is an area where the Earth’s crust is missing, exposing the mantle
v1X5j TIL that the British museum has a Greek sling bullet dated from the 4th century which is inscribed with the word “DEXAI”, which translates to “CATCH”
G0D1 TIL that when one fails the British/Dutch navies’ Submarine Command Course (“The Perisher”), he is not told yet, but his bag is packed for him. When a boat/helicopter is ready the sailor is told of his failure, given a bottle of whisky, and immediately goes. He can never serve in a submarine again.
B4VD TIL that in 1913 the first practical thermal solar ‘power plant’ was built in Egypt, it generated power using polished steel to focus the sunlight. Unfortunatly WW1 broke out and the power plant was abandoned due to conflict in the area and oil became a much more attractive energy source.