Showing posts with label Culture. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Culture. Show all posts

Tuesday, June 4, 2013

Pants Used To Be A Bad Word In England

Although seldom found in print, swear words or taboo words were undoubtedly
uttered just as profusely in the streets as they are now. In polite or mixed
company, of course, euphemisms were used, especially by women and children. Many connotations of words used today remain curiously unchanged from the nineteenth century to the twentieth. In cases where no definition appears, the reader can use his or her imagination and extrapolate from current usage.

For example the he word pants was not spoken of aloud in polite circles, especially during the
first half of the century. Acceptable alternatives: inexpressibles,
unmentionables, nether garments, and sit-down-upons.

Source: Authentic Campainer Website

Monday, May 27, 2013

It Is Illegal To Own Or Sell Chewing Gum In Singapore

Since 2004, only chewing gum of therapeutic value is allowed into Singapore following the Singapore–United States Free Trade Agreement.

This law was created because people disposed of gum incorrectly by sticking it under places like chairs or tables. Chewing gum is banned in Singapore under the "Regulation of Imports and Exports (Chewing Gum) Regulations." Except for chewing gum of therapeutic value, the "importing" of chewing gum into Singapore is banned. Gum can be bought from a doctor, but must be prescribed.

According to the set of Regulations, "importing" means to "bring or cause to be brought into Singapore by land, water or air from any place which is outside Singapore ..." any goods, even if they are not for purposes of trade. The set of Regulations also does not make any provisions for personal use of quantities to be brought into Singapore.

Saturday, May 25, 2013

In India It Is Legal To Marry a Dog

In India it is legal to marry a dog. Famous examples are:

  • June 2003 – A nine year old Indian girl of the Santal (or 'Santhal') tribe of Khanyhan, near Calcutta was formally married to a dog, in order to ward off a bad omen. The wedding was attended by more than one hundred guests, who danced to the beating of drums and drank home-made liquor. The girl told Western press, "I have no regret in marrying the dog Bacchan. I am fond of the dog who moves around our locality (translation [sic])" and tribal elders added she was free to remarry a human in future as an adult.

  • November 2007 – A man in southern India married a female dog in a traditional Hindu ceremony as an attempt to atone for stoning two other dogs to death – an act he believes cursed him. Selvakumar, 33, told the paper he had been suffering since he stoned two dogs to death and hung their bodies from a tree 15 years prior.

  • February 2009 – An infant boy was married off to his neighbors' dog in eastern India by villagers who said it will stop the groom from being killed by wild animals. The boy will still be able to marry a human bride in the future without filing for divorce.

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