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TIL the influenza epidemic of 1918 was called the “Spanish Flu” because Spain was neutral during World War I and was the only country with a free press able to report on the disease. People just assumed the flu, which killed more people than WWI, began in Spain, but it’s unknown where it started.

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NXPZe TIL that Bolivia recognizes a ceremonial Afro-Bolivian monarchy with powers similar to those of a traditional king, which does not interfere with the system of the Presidential republic in force within the country.
EgKJw TIL the @ sign is called "a snail" in Italian, "a puppy" in Armenian, "a little mouse" in Chinese, "a monkey" in Polish, "a duckling" in Greek, "a worm" in Hungarian, "a little dog" in Russian, "a cinnamon roll" in Swedish, "a strudel" in Hebrew and "rollmops" in Czech
y9pV TIL that Serbia’s maternity leave is among the world’s best–a full year with 100% salary paid.
l5R1 TIL In 1990, Dr. Dre beat the crap out of a woman over an interview with Ice Cube. He picked her up by her hair, slammed her head repeatedly against a brick wall, all while his bodyguard held off the crowd with a gun. After trying to throw her down the stairs, he punched her in the back of the head.
ZAaa TIL that as the average girth of women has increased, fashion firms have stretched the size of their garments, partly in the belief that women feel better (and so are more likely to buy) if they can squeeze into the same size dress as in their more slender youth.