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TIL The painting The Gate of Calais (1748) features the artist, William Hogarth, about to be arrested. This is included in the painting since Hogarth was arrested in Calais because his sketching was mistaken for espionage.

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VA1Q TIL that during the 19th century, spiral staircases were installed in firehouse’s to keep the horses from climbing up into the living quarters. These staircases slowed down response time, which led to a new invention: the fireman’s pole.
R7mY1 TIL of George Peter Metesky, better known as the "Mad Bomber," who terrorized New York City for 16 years in the 1940s and 1950s with explosives that he planted in theaters, terminals, libraries and offices.
nW45r TIL of the world's shortest international bridge in Esperança, Portugal. Though it measures only 10.4 feet long (3.2 meters), this bridge spans the boarder river between Portugal and Spain.
R7wd8 TIL The FDA’s guidance documents for additives & plastic safety do not establish legally enforceable responsibilities. Instead, guidances describe the Agency’s current thinking on a topic and should be viewed only as recommendations, unless specific regulatory or statutory requirements are cited.
750P TIL that when the Nazis forced Jews to wear yellow stars during WW2, it backfired. Doing so increased sympathy for the Jews, who were (contrary to Nazi propaganda) obviously not responsible for how badly the war was going. People began tipping hats to Jews as a symbol of anti-German resistance.