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TIL that John Newton was the captain of a slave ship. In 1748 he encountered a severe storm and, although being non-religious, prayed out to God for safety. This event changed his life. He later became a clergy member, an abolitionist, and wrote the hymn "Amazing Grace" about his experience.

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LXrm TIL when Quentin Roosevelt was shot down over France in WW1 the Germans buried him with military honors “because he was a gallant aviator, who died fighting bravely against odds and because he was the son of Colonel Teddy Roosevelt whom they esteemed as one of the greatest Americans”
P15LE TIL the largest wave ever surfed successfully without a tow (paddle-in) is 63 ft (19.2 m) by Aaron Gold at a break known as 'Jaws' off the coast of Maui, Hawaii in 2016.
6EP1Q TIL of the Dutch mimicry study: Waitresses who repeated their customers orders increase their tips by 70% over those who positively reinforce the order ("sure", "great choice"), Suggesting that we favor those who mimic our behaviors.
5Yo9P TIL before the Curse of the Bambino was reversed, they placed a Boston cap atop Mt. Everest and burning a Yankees cap at its base camp; hired a professional exorcists Father Guido Sarducci to purify Fenway Park; and spray painting a reverse curve street sign on Storrow Drive with "Reverse the Curse"
VVZB TIL sea shells sound ‘like the ocean’ because they act as resonators - you are actually hearing “the ambient noise that’s being produced all around and inside you, which you normally don’t hear or pay attention to because it’s too quiet.”