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TIL Executive Outcomes, a South African mercenary company, successfully quelled civil war in Sierra Leone. The United Nations pressured Sierra Leone’s government to replace them with peacekeepers. Civil War quickly broke out again upon EO’s dismissal.

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rYPo TIL that before coffee became popular, beer was the most popular drink to go with breakfast in the USA.
Y788Z TIL that the powerful engraving of Running Antelope, Chief of the Oncpapa (Hunkpapa) Lakota Sioux is featured on this large-sized $5 currency note from 1899. This is the first – and only – time a Native American image was used as the central motif on any U.S. paper currency.
GXj1 TIL when Social Anxiety Disorder was added to the DSM-III in 1980, it was barely diagnosed, considered a rare disorder, until the late 90s when the drug ‘Paxil’ was approved for treatment. Now, 5.3 million Americans are diagnosed with it and is the 3rd most prevalent psychiatric disorder.
R5JMw TIL about British Army general and MP, Eyre Coote who lost his seat and was dismissed for "Conduct unbecoming of an officer" in 1815 after being discovered to have entered a school and had paid boys to flog him. He was "acquitted" of criminal charges after donating £1000 to the school.
ePXb TIL that as the Titanic sank, someone unlocked the kennels holding all the passengers’ pet dogs, “leading to the surreal sight of a pack of excited dogs racing up and down the slanting deck as the ship went down.”