› added 4 years ago

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TIL that since 1950, Oscar winners or their heirs are not allowed to sell their Oscar statuettes without first offering to sell them back to the Academy for $1. However pre 1950 statuettes are up for grabs. Michael Jackson bought the Gone With The Wind Best Picture Oscar for $1.5m

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kJvjB TIL: In 17th century Holland, several Dutch cities banned gingerbread figures due to their use as effigys.
gMokX TIL of a plant known as the "Suicide plant" (also called Gympie-Gympie) which is common in the north-eastern rainforests of Australia. Brief contact with its silica-tipped hairs can penetrate the skin causing extremely painful stinging which has been said to last from months to years
NEGJ TIL that the dude in jail on the Monopoly game board is named “Jake the Jailbird” and the police officer is named “Officer Edgar Mallory”
NXbNJ TIL that in the UK, income tax remained controversial until well into the 20th century as it was viewed as an intrusion on privacy. The window tax was introduced as a way to tax in proportion to wealth, but without the controversy. More windows on your house meant higher taxes.
M7X1B TIL beetroot juice was actually used as red hair dye in the 16th century, particularly by Victorians.