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TIL “Chimney Sweeps” were originally enslaved children who would shimmy up a chimney with a cleaning brush - and oftentimes they would get stuck in the process and die. The deaths were so common that brick masons developed a technique to open chimneys and extract bodies quickly.

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ZpPRY TIL John Travolta was first considered for Forrest Gump but declined, opening the door for Tom Hanks. Bill Murray was also considered. Joe Pesci was a contender for Lieutenant Dan, but Gary Sinise got the role. Dave Chappelle rejected the role of Benjamin Buford Blue, thinking the film would flop.
GAxpg TIL that William Calcraft, the notorious English hangman, carried out around 450 executions. To hasten death, he would sometimes pull on the condemned person's legs or even climb on their shoulders in an attempt to break their necks. Calcraft conducted the last public execution in 1868.
E1OJo TIL there is an evolutionary recent type of parasitic plant, some of which are orchid species, that cannot do photosynthesis anymore. Instead they grow underground for several years before emerging with stems and pale colorless flowers. They obtain all their nutrients by parasitizing mushrooms.
kvVd TIL in Germany there is a flooded mine in which you can go scuba-diving.
nWkBG TIL that one man (Chris Clark) bought the domain "pizza.com" in 1994 and sold it for $2.6 million at auction.