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TIL Saving Private Ryan (1998) was inspired by the story of the Niland brothers. Ryan was based on "Fritz" who served in the 101st Airborne Division and was close friends with Warren Muck and Donald Malarkey from E Company, 506th, later featured in Hanks and Spielberg's Band of Brothers (2001)

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loV9r TIL in 2000 a man attempted to hijack a Philippine Airlines flight, yet after being denied access to the cockpit robbed the passengers at gunpoint before jumping out of the plane to his death attempting to use a parachute he made himself out of nylon and curtains.
4Xlpg TIL musician Jim Croce and others died apparently due to a lazy pilot. An investigation showed the plane crashed after clipping a tree at the end of the runway. The pilot had not gained sufficient altitude to clear the tree and had not tried to avoid it, even though it was the only tree in the area.
78kbO TIL Due to retailer worries from the 1983 video game crash, WorldsOfWonder, creators of Teddy Ruxpin and Lazer Tag, used the popularity of their products to force American retailers into selling the Nintendo Entertainment System.
Z6PD TIL that when a bill was presented to legalise same-sex marriage in Iceland, no members of parliament voted against it.
Rrp7 TIL when Japanese women laugh they often cover their mouths with their hand. This comes from an old Buddhist notion that showing bone is unclean.