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TIL a radio station organized a bonfire to burn Beatles records after they claimed they were "more popular than Jesus". The next day, the station’s broadcast tower was struck by lightning, damaging equipment and sending the news director to the hospital

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70aP TIL that a cat named Simon served on a Royal Navy ship in 1949, and received a medal for raising morale, killing off a rat infestation and surviving cannon shells during his service. Hundreds attended his funeral when he died from infected wounds.
vldL TIL that anyone can take huge container ships around the world as passengers for about $120 a day. Trips may last just a few days, although some travelers sign on for 60 days or even around-the-world journeys. Meals are provided, rooms are cleaned once a week and passengers do their own laundry.
QNJne TIL - The Great Basin Bristlecone Pine (Pinus Longaeva) has been deemed the oldest tree in existence, reaching an age of over 5,000 years old. The Bristlecone pines' success in living a long life can be attributed to the harsh conditions it lives in.
0wn1 TIL that a 9 year old Karl Rove was beaten up by a neighborhood girl and given a bloody nose for putting a Nixon sticker on his bicycle.
nbLW TIL that in 1938 China’s Nationalist government ordered the opening of dikes on the Yellow River to create a flood and slow the Japanese advance to Wuhan. While the advance was delayed, the flood also caused around 500,000 to 900,000 Chinese civilian deaths.