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TIL a Belgian mayor hired a DJ to play a music set as a way to drive out some visiting gypsies with loud music. The plan backfired as the gypsies just came out to party, the mayor received international bad press and, since no one had bothered to pay necessary composers’ rights, a 100 euro fine.

VZB8 TIL that the analysis of the camera of the Surveyor 3 lunar landing probe, which was brought back by the crew of Apollo 12 in 1969, two years after it landed, showed that bacteria that had entered it during manufacturing had survived the lunar conditions.
4krVb TIL that the term and concept of "jay-walking" was introduced in the 1920's by the auto industry as part of a propaganda campaign to claim the roads for cars and shift the blame in accidents from cars to pedestrians. At the time "Jay" was a slur with a similar meaning to "redneck" or "hillbilly."
OjEa TIL The Pledge of Allegiance did not include any religious language until 61 years ago when, “under God” was added.
XBrk TIL because so many Russian men have died at war since WW2, the gender ratio in Russia is currently 86.8 men per 100 women, compared to 98.3 men for per women in the U.S. and 101.8 men per 100 women worldwide.
XOpP TIL that the title for the Longest Recorded Sniper kill shot at 2,815 m is held by an Australian Special Forces Sniper in Afghanistan. Unlike the others in the top 10, the Australian was remained unnamed as he was fighting with a secret identity.