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TIL in 1998 director Guillermo del Toro’s father was kidnapped and held for ransom for $1 million by Mexican bandits. Guillermo del Toro had recently invested most of his funds in the film Mimic. Good friend James Cameron gave del Toro the money, and his dad was released 72 days later.

loyL7 TIL that Guy Fawkes was hung, gutted and tortured for his plans. He was caught red handed after an anonymous tip off leading to his torture, which revealed co-conspirators. This was followed up by execution and his body parts paraded around London.
W7pPN TIL That Celiac Disease, Which Requires People to Be Gluten Free, Has Nothing to do With Allergies, But Is Instead an Autoimmune Disease That Can Cause Serious Permanent Damage
QrGX TIL American steel magnate Charles M Schwab died a pauper with over $300k in debt after blowing through a fortune that was worth $500-$800 million dollars today
wLWD7 TIL the RMS Carpathia received the Titanic's distress call by accident. Harold Cottam, the telegraphist had finished for the day and was using the transmitter to "take some general news". He picked up messages for the Titanic and to help made contact. The reply: "We have struck ice, come at once."
Zp5DR TIL in 1964, a country changed names during the Olympics. It entered the Olympics as Northern Rhodesia, a British protectorate, and left as Zambia, becoming fully independent on the day of the closing ceremony. The athletes marched in the ceremony with a new placard featuring the word "Zambia".