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TIL Melvin Williams played The Deacon on The Wire and Williams criminal history as a Baltimore drug kingpin inspired much of the series. After his release from prison Williams became a community activist.

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gK5W TIL in 1986 NASA asked Big Bird to enter into a space mission to encourage kids to get interested in space. The big bird suit was too big for the spacecraft meaning he could not fly, the spacecraft that he was meant to be on exploded as it was taking off.
b6Rp7 TIL when Chuck Peddle & Bill Mensch introduced the 6502 microprocessor at a trade show in 1975, it was faster & cheaper than its competitors ($25 each instead of nearly $200). It almost single-handedly forced the price of processors to drop, helping to launch the personal computer revolution.
0w7L TIL that a study performed by the National Safety Council (NCS) concluded that you are 8 times more likely to be killed by a police officer than a terrorist
xWOB TIL that Habsburg dynasty has a unique lip structure and this is a result of incestuous selection of marriage partners.
0wpwM TIL that in the 1980's, people living in the borders of forests in India and Bangladesh were issued plastic face masks to wear on the back of their heads. Tiger attacks virtually stopped because the tigers thought people were looking at them when their backs were turned.