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TIL while working at a railway, Richard Sears' station received a shipment of gold watches but the jeweler refused the shipment. Sears got the watches at a reduced rate (a common scam) and sold them to his coworkers who needed to keep accurate time. The success lead to his first mail-order catalog.

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801Z TIL that HBO’s iconic “Band of Brothers” premiered two days before 9/11. When the attacks occurred, HBO stopped all marketing for the show, and by the end of the series it had half the viewers it started with. It won six Emmys, a Golden Globe, and was awarded a Peabody.
9wrDQ TIL that the U.S. Army officially began fielding its replacement for the M4 this month. The M7 rifle will be distributed to the Army’s entire close combat force of infantry, paratroopers and scouts.
pYyK8 TIL of TOTO (TOtable Tornado Observatory), a white metal barrel, weighing 250-350 pounds. TOTO would be tipped into a vertical position & swiveled so certain side faced north (for accurate wind direction readings). The closest TOTO deployment to a tornado was on 29 April 1984 near Ardmore OK.
WK84 TIL Pemba Dorje climbed Mount Everest in just 8 hours and 10 minutes. This is the fastest ascent from the south base camp. He did this after a losing a bitter dispute with Lakpa Gelu Sherpa who set the previous record.
P1Nrn TIL: For centuries in the Middle Ages, armies would have a carroccio, a four wheeled wagon carrying city signs, relics, and a large cross into battle. It would be protected by the bravest warriors and be used to celebrate Mass before battle. It's use diminished as mercenaries become commonplace.