› added 5 years ago

56

TIL in 1960, an Australian father won nearly $3 million (adjusted AU$) in the lottery, with his picture getting plastered all over the news. Shortly after, his 8-year-old son was kidnapped for ransom and eventually murdered. This changed anonymity laws for lottery winners in Australia forever.

wLXYE TIL that over 50 gangs have members within the US military. The gang members use their time in the armed forces to gain weapon/combat skills. They also seek to expand their territory and traffic drugs.
4kM4a TIL the first thing the one-armed John Lind did the moments after he was finished with his term as Minnesota’s Governor was go to a local newspaper and punch the face of an editor who had questioned his loyalty to the US during his term.
E18ap TIL A young Chinese woman ran away to Beijing to avoid a planned marriage, but was followed by her fiance. After she became pregnant, her fiance abandoned her at a hotel and she narrowly avoided being sold to a brothel. A newspaper editor saved her and she wrote several novels before dying at 30
x6X6D TIL In 1924, CEOs of the leading light bulb companies held a secret meeting to stop improving their lightbulbs. This was because if they kept on making their lightbulbs last longer, then eventually consumers wouldn't have to buy any more lightbulbs.
p8bAe TIL a patient was diagnosed with Multiple Personality Disorder triggered by excessive internet role play. Doctors concluded that cyberspace's anonymous interactivity may offer the possibility to explore one's identity while also putting at risk identity coherence.