› added 12 years ago

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TIL that, in 2008 “more than 36,000 people died of drug overdoses in the U.S., and more than 20,000 of these overdose deaths were from prescription drugs” according to the CDC.

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via reddit.com

4X1eX TIL At a radiology conference in 1974, Lee Rogers, a physician who had mistakenly swallowed a soda can tab during a basketball game, addressed the hazard to the medical community, which lead to a redesign of a non-removable tab that reduced untold amounts of litter and injury to humans and wildlife.
rRRLW TIL that the government of Brazil attempted to transform the country into a major manufacturer of computers in the 1980s. The import of foreign computers was banned so that people would have to use Brazilian models, which were of inferior quality since the government spent very little money on R&D.
Z1G4 TIL the Pinball game on windows was actually a demo for a full collection of Pinball games.
E1oYX TIL that Samuel L Jackson wanted a purple lightsaber so he would be noticeable in Attack of the Clones, and that he has the prop at home with, "Bad Mother f***er," inscribed in the hilt of it.
VMo0 TIL that a space venture backed by Google and Microsoft founders are planning to mine near-Earth asteroids to extract ice deposits, precious metals and minerals.