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TIL Charles Manson, hoping to incite racial wars, stole his victim’s wallet and had it planted in the restroom of a gas station in what he thought was a black neighborhood; instead of inciting Helter Skelter as he had hoped, it lay there for months until discovered by a cleaning attendant.

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R7rK7 TIL that in 1949 the Costa Rican government abolished their army, stating that the army "would be replaced with an army of teachers." The country has free universal public education and a literacy rate of 97%.
Z8w9B TIL Costa Rica's national anthem was composed in prison. Manuel Gutierrez, an orchestra director, was contacted by the Costa Rican president to compose a national anthem. When Gutierrez replied that he had no composition skills, the president threw him in prison, setting bail at “1 National Anthem".
eppQk TIL There was a two month period in 1617 where both Pocahontas and Squanto were in London. Pocahontas lived with the Treasurer of the Virginia Company and Squanto was living with the Treasurer for the Newfoundland Company. They lived only a few hundred yards from each other.
KOaPB TIL The first tent erected at the South Pole by the Norwegian expedition led by Roald Amundsen on its arrival on 14 December 1911 is still there, buried beneath 17 meters of snow.
QJgD9 TIL it was Kevin Costner who suggested his co-star Whitney Houston record "I Will Always Love You" for the soundtrack to The Bodyguard starring Costner and Houston. Her efforts were rewarded with 2 Grammy Awards and 4 million copies sold in the United States alone.