› added 10 months ago

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TIL Wilt Chamberlain is the reason for players to stay behind the foul line when shooting a free throw. In college, thanks to his 7’ height, 7’8” wingspan, and 50” vertical, he would start from top of the key, leap before the foul line, and dunk the ball before he touched the ground in the lane.

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4XJvg TIL that during the Battle of Dien Bien Phu, the United States proposed "Operation Vulture" which involved the potential use of nuclear weapons against the Viet Minh in support of France. These proposals only fell through due to the British government's refusal to support them.
vPp0D TIL In 1952, the press criticized Marilyn Monroe on her red dress stating that she looked like she was in a potato sack. Few days later she responded with a photo of her in a potato sack dress
QJOKM TIL “cataphiles” come from all over the world to illegally explore at least 180 miles of “catacombs” — abandoned mines — under Paris. Artists paint murals. Fire dancers perform. Nazi bunkers and French resistance hideouts sit side by side. Graffiti from the French Revolution marks the walls.
AdEB TIL The US Department of Defense has paid NFL teams millions of tax dollars to hold surprise military family reunions, “Hometown Hero” salutes and other military displays during games.
QNXnp TIL 19 Choctaw Native Americans were first used on the front lines and in command posts in World War 1 because their language was unknown to the Germans who were listening in