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TIL that Halloween, as it’s celebrated in modern times in the United States, is a result of intermingled traditions from immigrants based on Samhain, Pomona Day, and Day of the Dead.

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Z8XwB TIL of the Kudirka Incident: a Soviet sailor swam from his ship and attempted to defect with the American Coast Guard. Not knowing the protocol for granting asylum, the Coast Guard eventually allowed the Soviets onto their vessel, where they arrested him and sentenced him to 10 years in prison.
R5wYj TIL Development takes time
8JnK TIL Wealthy Chinese Sometimes Hire Body Doubles To Serve Prison Sentences
VlDk TIL that 10 Syrian Pound coins are so similar to Norway’s 20 krone coins in weight that vending machines cannot tell the difference. Posten Norge had to close many of their coin-to-cash machines because of this. 20 krone is worth about 45 times more than 10 SP.
Me64B TIL The band Franz Ferdinand's name was inspired by a racehorse called Archduke Ferdinand. The horse won the Northumberland Plate in 2001 and the band liked the alliteration. Additionally the band wanted a name that would imply their music would transform the world; like Ferdinand's death did.