› added 7 years ago

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TIL about "one of the biggest companies you've never heard of". Acxiom gathers information on some 700 m people, with up to 1,500 data points per person, for ultra targeted marketing. Down to the list of people who buy particular brands of cereal in your local supermarket.

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via reddit.com

5Y5PB TIL that Porphyria, a collection of diseases where symptoms include severe sun sensitivity, prominent canine teeth and peculiar behaviour, is thought to be the basis of the vampire legend
7rryZ TIL the farthest the human eye can see unaided: at sea level you can see for just under 3 miles, on Mt. Everest you could potentially see 211 miles, but under a dark sky you can see the Andromeda Galaxy 2.5 million light years away.
Lk4Rp TIL about Mr. Ouch, the warning graphic on electrical transformers, designed to clearly illustrate the dangers of electricity to young children.
p8aEA TIL in 1951, 650 British soldiers were being overwhelmed by 10,000 Chinese. When an American general asked for a status update, a brigadier responded "things are a bit sticky down there." No help was sent and almost all of the troops were killed because the general did not get the understatement.
e0X8k TIL not everyone hears "ear rumbling" when yawning