› added 12 years ago

77

TIL that the use of the phrase “Checkmate” is a mispronunciation of the original Persian, “ Shäh mät!”, which means the king is helpless

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via reddit.com

R54O8 TIL that football legend Pele was banned from playing for a non-brazilian team by a presidential law declaring him a 'national treasure'
9Y8Q6 TIL that in 1856 a school master, after warning his students not to harm his tamed sparrow, strangled a student after class because the student stepped on it. School master was later shot dead by the student's father
YvRr TIL that the BigMac with the least amount of sodium is served in Malaysia while that with the most is served in Japan, which also has the most calories.
gM5ZL TIL that The price of wine is expected to drop to its lowest levels in five years and the cheaper prices may even last up to three years. Experts predict that as there are more grapes produced, US wine consumers will enjoy the "best wine retail values in 20 years."
jpRR TIL that Scatman John suffered from a severe stutter from the time he learned to speak, which led to an emotionally traumatic childhood. He then made the song, “Scatman,” in which he intended to inspire children who stuttered to overcome adversity.