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TIL "The Deer Hunter" in 1978 was the first film to use Oscars as a marketing tool. Being too depressing for the box office, it did screenings for film critics and Academy members. It gained nine nominations and won Best Picture, and then that was used to make it a commercial success.

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JAem TIL that a man spent several years acting as the mate of a female whooping crane - sleeping, dancing, and building nests with her - as part of an effort to save the species from extinction. And it worked!
aO9b TIL that the phrase “Die Hard” was coined in 1811 by an English officer during a battle in the Napoleonic Wars. He was wounded, but refused to leave the field, telling his outnumbered regiment to “die hard” against the French troops.
XEVDj TIL in the 1880s, the Harvard Observatory director was frustrated with his staff, and would say "My Scottish maid could do better!" So, he hired his Scottish maid. Williamina Fleming ran a team for decades, classified tens of thousands of stars, & discovered white dwarfs and the Horsehead Nebula.
e0Qlg TIL The 911 jumpers' death certificates state the cause of death as "blunt trauma" due to homicide and not Suicide. They didn't wanna kill themselves but were forced to.
8bdK TIL Green Man from “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” is based on a true story. Show creator Rob McElhenney attended an Eagles game with a friend, who ripped off all his clothes after they won, revealing a full-body green lycra suit, and yelling “I’m the Green Man!”