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TIL Julius Caesar was the first to declare Jan 01 a national holiday. He named the month after Janus, the Roman god of doors and gates. Janus had two faces, one looking forward and one looking back

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7rRvL Today I learned the Canadian Mint made five 220lb pure gold "1 million dollar coins", one of which was recently stolen.
wopd7 TIL President Andrew Jackson accused President Adams's administration of corruption, leading to investigations into all executive departments. This uncovered $280,000 stolen from the Treasury, as well as improved government accounting and cost savings for the Navy.
NoJE TIL Sean Connery turned down roles in “The Matrix” and “Lord of the Rings” because he didn’t understand the script. He would later accept “The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen" despite not understanding the project. He hasn’t acted since.
nMmB TIL the most decorated enlisted man in the British Army in WWI was a conscientious objector who never fired a single shot. He was a stretcher bearer who won the Victoria cross for charging into fire unarmed and carrying out 3 wounded men on his back
P1AEe TIL director Werner Herzog infrequently hosts his own film school that teaches such things as "the art of lockpicking", "The creation of your own shooting permits" and "The exhilaration of being shot at unsuccessfully" among other things.