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TIL of Ken Alibek, last USSR 1st Deputy Director of Biopreparat. Before defecting to the US in 1992 he destroyed vast bioweapon (BW) stockpiles and production facilities but could not stop all future BW work in Russia. His 1999 book Biohazard details the USSR’s secret, treaty-violating BW program.

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xVNOg TIL that Ugandan boxer Kassim Ouma was kidnapped at the age of six and forced to join the National Resistance Army. While in the army he was never shot, however, after moving to the US he was shot twice
VBOAD TIL William Patrick Hitler, Adolf Hitler's nephew, fought against him in World War II. Despite being a direct relative, William attempted to blackmail Hitler, failing to do so. In retaliation, he enlisted in the US Navy, later changing his name to Stuart-Houston to distance himself from his past.
ep4P6 TIL of Feodor Protar, "The Saint of Beaver Island". A European actor who came to a small island in Lake Michigan to seek enlightenment. However, he ended up becoming a doctor to the locals who lacked one, despite having no formal medical training. When he died, they built a tomb and monument for him
E1NGp TIL The Rolex Daytona was originally considered an abysmal failure. Having been beaten to space by Omega, Rolex renamed the Cosmograph after Le Mans- then Daytona after licensing issues arose. It was so unsellable dealers literally gave them away. A modern example now goes for $20k.
9ROm TIL Jackass began because Johnny Knoxville wanted to test self defense equipment on himself and write articles about it. The tests were filmed and Jackass was born.