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TIL That a Batman was a military orderly assigned to an officer in the British Army

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rNpwx TIL When aluminum was first discovered, in the early 1800s, it was worth more than gold. Originally, it was hard to separate from other materials. The Washington Monument was capped with it. When a reliable method was finally found to purify it, prices plummeted from $16 ($419 today) a pound to $2.
R5MWj TIL to decide what measurement system America should use, John Quincy Adams took 3 1/2 years to produce a 268 page Report on Weights and Measures that ultimately concluded changing to the French metric system would be too difficult for the young nation. Congress took no action on the report.
woL6o TIL the state of Florida has a Python Elimination Program where they pay by length for individuals to hunt pythons
8mla TIL in 2010 the FBI planned to raid Scientology’s headquarters. Drone aircraft had gathered hi-res images of the site and the tail numbers of Tom Cruise’s airplane were on file in case David Miscavige tried to flee. The raid never occurred due to an alleged halt from the upper ranks of Washington.
69A9Q TIL that during World War II, publication of the Michelin Guide was suspended. In 1944, at the request of the Allied Forces, the 1939 guide to France was specially reprinted for military use; its maps were judged the best and most up-to-date available.