› added 5 years ago

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TIL about Operation Popeye, when the US military successfully controlled the weather by seeding rain clouds, extending the monsoon season in Vietnam by a month.

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XnXE TIL there is a species of sting-less bee in the Amazon Rainforest known as the “Barber Bee” that will cut your hair as a means of defense.
J7Nv TIL In 1946 Orson Welles declined FDR’s suggestion to run for Democratic Senator for his home state of Wisconsin. The seat was won by Joseph McCarthy. Later Welles said “I didn’t believe the American people would ever vote for a divorced Hollywood actor.”
A8ba TIL Sid Meier wasn’t bothered about online play in the first Civilization game, saying “if you had friends, you wouldn’t need to play computer games”.
9wwkG TIL On June 11, 1955, a Mercedes Benz 300SLR crashed into the stands at Le Mans, killing 82 people, including the driver. Another 300SLR just sold at auction for $143M USD.
5YJrp TIL that the Burj Khalifa is so tall, that residents above the 80th floor must wait two to three minutes longer to break their fast during Ramadan because you can see the sun for longer than you can on lower levels.