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581

TIL there really is a hotel like the one used in the movie 'Bad Times at the El Royale.' It's called the Cal Neva Lodge and is split into California and Nevada sides just like in the movie. The lodge was owned, in part, by Frank Sinatra at one point.

R74Y7 TIL of the Ibrahim Prize. a $5 million payout plus $200,000 per year given to African leaders who were democratically elected and left office after their term was up as part of their criteria. For 7 of the 12 years it was offered, it was never awarded to anyone
OG48g TIL that 'Rocky' (1976) was inspired by the true story of Chuck Wepner, a local boxer from New Jersey who was set up for a dream fight with Muhammad Ali. Wepner quit his job to train full time, and against all odds, lasted 15 rounds with the champ. Stallone was in the audience.
OlyX TIL that Jim Henson created ‘The Dark Crystal’ with the idea that it was unhealthy for children never to be afraid, and wanted to return to the fantasy genre’s darker roots as in Hans Christian Andersen’s tales.
E8E0 TIL that it actually does rain more over the weekend because heat and pollution from midweek work traffic prevents moisture from forming, but on weekends when there is no traffic it rains.
R7P9l TIL the Mathematical Association of America (MAA) does not believe it is important for students to take calculus in high school, saying “the pump that is pushing more students into more advanced mathematics ever earlier is not just ineffective: It is counter-productive.”