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TIL Mad Magazine received a notice of legal action in 1980 from Lucasfilm over its parody of The Empire Strikes Back. Mad sent back a letter they had on file from George Lucas saying how much he loved the parody and the lawyers were never heard from again.

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gM7L4 TIL in the US in the late 19th Century it was briefly fashionable for people to form "13 Clubs" where they would dine in groups of 13, walk under ladders, spill salt at the table, etc. to demonstrate their lack of superstition. Several future US Presidents participated.
YZ0Z TIL in 2006, Bank of America had someone jailed for inquiring about the legitimacy of a check. The uproar cost BoA $50 million worth of withdrawals from irate customers.
wLlZ7 TIL Darwin's Beetle (Chiasognathus grantii) have giant mandibles (more than 1/2 their body length) they use to battle males as they climb trees where females are found for a chance to mate. The mandibles can hook rivals under the wings to throw them off the tree, as well as the female after mating.
ZJrv TIL Sigourney Weaver made the no-look over the shoulder basketball shot in one take from Alien: Resurrection
4kMyw TIL that Louisiana law mistakenly lists and restricts a variety of edible groundcherry as a hallucinogen, despite its long history of use as food by native peoples