› added 9 years ago

1247

TIL that in 1985, police engaged in a standoff with the black liberation group ‘MOVE’ at their home in Philadelphia. A massive firefight ensued in which the police used choppers to drop two C4 bombs on the roof. The fire destroyed 65 houses and 11 people died.

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BgJoK TIL that portobello mushrooms and white button mushrooms are the same mushroom, just at different stages of growth. Same with crimini (the brown ones).
wL791 TIL that Hyborian War a play-by-mail game. The game has been continuously available for worldwide play since its inception in 1985 and has changed little in its overall format.
b6rvZ TIL that the Guano Islands Act enables any American citizen to annex unclaimed islands containing seabird/bat excrement (guano) in the name of the United States (at the discretion of the President)
ZpZ9D TIL of the Mann Gulch Fire in 1949 that claimed the lives of 13 young firefighters. Crew Chief Wag Dodge survived by setting the first known “escape fire” but was unable to convince his men that it was their only hope of survival.
9YEem TIL that aluminum was once so valuable that Napoleon III served dinner to his most honored guests on aluminum plates, while the less distinguished were served on gold and silver plates.