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TIL E.T. was originally written as a horror movie in which aliens kill others simply by the touch of a long, bony finger. Spielberg changed his mind and decided to make it a family-friendly film and later repurposed the horror concept for "Poltergiest".

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QJa4p TIL Ron Wasserman, the composer of the Power Rangers theme song, also composed the theme song for the X-Men Animated Series
wLaoM TIL the $150 million fundraised by Band Aid in 1984 (where the famous song "Do They Know It's Christmas" comes from), which was meant to help famine-struck Ethiopia, actually lead to more deaths since it was given to the corrupt government who used the money to prolong the famine and civil war.
VGPp TIL that 82% of Americans want warning labels on GMO foods. The same study revealed that 80% of Americans want warning labels on foods that contain DNA. [pdf warning]
X0e8j TIL that the anonymous executioner of King Charles I of England, did not proclaim the usual “behold the head of a traitor” line. It is thought that this was because of their fear that someone would recognise their voice.
KMl6 TIL packs of cigarettes sold for $0.23 in vending machines were sold with two pennies inside to eliminate the need to dispense change.