NOOKS AND CRANNIESWhat is the glue on the back of postage stamps and envelopes made from? THE GUM on British stamps is composed of polyvinyl alcohol and dextrin. The dextrin is derived from starch (e.g. potato) and the vinyl alcohol is a synthetic derived from petroleum. The gum used on ready-stamped stationery items is a blend of polyvinyl acetate and dextrin with the exception of aerogrammes, where the gum is a blend of polyvinyl acetate and polyvinyl alcohol. Read More...
SEMANTIC ENIGMASWhy is the indentation in a house brick called a frog? Ben Chaston, Hong Kong, China
In the 1930s the bricks were made by hand in slop moulds and the indent required a wooden former in the bottom of the mould box. This looked like a crouching frog and the name stuck despite its reference to the indent. Jack Hill, St Albans, UK
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Italy This article is more than 5 months old‘Attenzione pickpocket!’: Italy’s TikTok vigilante found to have far-right linksThis article is more than 5 months oldMonica Poli, a social media star for challenging petty thieves, is a councillor for Lega, which backs anti-Roma policies
Her bellowing cry – “Attenzione pickpocket!” – has turned her into a social media superstar, with videos featuring her crusade against petty crime racking up millions of views, spawning a trove of flattering news profiles and even a handful of dance tracks that riff on her signature catchphrase. Read More...