› added 12 years ago

69

TIL Gasoline used to be so worthless, that petroleum refineries would simply throw it away.

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rNA0W TIL that the UK has a national fish farm to breed course fish to help restock rivers and stillwaters - it was founded in 1940.
8RVK TIL Indiana State Prison allows murderers to adopt cats and have them in their cells.
wLQ0o TIL that Eli Black, then-CEO of the successor of United Fruit killed himself by jumping onto the tracks of Grand Central Station when his illicit bribes to the Honduran government were discovered. His son is now one of the most successful hedge fund managers in the world.
LXbd TIL Van Gogh shot himself in the chest and then went and smoked a few cigarettes before finally dying.
rNJ84 TIL that from 1170 to 1512, "The Neck Verse" could save one from punishment for almost any crime in England. Literate accusees, or criminals who had simply memorised Psalm 51:3, would recite it to claim the "Benefit of Clergy", meaning they would be tried by the much more lenient church courts.