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TIL Turnover is so slight in Federal Employees that, “death by natural causes” is more likely than “fired for poor job performance, misconduct or layoff”

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kR0e TIL US Ensign Chester Nimitz was court-martialed and reprimanded for grounding a destroyer in 1908. He would become Commander in Chief, Pacific Fleet during WWII, and Chief of Naval Operations after the war.
p80Jp TIL that Ethiopia's Salt Ponds Contain One of the Few Places Life Cannot Survive on Earth: The Dallol pools are likely so hot, salty and acidic that even extremophile microbes are unable to enter.
owD8 TIL City birds have learned to line their nests with cigarette butts in order to ward of parasites, as burnt nicotine works as an insecticide to ward off mites, lice and fleas.
7rZjP TIL that while scientists were analyzing prehistoric worms recovered from permafrost, two 40,000 year old nematodes 'revived' and began moving and eating, making them the oldest multi-cellular life alive on Earth.
WNbB TIL that in the 19th century when Napoleon III invited the King Siam to a dinner, he gave himself Gold Cutlery, his troops Silver & the King of Siam Aluminium. This was no insult but an honour, aluminium was the most valuable metal on the planet. Today, aluminium is $1,800 a ton. Gold is $50 million