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TIL: Pirates were generally considered by the English government to be reserve naval forces, and were sometimes given active encouragement such as knighthoods. Royal pardons were regularly issued and the public's opinion of pirates was often favorable, some considering them akin to patrons.

l7WNV TIL the SNL Christopher Walken sketch "The Continental" was based on an actual 1952 TV show of the same name. Renzo Cesana as the host would create a romantic rendezvous with female viewers, speaking directly to them in a suave manner.
grPvA TIL of Kermes dye, a Crimson pigment highly valued in the middle ages. It was obtained by grinding dried female Kermes scale insects that carried unhatched eggs within themselves. At the peak of it's popularity, Kermes dye surpassed Tyrian purple as a symbol of status and wealth.
dOeZ TIL NetZero the 90’s free internet provider, is still in business with 750,000 subscribers still using dial-up.
0dOgj TIL In 1953, an Australian Army Centurion Mk 3 was placed 500yds from a 9.1kt nuclear test. The tank remained structurally intact; its engine stopped as it ran out of fuel. After refueling & minor repairs, it returned to service & later saw combat in Vietnam, earning the nickname “The Atomic Tank” .
eQZ6 TIL 70,000 Americans REALLY DID move to Canada because they didn’t like the way American politics were heading–15% of Loyalists moved to Canada and other parts of the British empire to protest American victory in the Revolutionary war