› added 3 months ago

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TIL that when 13-year-old Ryan White got AIDS from a blood donor in 1984, he was banned from returning to school by a petition signed by 117 parents. An auction was held to keep him out, a newspaper supporting him got death threats, and his family left town when a gun was fired through their window.

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via reddit.com

rNk4W TIL about the pop-star Aaliyah who died in a plane crash in 2001. Aaliyah refused to get on the plane, as she was worried about how safe it was, so one of her entourage slipped her a sedative and carried her onboard unconscious.
WMNB TIL that in 1972, a serbian flight attendant fell from 33000ft (10000m) after the plane she was flying in was torn apart by an explosive device. She survived the fall without permanent injuries.
E1wEx TIL ultrasonic blades use sound waves to cleanly and precisely cut difficult-to-process food, like cheese. In particular, the technique stops matter from sticking to the blade, reducing cleaning time.
MGGW TIL that Miss USA 1957, Leona Gage was stripped of her title when it was revealed that she was 18, married, and the mother of two children. Here she is on The Ed Sullivan Show.
bdQ0 TIL that one man won $6 million in one night from one casino. Don Johnson singlehandedly ruined the Tropicana’s April 2011 revenue through blackjack; he’d already won $9 million at two other casinos. He is now banned from most Atlantic City casinos.