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TIL the English word 'arena' comes from the Latin word harena, which was the fine-grained sand spread on the floor to soak up gladiator blood.

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P19lG TIL of the Arisan Maru, a Japanese "hell ship" that was torpedoed while carrying Allied prisoners of war. None of the 1,781 passengers were killed by the explosion, but other Japanese ships refused to rescue them, resulting in only 9 survivors.
gM8D4 TIL the Vatican once dispatched a church father to personally verify if Shirley Temple was a 30-year-old dwarf with false teeth in a wig.
LQNnv TIL Hawaii has an endemic raspberry. Rubus hawaiensis, also called ‘Ākala. It is found on the islands of Kauaʻi, Molokaʻi, Maui, O’ahu, and Hawaiʻi. The berries have a semi-sweet flavor and is a food source for many native birds.
dVE TIL Christmas is often spelled Xmas because the Greek letter Chi (χ) is used to abbreviate the name Christ.
xjW1 TIL Dennis Rodman paid for the funeral of a Texas man who was dragged behind the vehicle of white supremecists.