Things You'll Only See In Russia

Beard Tax

In 1689, Emperor Pete I implemented a beard tax on Russian men who wore long beards. The tax varied on social status. Men who paid the tax carried around a "beard token" to prove to authorities that they had paid the tax. If you couldn't afford the tax, you'd have to shave. 

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The More You Know

  • Mattel once tried to sue Aqua over their song "Barbie Girl". The judge literally told them to "chill".
  • The first time Reddit was mentioned in the New York Times, it was described as "foolish collectivism" that "grinds away the Web's edges and saps it of its humanity".
  • The average person walks the equivalent of five times around the world in their lifetime.
  • There's such a thing as a fear of buttons.
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