› added 12 years ago

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TIL - “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” - Rather than rely on CGI, Burton wanted the 40 squirrels in the Nut Room to be real. They began their coaching while newborns, fed by bottles to form relationships with human trainers.

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v1lXR TIL: Jimi Hendrix was inspired to write "Purple Haze", following a dream where he could walk under water. Later, Hendrix expressed frustration at being unable to develop his ideas for the song further.
jNmaE TIL that until the mid 20th century the avocado had a reputation as an aphrodisiac, which actually discouraged some consumers. During the 1920s, growers sponsored a promotional advertising campaign in the United States to deny that the avocado had powers for inducing sexual prowess.
RJyl TIL CIA director John McCone told RFK he believed there were TWO shooters that assassinated his brother JFK.
YpQ1P TIL of the Massacre of St George's Fields 1768, where British troops fired on demonstrators who protested against the jailing of John Wilkes who severely criticised the King, killing 7 which led to multiple days of rioting and the threat of the abdication of the monarchy.
6QQw TIL during WWII a group of students from the University of Munich were beheaded in Germany after distributing leaflets opposing the war.