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TIL The term checkmate is, according to the Barnhart Etymological Dictionary, an alteration of the Persian phrase “shāh māt” (شاه مات) which means, literally, “the King is helpless”

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v1jK7 TIL that a Concorde supersonic airliner was once painted bright blue in Pepsi livery to promote the soda company's new logo. It had to slow down in flight so that the blue paint didn't overheat from air friction.
gr1Ob TIL that Trace Adkins cut off his own pinky while trying to open a bucket with a knife; he had doctors put it on at an angle so he could still play guitar. (Also in a separate incident his second ex-wife shot him through his heart and lungs, somehow he survived)
m1nnp TIL that Before his record setting Hall of Fame career as the head coach of the Dallas Cowboys, Tom Landry flew 30 combat missions as a B-17 Flying Fortress co-pilot
ep4x5 TIL the "dirt" under your fingernails is most commonly the keratin debris from the underside of the nail, as well as skin cells from the nail bed.
EBOP TIL Chess has been used as psychotherapy help for social problems such as ADD/ADHD, alcohol and drug abuse, Asperger’s, Autism, schizophrenia, along with helping prison inmates.