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[TIL] The concept of zero as a number was first developed in India, and its use spread to the Islamic world and then to Europe.

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p84XO Today I learned that, in the 1920's, a new "fixed length" calendar with 13 months of 28 days each, was voted in by a League of Nations special committee. Although this calendar never gained widespread adoption, it remained the official calendar of the Kodak company until 1989.
kreg TIL that after France joined the American Revolution, Britain offered freedom from all taxation and unconditional pardon in exchange for peace, but this was rejected because independence was now an attainable goal
1abe4 TIL of Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE), a disease transmitted by mosquitos. A third of cases (2/year) die, and many survivors suffer permanent brain damage. It was first recognized in MA in 1831 when it killed 75 horses.
W7k88 TIL: About the naval term - broom at the masthead. It meant that a vessel had made a clean sweep of enemy vessels. Ships literally hung a broom from the mast of a ship. Commonly used in WW2, it dates back to the 17th century.
8RAK TIL that, when asked to comment on the contentious grammar law which states that one is not to end sentences with prepositions, Winston Churchill replied, “That is nonsense, up with which I shall not put.”