› added 8 years ago

147

TIL the United States’ national anthem began its life as a drinking song in an English gentlemen’s club

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xKR1 TIL that in 2008, a woman’s 4 year old child was struck and killed by a drunk driver while they were crossing the street. Because she hadn’t been in a crosswalk, the Police charged the woman for 2nd degree vehicular homicide, and Jaywalking.
B4Xk TIL the city of New York will pay for a one-way plane ticket for any homeless person if they have a guaranteed place to stay
nekBr TIL that in 2016, a scientific expedition climbing Mount Everest to study the link between hypoxia and cognitive decline had to turn back after its own members developed hypoxia
v9nB TIL the word “decimate” comes from the Roman army’s tradition of killing one out of ten soldier when a large group had committed a crime. The word literally means “removal of one tenth”, rather than devastation, as it means today.
GY1dN TIL that the United States avoided the thalidomide tragedy because FDA inspector Frances Kelsey blocked its approval based on lack of safety data despite pressure from her FDA supervisors and the pharmaceutical company. Meanwhile, 10,000 thalidomide babies were born in Europe, Australia, and Japan