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TIL the name ‘Tank’ for armoured vehicles originated as a code word describing the vehicles as water carriers (or water tanks), to confuse enemy spies and keep their creation hidden. Water carries wasn’t used as this would have been abbreviated to W.C, another name for toilets.

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b6LLZ TIL Nigel Richards, New Zealand, won the French scrabble championship, despite not knowing how to speak French. He instead memorized the entire French dictionary. He still cannot speak French.
4pRN TIL In 2009, Sophie–an Australian cattle dog–fell overboard in rough waters off of the Australian coast, swam five miles to an uninhabited island, and survived for four months hunting feral goats before being rescued.
V9XZ TIL The reason meat & seafood in Chinese food restaurants looks, feels, and tastes different is due to a cooking process called “Velveting” in which the meat & seafood is marinated in corn starch, egg whites, & rice wine, then blanched in oil.
ML17 TIL although Donald Trump has described himself as an “ardent philanthropist,” he has only donated $3.7 million to his own foundation. In comparison, a wrestling company has given Trump’s foundation $5 million. He ranks among the least charitable billionaires in the world.
VMVn4 TIL Avocado, bay and cinnamon all belong to the the laurel family of flowering plants. Lauraceae comprises of about 2850 known species in about 45 genera worldwide. They occur mainly in warm temperate and tropical regions, especially Southeast Asia and South America.