› added 5 months ago

20

Today I learned that Finland has a unique "day fine" system for speeding tickets, where fines are calculated based on the offender's income, making penalties proportionate to one's earnings.

Read more theguardian.com

via reddit.com

wLB17 TIL Linseed oil soaked rags can spontaneously combust during the natural evaporation of the oil. Linseed oil (and tung oil), common products used to preserve wood in homes and restaurants, pose a fire hazard.
P1kEL TIL the gourd was one of the world's first cultivated plants grown not primarily for food, but for use as containers. It is also used as a resonator on many stringed instruments, including the sitar
QAXE Til a chocolate scientist has her taste buds insured for 1 Million pounds
MeE4B TIL nunchucks are illegal in the US because the court ruled that they are "designed primarily as a weapon and has no purpose other than to maim or kill", and are "widely used by muggers and street gangs".
1axDW TIL: A Sloth Can Hold Its Breath for 40 Minutes Underwater,Longer than a Dolphin