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TIL J.J. Abrams' based the character of Maz Kanata in "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" on his late high school English teacher, Rose Gilbert.

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LkPPP TIL: Photos of an old stone cottage built between two gigantic boulders --images dismissed as a Photoshopped internet hoax shortly after appearing-- actually depict a real structure. The Boulder House stands at coords 41.488176, -8.067814
QJAWE TIL that the tradition of Popes adopting a papal name started with Pope John II, who was named Mercurius at birth and thought bearing the name of a pagan god was inappropriate.
1aRGW TIL That in the Ukrainian language, the word Chernobyl: "чорнобиль" means wormwood. In the Book of Revelation, Wormwood is the fallen star that poisons the waters of the earth.
DQXxP TIL that before the rise of the Nazis in Germany, the Swastika was a common symbol associated with good health and wellbeing, appearing on RAF planes, fruit packaging and even Coca-Cola merchandise.
K7yB TIL that all fourth graders in the US have free admission to national parks