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TIL Simple Minds initially rejected recording what would become their biggest hit “Don’t You Forget About Me”. Lead singer Kerr said, “We couldn't give a toss about teenage American schoolkids” (‘The Breakfast Club’ film the song was written for). Billy Idol had also passed up on recording the song.

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NKAJ TIL that the Statute of Marlborough 1267 is the oldest law still enforced anywhere in the world. It prohibits seeking damages without a court order in England and Wales, and is still used to prosecute people to this day
8e5PL TIL King Sennacherib, a king of ancient Assyria from 704-681 BC, issued some of the earliest parking laws in recorded history. 'No Parking' signs were placed along a main road through the capital, Nineveh. The punishment for a parking violation was death, followed by impalement outside one's home.
xnE5 TIL that people living in Hong Kong and Japan who cannot afford to live in a house, take advantage of McDonalds’ “doors are always open” policy and live in their restaurants. These people are also known as McRefugees.
W7ZJL TIL that Nickelodeon almost cancelled Hey Arnold’s Christmas episode because they thought kids wouldn't care about its portrayal of the Vietnam War. An executive revoked the decision when her nine-year-old son saw a rough cut of the episode and asked 'Mom, is that what Vietnam was all about?'.
9YoMX TIL Philippe II Auguste once suggested a duel between five champions on each side to decide a battle between France and England, but changed his mind after Richard the Lionheart suggested that the kings were among the champions, as Richard was too good of a knight.