› added 9 years ago

867

TIL red M&Ms were not sold for 10 years over concerns that red food dye was a carcinogen

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oRy57 TIL that the 10,000 steps a day was an arbitrary number that came from a marketing campaign for an early pedometer launched ahead of the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. The number was chosen because the Japanese character for 10,000 resembles a person walking.
7rwO7 TIL Execution by elephant was a common method of execution in South and Southeast Asia. Elephants were employed by royalty to crush, dismember, or torture captives until the regions were colonized in the 18th and 19th centuries.
0d6bA TIL celebrity chef Jamie Oliver named his children "Poppy Honey Rosie" "Daisy Boo Pamela" "Petal Blossom Rainbow" "Buddy Bear Maurice" and "River Rocket Blue Dallas"
kOdW TIL citizens of a small NY town forced McDonalds to renovate (instead of tearing down) the ~200-year-old Georgian mansion it purchased, resulting in a uniquely historic franchise location
PYDZG TIL Jessica McClure fell into a well in 1987. The rescue effort gained national attention and is considered the turning point for 24 hour news. The fame associated with the ordeal has caused a divorce, suicide, and boredom.