› added 11 years ago

98

TIL that the largest non-commercial rocket launch in Europe was undertaken by Top Gear while attempting to send a Reliant Robin to space

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7rnaZ TIL that in WW1 The Salvation Army sent 'donut lassies' to soldiers on the front lines of France to make them donuts. They could fry up to 7 donuts at a time in a battle worn helmet. This is why we celebrate national donut day in June and another Nov 5th since it's close to Remembrance/Veterans Day.
v1D84 TIL that out of more than 100 billion people who have lived and died on earth, only 24 have the first hand experience of seeing full circle of earth from space.
v1J7R TIL Telephone Party Lines Were Once High Entertainment - neighboring family's had to share 1 phone line in 20th century up in north country area due to telephone company's saying it was too expensive for individual installation. Each family had own 'ring tone' and could listen in on each other.
x96b TIL that in China, 40% of engineers are women, and in the former USSR, women accounted for 58% of the engineering workforce.
8eaOG TIL Nancy Reagan was pro choice despite Ronald being pro life