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TIL Danish queen Margrethe II drew illustrations for the “Lord of the Rings”, J.R.R. Tolkien was pleased enough s.t. she became an “official Tolkien artist” responsible for the Danish edition of 1977

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7rmrZ TIL The first known evidence of the use of cryptography (in some form) was found in an inscription carved around 1900 BC, in the main chamber of the tomb of the nobleman Khnumhotep II, in Egypt. The scribe used some unusual hieroglyphic symbols here and there in place of more ordinary ones.
R5L87 TIL George Lucas wanted David Lynch to direct "Return of the Jedi"
N7YPP TIL the Russian city of Tolyatti (pop. 700000) is named after Italian Communist Party Secretary Palmiro Togliatti for his role in setting up a venture between Fiat and Soviet VAZ (Lada), whose plant still dominates the industry of the city to this day.
aPnZ TIL that Mattel released & quickly discontinued a vibrating Nimbus 2000 broomstick that was so stimulating that sex shops started selling the children’s toy for double the retail price.
kJGde TIL that for several years after the acclaimed 1974 film The Taking Of Pelham One Two Three came out, transit authorities would avoid having trains scheduled at 1:23.