› added 10 years ago

93

TIL That despite being on hard times, One of the US most decorated war veterans repeatedly turned down offers to appear in Alcohol and Tobacco commercials because he knew it would be a bad role model for young people. The soldier, Audie Murphy, had won every single US Army Award for combat in WWII.

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1axQr TIL that the CIA tried to murder the Former Prime Minister of Cuba with a poisoned milkshake because he loved dairy products like ice cream.
p8WGp TIL: The Halifax Explosion - two ships collided in the Halifax Harbor, one of which was carrying munitions, resulting in one of the largest man-made explosions pre-1945. 2,000 killed, 9,000 injured, and nearly all buildings within a half-mile were destroyed
kJxe5 Til it is said that ancient Greek philosopher Empedocles died trying to prove he was a god by throwing himself into volcano Etna (Sicily, today Italy)
WdY4 TIL African Grey Parrots can develop minds equivalent to that of children ages 4-6
epPwk TIL that it was common for politicians to bribe voters with gallons of alcohol in colonial America, George Washington lost his first run for the Virginia legislature when he wouldn't pay alcohol bribes, then won his second run when he did.