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TIL: In pre revolutionary France, the tax was called the "taille", which was originally a way for peasants to pay to be exempt from the army. However, it was expanded afterwards. Nobles, clergy, and people living in Paris and Lyon were excluded.

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XL46 TIL there was a con man in India, who repeatedly sold the Taj Mahal, the Indian parliament and various other heritage sites. He was sentenced to 113 years but managed to escape prison 9 times, last when he was 84 years old.
yWkw TIL all US Government issued pens are made by a company that only employs the blind (Skillcraft)
gMl1X TIL After serving only 16 months in office, U.S. President Zachary Taylor passed away after eating too much cherries and drinking iced milk at a July 4th party in 1850. He was diagnosed with cholera morbus and died on July 9th. The acidic fruit along with the milk is believed to have caused this.
KO9BR TIL In 1940, Princess Juliana of The Netherlands was evacuated to Ottawa Canada. When her child Margaret was born, Canada declared her rooms at the Hospital as extraterritorial so the baby would have Dutch nationality. As thanks, Princess Juliana has given Ottawa 10,000 tulip bulbs every year since.
KYXKJ TIL that modern HIV treatments can both prevent transmission of the virus and also prevent its development into AIDS