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TIL in World War II several U.S railroad companies sponsored military “railway battalions” to help with the war effort. Company bosses became military officers and 1000’s of American railroad employees joined the effort throughout Europe, Africa and the Middle East.

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OGGrR TIL about the Viviers family, who moved from South Africa to Northern BC, Canada because of an extreme allergy to sunlight. Prince Rupert is one of the most reliably cloudy places on the planet, and the Viviers family won a Supreme Court decision to become permanent residents on medical grounds.
KO1nR TIL that Cherophobia is fear of being happy. It is the belief that when one becomes happy,something bad will happen.
wL7B6 TIL that when a Doctor is confirming that a pregnant woman’s water has broken they will conduct a “Fern Test”. Under a microscope the amniotic fluid will resemble a beautiful pattern resembling a fern.
gMOdW TIL sheep shearing is not animal cruelty. If sheep are not sheared they can experience a lot of health problems. There was a sheep in Australia that was found unsheared for six years, five time the wool of normal sheep, with damaged hooves and skin infections from urine trapped under his wool.
5Yn1r TIL Peter Jackson made a huge push to get Andy Serkis nominated for his role as Gollum in ‘Lord of the Rings.’ The Academy denied his request, stating that the motion-capture performance was ineligible as it “technically wasn’t the actor being nominated for the role, but rather the character.”