› added 6 minutes ago

TIL that the sample for Jay-Z’s song for “Hard Knock Life” was only cleared after Jay-Z wrote a letter to Annie’s composer claiming that seeing the musical on Broadway as a child changed his life. Charles Strouse, the musical’s composer, gave Jay-Z permission despite the entire story being made up.

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b9KBa TIL Western Union stopped its telegram operations on January 27, 2006, reporting that only 20,000 telegrams were sent in 2005 at about $10 per message.
gMA0L TIL that Princess Leia's hair in Star Wars was inspired by women of the Mexican revolution.
b9bX9 TIL Woody Harrelsons father (Charles Harrelson) was an American hitman and organized crime figure.
Ye0r TIL: That on June 6th 1942, 500 Japanese soldiers invaded and captured Kiska, Alaska. Taking a 10 man (and 6 dog) US Navy weather detachment completely by surprise. By the end of the campaign more casualties occurred in Alaska than at Pearl Harbor.
aArN TIL James Earl Jones refused to be credited for his role as the voice of Darth Vader until 1997