› added 10 years ago

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TIL Canadian astronomer and renowned eclipse chaser J. W. Campbell traveled the world for 50 years trying to see 12 different eclipses. He ran into overcast skies every time.

R5k7a TIL that the Quokka, when faced with a predator, will drop it's baby from it's pouch to provide a distraction for it to escape.
xKo0 TIL that a US Army veteran, severely depressed after his wife filed divorce, both parents dead of cancer, his equipment stolen, income stopped, utilities cut off, house in foreclosure, stole a TANK from the armory, went on a rampage on the streets destroying cars, was finally shot and killed.
R7NMa TIL that Michelin goes to huge lengths to keep the Inspectors (who give out stars to restaurants) anonymous. Many of the top people have never met an inspector; inspectors themselves are advised not to tell what they do. They have even refused to allow its inspectors to speak to journalists.
697jm TIL the fully air conditioned Dallas Cowboys Stadium uses more electricity on game day than the entire country of Liberia (5.1 million pop). The stadium will be used in the 2026 FIFA world cup. Other air conditioned stadiums include Houston's NRG stadium and Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz stadium.
x6AVg TIL that Robert Franklin Stroud, was a convicted murderer in solitary confinement. While there, he raised a collection of 300canaries & published his research on avian pathology,which was useful in finding a cure for diseases affecting farmed birds; earning himself the nickname "Birdman of Alcatraz"