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TIL that Micheal Jackson's "Billy Jean" was inspired by multiple women claiming to have children from his brothers while he was in the Jackson 5, as well as one who sent Micheal a handgun and a time to commit suicide so he would die at the same time as her and her son she claimed to be his.

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lYlV TIL Nathan Phelps son of the head pastor at Westboro Baptist Church left home on 18th bday and is now an atheist and LGBT rights activist
4kx5o TIL enslaved Africans worked on the ships that transported other Africans into slavery. These men, 230 in all, were used onboard to communicate with the slaves and to translate between Captain and slaver, and to alleviate some of the fears that newly boarded slaves had, such as fear of being eaten.
GJ6Q TIL that when complaints were filed calling for the dismissal of Ulysses S. Grant due to his drinking habits, Lincoln responded, “I wish some of you would tell me the brand of whiskey that Grant drinks. I would like to send a barrel of it to my other generals.”
epmXL TIL that Sarah Knauss, who was the oldest American to ever live (born 1880), was about to see three centuries in her lifetime, but ultimately died on December 30th, 1999, at the age of 119.
VBBdB TIL Koi fish, while superficially signifying "good luck," most strongly mean "perseverance in the face of adversity" because they swim against the current. In legend, they swam up a waterfall and turned into a golden dragon upon reaching the top.