› added 13 years ago

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TIL there is a temple in India where anyone is welcome regardless of religion: The Lotus Temple.

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via reddit.com

grrnL TIL in the 1700s oysters were so overly abundant and popular in New York City that the discarded shells were repurposed into mortar paste to aid NY’s building boom. Trinity Church is an example of a building built with oyster-shells.
ZpPRY TIL John Travolta was first considered for Forrest Gump but declined, opening the door for Tom Hanks. Bill Murray was also considered. Joe Pesci was a contender for Lieutenant Dan, but Gary Sinise got the role. Dave Chappelle rejected the role of Benjamin Buford Blue, thinking the film would flop.
Avdn TIL that the weird little “spirals” on jet engine turbine tips are so the ground crews can tell if an engine is spinning or not
M7vW TIL that, calorie for calorie, raw spinach has almost as much protein as sirloin steak
M7PY8 TIL about Robert Carter III who in 1791 through 1803 set about freeing all 400-500 of his slaves. He then hired them back as workers and then educated them. His family, neighbors and government did everything to stop him including trying to tar and feather him and drove him from his home.