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1999 Darwin Awards
| Named in honor of Charles Darwin, the father of evolution, the Darwin Awards commemorate those who improve our gene pool by removing themselves from it. |
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Intelligence Blunders
(13 August 1999, Manila) A deadly explosion in the Philippines' National Bureau of Investigation was initially considered to be a terrorist act. But the ensuing investigation linked the event not to criminals, but to careless NBI agents smoking near a bucketful of TNT. The blast killed seven people, including the perpetrator, and demolished the NBI Special Investigation Division. Grenades and other explosives also detonated in the fire. Officials are considering charging the Division Chief with criminal negligence for failing to safeguard seized explosives. But it is the perpetrator, envisioned crushing out his cigarette in a pail of explosives, who wins a Darwin Award. DarwinAwards.com © 1994 - 2009 Submitted by: Steve Evans Reference: Associated Press Jason Parker
argues: Jon D. says, "Regarding stories about cigarettes or other lit objects falling into buckets of TNT and causing explosions: I've read that TNT will ignite if incandescently lit, but only explode with a detonator. There is a story on the 'net about a professor with an ashtray made from TNT. Also, since TNT melts at 80 degrees Celsius, it's solid at room temperature, and probably easier to store as bricks. |
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