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TIL that at age 9, Ron McNair, the African-American astronaut later killed in the Challenger explosion in 1986, refused to leave a segregated public library after the librarian rejected his request to check out some books. The police were called, as was his mother.

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XgYX TIL that when the great ballerina Anna Pavlova contracted pneumonia, she was told she needed an operation that would leave her unable to dance. She replied, “If I can’t dance, then I would rather be dead.” She died shortly after.
b6glE TIL it is unlikely that Jack the Ripper targeted prostitutes. There is no evidence to suggest most of his victims were sex workers. Instead, they are likely to have been targeted because they were asleep when he/she approached them.
Lkm6d TIL The Edge of Daybreak, a 70s R&B band, recorded their album Eyes of Love in prison. The album was recorded in one take in the visiting room.
mAgR TIL on the day of Archduke Franz Ferdinand’s assassination, he had narrowly missed a previous attempt which had injured his men. He decided to visit them in hospital and his driver took a wrong turn and stopped a few metres away from the assassin who promptly shot the Archduke.
8ammb TIL In 1902 when the volcano of Mt Pelee erupted on the island of Martinque, the town of St Pierre was totally destoryed Ludger Sylbaris was one of only three survivors. The night before the eruption he was arrested and put in solitory confinement only to be rescued with severe burns 4 days later.