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1279

TIL that 420 mile markers are being replaced by 419.9 markers because of theft.

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xVQV0 TIL Texas' state government has a directly elected Railroad Commission. Despite the name, it ceased to regulate railroads in 2005 and now regulates on the oil and gas industry.
R7GEQ TIL, Nalanda University library in India was destroyed in 1193 by invaders. The 700 year old institution attracted students and teachers from europe and asia. The fire that destroyed the library lasted 3 months and burnt about 9 million manuscripts.
aw8vL TIL the Fisker Automotive failure lost the US government at least $600M
m1JKy TIL Commodore Cornelius Vanderbilt I was born in Staten Island in 1794, and by the time he died in 1877, played a major role in America’s rise as an industrial power. He began his transportation empire with a small sailboat in new york Harbor ferrying people from S.I. to Manhattan
1bgO TIL of a homing pigeon called Cher Ami that saved close to 200 lives during WW1 by delivering a message. The pigeon was shot through the breast, blinded in one eye and had its leg hanging only by a tendon upon arriving with the message.