› added 6 years ago

314

TIL in 1913, a bank was shipped in 50 pound increments through the USPS mail system to save money. 40 tons of bricks ended up being shipped and the USPS released a statement saying “it is not the intent of the United States Postal Service that buildings be shipped through the mail."

aWpb TIL that Paulo Coelho supports The Pirate Bay and offered to be a witness in the 2009 trial. His comment: “a person who does not share is not only selfish, but bitter and alone.”
rNDld TIL in the early 20th century, in order to prevent smells and occasional explosions, the United Kingdom installed "Sewer Gas Destructor Lamps." The street lamps, connected to sewer vents, generated heat which would draw up gases to the lanterns. The odors and bacteria would burn off in the flames.
0Xnv TIL:A man injected himself with snake venom during most of his adult life to build up an immunity to a array of venomous snakes. He lived to age 100, and survived a reported 172 snake bites. He donated his blood to be used in treating snake-bite victims when a suitable anti-venom was not available.
oB9L7 TIL the Captain Planet cartoon had an episode dedicated to the dangers of over population with the planeteer alert telling you not to have too many kids
EgEGw TIL about the winterworm, people pay ALOT to eat the cordyceps fungus in Asia. Made famous by the recent TV drama The Last of Us, prices are as high as $18,000 per kg. Eaten for its herbal properties its known as the viagra of Tibet.