› added 9 years ago

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TIL that in the late 1600s London was plagued by an attacker who would spank his victims with a rod and shout “Spanko!” before running away

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9bM TIL Intel spilled 1.4 tons of carbon tetrachloride in Rio Rancho, New Mexico in 2003. Deceased dogs in the area were found to have high levels of toluene, hexane, ethylbenzene, and xylene isomers in their lungs. Intel later lied and reported no release of carbon tetrachloride for all of 2003.
lovYa TIL after many accidents and deaths caused by 30 Minute Guarantee Promotions, Domino's Pizza was sued for many millions of dollars in wrongful death suits, one suit was for over 50 million dollars. After many people were hurt or killed by this 'rush' policy, 30 Minute Guarantee was discontinued.
OoxAe TIL NASA firefighters used military armored personnel carriers during every space shuttle launch in case they needed to rescue astronauts at the launch site.
PYw7n TIL in the early 1900’s, Idaho potatoes were used only for hog food until a railroad superintendent found that they were delicious when baked. Celebrity endorsements, a song and a 40ft potato shaped sign (with electric winking eyes) soon followed and the "baked" potato became mainstream fare.
Edl0 TIL that with all its renewable energy, on a sunny and windy day, Germany doesn’t need to run its conventional power plants