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TIL in 1971, a woman petitioned a Judge for permission to sterilize her “somewhat retarded” daughter. Without a hearing, evidence, or representation for the daughter, the judge granted permission. The daughter later tried to sue the judge, but the Supreme Court voted 5-3 to grant the judge immunity.

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VBA7B TIL that one of the main perpetrators of the Putumayo genocide escaped justice and continued to exploit the same tribes. Before the Putumayo border change in 1933, Miguel S. Loayza forced the migration of 6,719 natives in to Peru. More than half of them died. Loayza survived into his nineties.
ygRJ TIL that when Dennis Wilson of the Beach Boys died, he wished for a burial at sea. Only veterans of the US Navy and Coast Guard are allowed a burial at sea without being cremated, but President Reagan directly intervened and allowed Dennis to be buried at sea.
GXGJ TIL that in 2008, Somali Pirates captured an Iranian cargo vessel whose mysterious contents poisoned and killed 16 of it’s captors. Although the demanded ransom was $2.5 million dollars, the U.S. Government offered $7 million to board and search the ship.
Jyg4 TIL that people have intentionally contracted tapeworms as a way of losing weight, and you can still find tapeworm pills online
ne0vP TIL: 'Caillou' can be linked to causing young children to act out in temper tantrums due to the show rewarding the same behavior in Caillou