› added 1 year ago

43

TIL that following a deadly avalanche in 1962, Peruvian authorities were warned of the potential for a much larger slide to occur by a group of American climbers. These warnings were not only ignored but actively suppressed. 8 years later the deadliest avalanche in history occurred, killing 30k

Read more wikipedia.org

via reddit.com

Y70BW TIL From 1908 until 1940, Sears Roebuck sold over 70,000 ready build kit houses through their mail order catalogue, ranging in price from $452 to $5,972
GYMAQ TIL a masked Manchester music producer known as "Outlaw" has been driving around at 5 mph blasting McFerrin's "Don't Worry" & handing out free items such as toilet paper, sanitiser, & weed. He's also known for handing out cash to needy at xmas & for giving bags of bud to passersby in Picadilly Gdns.
DD6v TIL that in 1948 a DC radio station asked ambassadors what they’d like for Christmas. The French ambassador said “world peace”, the Russian said “freedom from the enslavement of imperialism”, and the Brit said “Well, it’s very kind of you to ask. I’d quite like a box of crystallised fruit.”
d8Ed7 TIL: Pirates were generally considered by the English government to be reserve naval forces, and were sometimes given active encouragement such as knighthoods. Royal pardons were regularly issued and the public's opinion of pirates was often favorable, some considering them akin to patrons.
NnXb TIL that a popular stuffed polar bear, located at Science Museum of Minnesota, was killed after being beaten to death by vandals at a local zoo.