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TIL the last blood libel trial (prosecuting a Jew for supposedly slaughtering a Christian child to use their blood in a Jewish ritual) was held in Kiev in 1913. After spending two years in prison awaiting trial, the defendant Mendel Beilis was eventually acquitted.

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BGDd TIL The Roman Colosseum had 28 lifts which hoisted animals 24 ft up, then cage lids and trap doors in the arena floor opened simultaneously, unleashing beasts to fight each other or men. A lift was remade last June, ridden by a wolf who received a biscuit when released into the Colosseum.
jNaNp TIL that campfire smoke always follows me because when I stand in front of it, it blocks air flow and the smoke comes my way (Iwas always curious if I was just unlucky
Olra TIL that rock band KISS uses a different logo in Germany to avoid confusion with the Nazi SS logo
9wLED TIL in Germany it is illegal to use the familiar "du" form when addressing a police officer. You must always use the polite "Sie" form of address, and can be fined up to €600 for failing to do so.
Yp66A TIL that the Uruguayan navy once use stale cheese as cannonballs once they had run out during a battle against Brazil. The Uruguayans won the battle.