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TIL One of the reasons Walmart failed to establish itself in Germany is that it required its checkout employees to smile at customers. This was however perceived by most Germans as unnerving, as Germans usually don't smile at strangers.

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QJD0X TIL that British longbows in the 1600's netted much longer firing ranges than the contemporary Native American Powhaten tribe's bows (400 yds vs. 120 yds, respectively). Colonists from Jamestown once turned away additional longbows for fear that they might fall into the Powhaten's hands.
mRJE TIL Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Harry Houdini knew each other personally and were good friends until they had a falling out when Houdini failed to prove to Doyle that his magic tricks were illusions. Doyle refused to accept this as he believed Houdini actually had supernatural powers.
ZpgxY TIL that Freddy Mercury once snuck Princess Diana into a gay bar disguised as a man.
GAWNG TIL Queensbridge Houses is the largest public housing development in the USA. It contains 29 buildings and 3,142 units for 7,000 people.
oBDlR TIL Heinlich Himmler chose Wewelsburg Castle for the SS based on occult prophesies. They renovated it before moving in, & one of the rooms in the building became known as "the Grail Room" with a rock crystal representing the Holy Grail being placed in a central position.