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TIL Stephen King's debut as a movie director was to make a film based on a short horror story he wrote about killer cars. He did the whole film coked out of his mind before swearing never to direct again.

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e9WD TIL that Georgi Dimitrov, accused of conspiring to burn the Reichstag German in 1933, successfully defended himself in trial, including grilling Hermann Göring on the stand
MZN7 TIL beekeepers introduce new queens in a cage plugged with candy. By the time the bees eat through the candy, her pheromones have caused colony members to accept her. If they eat the candy too quickly, they will kill her.
neXe7 TIL About Bartolomeu Portugues, a Buccaneer Who Established the First Rules of the Pirate Code. Held Prisoner On a Spanish Ship, He Escaped Thru Over 120 Miles of Jungle After Swimming to Shore Using Wine Jars For Floaties Because He Couldn't Swim. He Came Back and Stole the Ship That Arrested Him.
YpOQZ TIL that, at the time of his death aged 97 years and 4 days, Harland Fairweather was the oldest person ever with a living parent. His mother Violent Brown died almost five months later at age 117.
jNvXN TIL comedy legend Mel Brooks was an uncredited producer of The Elephant Man, released in 1980. He was left off the credits for fear that fans would believe the movie was a comedy.