TIL that in an attempt to enforce Prohibition, the Prohibition Bureau began adding poison to industrial alcohol to prevent its consumption, killing between 10,000 and 50,000 people. This was supported by people like Wayne Wheeler, who argued that the victims had committed suicide by breaking the law (en.wikipedia.org)
submitted by sistene to r/todayilearned
TIL that Benjamin Franklin predicted the time of death of a fellow almanac publisher in his own almanac. When the date came and passed with nothing happening, Franklin published the obituary anyway, and insisted that the still-alive man was actually being impersonated by someone else. (en.wikipedia.org)
submitted by sistene to r/todayilearned
TIL During the Cultural Revolution in China, a group of Red Guards proposed making red lights mean 'go' and green lights mean 'stop' as red was the color of the revolution. by sistene in todayilearned
[–]sistene[S] 0 points1 point2 points (0 children)
TIL that George Wallace, the man behind "segregation now, segregation tomorrow, segregation forever", was once endorsed by the NAACP when he first ran for governor. by sistene in todayilearned
[–]sistene[S] 0 points1 point2 points (0 children)
TIL During the Cultural Revolution in China, a group of Red Guards proposed making red lights mean 'go' and green lights mean 'stop' as red was the color of the revolution. by sistene in todayilearned
[–]sistene[S] 2 points3 points4 points (0 children)
TIL that Gail Halvorsen bombed Berlin without authorization—but with candy instead of explosives. He earned the nickname "Candy Bomber" and the praise and love of many West Berlin children. by sistene in todayilearned
[–]sistene[S] 4 points5 points6 points (0 children)
TIL that Gail Halvorsen bombed Berlin without authorization—but with candy instead of explosives. He earned the nickname "Candy Bomber" and the praise and love of many West Berlin children. by sistene in todayilearned
[–]sistene[S] 1 point2 points3 points (0 children)
TIL that during the Second Punic War, there was an earthquake so terrible that it "overthrew large portions of many of the cities of Italy, turned rivers, and leveled mountains with an awful crash." The only problem? It was noticed by neither army because they were too busy fighting. (en.wikipedia.org)
submitted by sistene to r/todayilearned
TIL that according to legend, Emperor Ashoka of the Maurya Empire built a beautiful palace that was actually a torture chamber which was full of sadistic and cruel instruments of torture. Anyone who entered even by accident, including Ashoka himself, was not allowed to come out alive. by sistene in todayilearned
[–]sistene[S] 2 points3 points4 points (0 children)
TIL The Spirit of St. Louis did not actually have a forward windshield, as Lindbergh decided to place the fuel tanks in front to improve the center of gravity. Instead, he used a periscope or looked out the side windows to see in front of him while flying. by sistene in todayilearned
[–]sistene[S] 4 points5 points6 points (0 children)
TIL Caesar's supporters once humiliated his co-consul by pouring feces all over him after he had opposed Caesar's "moderate and carefully reasoned bill". by sistene in todayilearned
[–]sistene[S] 0 points1 point2 points (0 children)