› added 9 years ago

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TIL that Pixy Stix were originally a drink mix, but the company owner discovered kids were just eating the sugar powder straight from the package. They were rebranded as Pixy Stix.

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via reddit.com

E7pw TIL in 1770 a man invented a machine that could play a strong game of chess against a human opponent. The “android” that played the game was nicknamed The Turk (as was the machine itself). It wasn’t until 1857 that it was revealed to be a hoax (a chess master was hiding in the machine).
0dPpL TIL about British politician Tony Benn met his future spouse in Oxford in 1949. Nine days later, he proposed marriage to her on a park bench. Subsequently, he purchased the bench from Oxford City Council and installed it in the garden of their home. The couple remained together for 51 years.
oRWRY TIL There is water on the moon! This is the form of ice trapped within dust and minerals on/under the surface. It has been detected on areas of the lunar surface that are in permanent shadow and are very cold, enabling the ice to survive. This was likely delivered to the surface by comets.
M7gEK TIL Rihanna was an army cadet in a sub-military program, where the later Barbadian singer-songwriter Shontelle was her drill sergeant
AAPx TIL Nickelodeon executives were worried about backing Avatar’s sequel, “Legend of Korra” because it was an animated action show with a female lead character. During test screenings, however, boys said they didn’t care that Korra was a girl, just saying “She was awesome.”