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TIL that in 1953 the CEOs of General Motors and General Electric were both named Charles E. Wilson. To avoid confusion people referred to them as "Engine Charlie" and "Electric Charlie".

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XEm48 TIL about Julie d'Aubigny, a French swordwoman who: dressed in men's clothing, joined a convent to be with her female lover, got challenged to duels by three separate men for kissing a woman at a ball, and was a popular opera singer.
R1a6 TIL in 1988 British politician Edwina Currie was forced to resign after incorrectly stating that British eggs were tainted with salmonella. A few months later a government report found she was actually correct, but it was covered up until 2001.
a8kK0 TIL: Bamboo will flower and seed every 40-120 years then die off. Because huge areas of bamboo are the same plant, this causes widespread death of bamboo forests, followed by major rat infestations and then famine in parts of the world. It is not known why this happens.
W7xld TIL before his comedy career, Chevy Chase was a drummer in a group with Walter Becker and Donald Fagen, who would later go on to form Steely Dan.
0wX6M TIL in 2014, singer Akon launched his Akon Lightning Africa project, which aims to provide electricity in Africa by installing solar street lights and small energy systems. The project now provides electricity in 14 African countries and employs over 5000 people to install and maintain the equipment