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TIL that NFL legend Walter Payton originally didn’t want to play high school football, because his brother played and he didn’t want to compete with him. He only agreed to try out after receiving assurances that he wouldn’t have to quit the marching band, where he was an accomplished drummer

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mX9x TIL when a paper couldn’t think of a name for an article about Chris Hadfield they rang the Air Force who said “Just call it ‘Canadian Wins Top Test Pilot’ or something to that effect.” A friend sent Chris a copy of the article, it read "Canadian Wins Top Test Pilot or Something to that Effect”
VMbkB TIL The design of the Emperor’s home in “Mulan” takes its inspiration from China’s Forbidden City. The timeline of the movie is set during China’s Han Dynasty, from around 200 B.C.to 200 A.D.; while the Forbidden City was built about 1,200 years later
x6BZb TIL David Attenborough, as a young TV producer, was instrumental in tennis balls being the colour they are today.
D1EV TIL During the 1863 New York Draft Riots (that was dramatized in Gangs Of New York) The staff of The New York Times averted rioters that were targeting the newspaper with two Gatling guns; one of which was manned by Henry Raymond, owner and editor of The New York Times, himself.
QJbJa TIL of Billie Bob Harrell, Jr. from Texas. In June 1997, he won $31M from lottery. He bought a ranch. He bought cars each for himself, wife & 3 children. He donated money to his church. Everyone he knew, even strangers, were asking him for money. 20 months later he shot himself to death.