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TIL that in 2015, mist sprinklers, which cool the air, were placed near the entrance to the Auschwitz concentration camp. Many visitors to the museum were upset, saying the shower-like misters evoked memories of Nazi-era gas chambers. Nazi gas chambers were often disguised as showers.

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grKg8 TIL in 1926 Harry Houdini argued in congress for four days trying to convince them to pass his bill, House Resolution 8989, that would outlaw fortune-telling in the District of Columbia. The arguments nearly got physical and police were called several times.
PAdn TIL that WWF wrestler “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan was drafted into the NFL and played for the Atlanta Falcons.
v1nA7 TIL that in 1829 the British Prime Minister, the Duke of Wellington, took part in a pistol duel with an Earl who had vehemently disagreed with his plan for Catholic Emancipation. Neither man managed to shoot the other, and the Earl later wrote him an apology
AmQg TIL the term ‘footage’ comes from films being measured in feet when being edited in the early days of film making.
R7R64 The first modern crematory was built in the U.S. in 1876. A second came eight years later. By 1900, there were 20. The practice got another boost in 1963 when the Catholic Church reversed its opinion on cremation during the Vatican II reforms and said cremation was permitted (though ash scattering was not). Four decades ago, less than 5 percent of American were cremated when they died. Now that figure stands at nearly half.