› added 6 years ago

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TIL of a serial arsonist in California who worked as an arson investigator and fire captain, and would commit arson on his way to and from arson investigator conferences. Before his arrest, he even wrote a novel about a firefighter who was a serial arsonist.

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N7po1 TIL United Feature Syndicate responded positively to a comic strip featuring a side character with a stuffed animal. They asked the creator to develop a strip around these characters but ultimately rejected it for lacking in marketing potential. The strip was Calvin and Hobbes by Bill Waterson.
dynZ TIL in early Roman times, a father could legally kill anyone in his family
Oo5GX TIL of the French court dwarf Richebourg who was only 23 inches tall. During the French Revolution he was used to pass secret messages in and out of Paris carried by nurses and disguised in an infant’s clothing.
nWkmd TIL that in 1976 before going to a show Keith Richards received news that his three month old son had died from SIDS; he made the choice to perform that night regardless but was criticized for doing so. He later stated that if he hadn't done the show that night he would probably have shot himself.
6oX8 TIL that in 1942, 13-year-old Seaman Calvin Graham was decorated for valor in battle. Then his mother learned where he’d been and revealed his secret to the Navy.