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TIL in 1992, John Travolta was flying his Gulfstream jet with his wife and child onboard when both generators failed and he lost power to the cockpit and radio. Using only a flashlight and compass, he had to navigate to Washington D.C. and land at higher than normal speed without the use of flaps.

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nWdgP TIL that Pope Marcellus II who was ruler of the Papal States from 10 April 1555 to his death, 22 days later, is the most recent pope to choose to retain his birth name as his regnal name upon his accession, and the most recent pope to date with the regnal name "Marcellus".
Ve1D TIL There’s as much as $13 million worth of metals in the sewage produced every year by a million-person city
8p94 TIL there was the Soviet equivalent to Eurovision called the Intervision Song Contest. Because of a lack of phones, viewers would turn lights on or off if they liked or didn’t like the song. According to load experienced on the electrical network, points were granted accordingly to each contestant.
8a0JV TIL Ed Sullivan asked Buddy Holly to not play his song “Oh Boy” on his show because it was too suggestive. Holly refused, so Sullivan mispronounced Holly’s name and cut the feed from his guitar. The band was still a huge hit. When asked back again, Holly said Sullivan didn’t have enough money.
Z8DBR TIL guards of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier wear specially manufactured Oakley sunglasses to protect from the glare of the marble, and are the only military personnel to wear sunglasses as part of their official uniform.