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TIL The first American in space, Alan Shepard, said “Don’t fuck up, Shepard” before launch. This is now known among aviators as Shepard’s prayer

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RW81 TIL the White House grounds were open to the public until 1890, when the first lady ordered the grounds closed because she was creeped out by tourists fussing over her baby.
9Ybrm TIL in order to get their muscle and pony cars into a lower drag racing class, several manufacturers stated a lower horsepower rating than the real one. For example, Ford stated a 335 HP rating for the 428 Cobra Jet Mustang, while the actual one was about 410 HP.
pJpZ TIL Actor Brendan Gleeson (Braveheart, Mad-Eye Moody from the Harry Potter films, In Bruges, 28 Days Later) didn’t start acting in movies until he was 34 years old.
wLa6P TIL dolphins sleep with one eye open. Because they have to periodically go up for air and also be aware of predators, they are able to rest only half of their brain at a time and stay always somewhat conscious.
16veO TIL Lottery Winners and Paralyzed Accident Victims stabilized to similar levels of happiness in a 2004 study analyzing adaptation theory