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TIL that the Russian Soyuz rocket, which has been in service since 1963 and has a success rate of 98%, begins its ignition process by firing wooden sticks inside the combustion chamber. While not quite as simple, it's essentially huge wooden matches and it's extremely reliable.

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QNv6 TIL that a new laser will be powerful enough to rip apart space itself
kvn7 TIL there was a pirate named Black Caesar, he was an African tribal war chieftain, enslaved and escaped. He later went on to build a powerful piracy ring, where he kept a harem of over 100 women, and later served as a chief lieutenant on Blackbeard’s ship “Queen Anne’s Revenge”
neglB Today I learned Mozart composed “Leck mich im Arsch”, which translates to “Lick me in the arse”
VMge8 TIL that Hippies get their name from Hipsters, who were sarcastic, pot smoking 1940s jazz fans.
JY1vB TIL you must be permitted access to any library that is part of FDLP, even the private ones that otherwise deny you entry unless you specifically remind them about their participation in the FDLP program.