› added 5 years ago

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TIL that there was a complete ban of gum from 1992 to 2004 in Singapore. Since 2004, they have allowed dental gum to be imported in, because the US asked for it in a trade deal. The ban was to the annoyance of chewing gum being everywhere .

Read more eresources.nlb.gov.sg

via reddit.com

LQrNr TIL an 1858 heatwave caused the River Thames to reek unbearably due to raw sewage dumping. The stench was so intense that Parliament ended sessions early, and curtains were soaked in chloride to mask the smell. This was the tipping point that finally pushed London to build a modern sewer system.
78gxL TIL of Jacco Macacco, a ~5kg ape of unknown species, who, after attacking his sailor-mates over some milk, went on to become Britain's most famous pit-fighting monkey, defeating 14 dogs in a row. His gory death, in his fight with the famous bitch Puss, led MPs introduce animal cruelty legislation
4XA96 TIL Brendan Gleeson (the man who played Mad-Eye Moody in Harry Potter movies) is the father of Domhnall Gleeson (the man who played Bill Weasley).
5YOLn TIL that Pablo Picasso's full name has 23 words and 103 characters. His full name is 'Pablo Diego José Francisco de Paula Juan Nepomuceno María de los Remedios Cipriano de la Santísima Trinidad Ruiz y Picasso'
nexOW TIL after Stalin's son Yakov, failed suicide attempt in his room via firearm. He missed his heart and hit his lung instead; while his stepmother Alliluyeva tended to his wound and called the doctor, Stalin is quoted as saying, "He can't even shoot straight".