› added 4 years ago

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TIL that in England in 1688, there were 50 offences that were punishable by death, that number had almost quadrupled by 1776, and it reached 220 by the end of the century. The Judgement of Death Act of 1823 relaxed this, limiting execution for all crimes except treason and murder.

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mBkR TIL: Lord Farquaad, the villain in Shrek, was based on Disney’s Michael Eisenberg after he fired eventual Dreamworks founder Jeffrey Katzenberg.
4l6b TIL that UN weapons inspector and UK government Bio-weapons expert David Kelly was found dead 2 days after testifying in parliament against Iraqi WMD claims. His autopsy was also meant to be sealed for 70 years by judge order.
p8ym4 TIL that starting in June 1965, Angus Barbieri fasted for 382 days. He lived on tea, coffee, soda water and vitamins, living at home Scotland, and frequently visiting a hospital for medical evaluation. He lost 276 pounds (125 kg), reached his 180 pound goal weight, and started eating again.
WgjB TIL “Prior to the first nuclear bomb detonation in July of 1945, isotopes such as strontium-90 and cesium-137 simply did not exist in nature.” Pieces of art and bottles of wine created before 1945 can be tested for cesium, if they contain traces of cesium they would almost certainly be fake.
v1ymx TIL a study has revealed that the majority of American dog owners are willing to end their relationship if their dog doesn’t like their partner.