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TIL of the Powell Memorandum. A confidential memorandum entitled "The Attack on the American Free Enterprise System". It kickstarted a concerted effort to shift US opinion to the right and started a massive PR campaign to persuade Americans that the 'left' was bad for the average American.

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a1DA TIL of the 2010 Plain Writing Act, requiring that government agencies use plain (easy-to-read) English in every document they write
j6ylp TIL, while much of the evidence and general consensus supports the Wright Brothers as “First in Flight” Alberto Santos-Dumont, Gustave Whitehead, and others have competing claims.
1K84 TIL That a German U Boat U-215, sunk in 1942, is presumed to still be airtight with the remains of 49 German sailors entombed within
QJmaX TIL After making a series of vital reforms that prolonged the life of the Roman Empire, emperor Diocletian retired to his hometown and took up gardening. When asked to return, he refused, saying he wouldn't give up the pleasure of planting cabbages with his own hands for anything in the world
QAA9 TIL the US is currently developing a weapon that shoots an invisible laser beam, causing a small plasma explosion upon contact which stuns the victim, as well as causing radiation that results in immense pain due to nerve cell damage. It can be used at ranges up to 2 km.