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TIL that the 19th century Catholic Church declared “Americanism” a heresy, which included the beliefs in separation of church and state, secularism, etc. This played into American fears at the time that Catholics were too loyal to the Pope and were thus undemocratic, illiberal, and unassimilatable.

0d6mp TIL that footage from an episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm was used as evidence to exonerate a man who was accused of murder.
nWnKo TIL the term “gaslighting” originates in a British play-turned film from the 1930s. The play was called “Gas Light” and the plot is about a husband who mentally and emotionally manipulates his wife into believing she is crazy by changing the intensity of the gas lamps within their home.
wLMQo TIL that Tom Lee, a river worker, saved 32 passengers from a sinking M.E. Norman steamboat on May 8, 1925. Tom Lee Park in Memphis is named after him.
GYdnJ TIL The human brain weighs 3 pounds. It comprises 60% of fat and is one of the fattest organs in the human body. Human brain has the capacity to generate approximately 23 watts of power when awake. Of the total blood and oxygen that is produced in our body, the brain gets 20% of it.
ne4jb TIL of Albert Anastasia who at 19 killed a coworker in a fight and was sentenced to death. He won a retrial on a technicality and was freed when no witnesses reappeared. He then became one of America’s deadliest mobsters personally murdering at least 1,200 people and ordering the deaths of 10,000+.