› added 5 months ago

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TIL that the Lipka Tartars (in Lithuania) used the Arabic alphabet to write in the Belarusian language until the 1930s.

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KOadJ TIL that the F-Word in English likely stems from the Latin word Pugnare, which means to Hit as opposed to common misconception of Fornication Under the Command of King
8pPb TIL 11 of the 12 men who have walked on the moon were Boy Scouts.
p1nb TIL The Battle of Yongqiu (756 C.E.) where commander Zhang Xun needed arrows, so he ordered his troops to lower 1,000 scarecrows over the fortress wall, and retrieve the arrow laden decoys to replenish their supply.
5BQQ TIL that the Nijō Palace in Kyoto has special floors that squeak when walked upon, a sound that is very similar to the Nightingale birds. So when attackers tried to kill the Shogun, they would give their position away, but would only think that the birds outside are chirping.
rRVXy TIL in 1795 a treaty with Britain was so unpopular that graffiti was scrawled on the governor of NY's house that said "Damn John Jay! Damn everyone who won't damn John Jay! Damn everyone that won't put lights in his windows and sit up all night damning John Jay!"