› added 6 years ago

70

TIL in England in 1858, a confectioner making peppermint lozenges tried to purchase harmless powdered gypsum from a local pharmacist but was accidentally sold 12 pounds of arsenic trioxide. 21 people died and more than 200 others became ill when the poisoned candy was unwittingly sold to the public.

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rNo1 TIL that 99% of all puppies sold at pet stores come from puppy mills.
a8JmM TIL Andrew Carnegie became one of the richest Americans in history before donating most of his wealth to charity. However, at his childhood job in the mid-1800s, he earned only $1.20 for 72 working hours. In 2023 dollars, Carnegie earned around $46 per week or 63 cents/hour.
Oo4g4 TIL in 1973, a Marine pilot took a base helicopter and three crew members without permission to assist New Orleans police officers in fighting a mass shooter atop a downtown building. His actions saved countless lives, and he retired as a Lt General in 1990.
AMwl TIL that after comedian Bill Hicks’ set was edited out of The Late Show With David Letterman in ‘93, he wrote a 39-page letter detailing exactly what happened behind the scenes.
g4Pb TIL: On his second day in office, President Jimmy Carter pardoned all evaders of the Vietnam War drafts.