› added 2 days ago

TIL about the Stambovsky v. Ackley case. The New York Supreme Court ruled that a seller must disclose that a house has a reputation for being haunted because such a reputation may impair the value of the house. The Ackleys claimed to see ghosts of a 1750s couple and a American Revolution lieutenant.

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Eg1ap TIL portraits of presidents were not depicted on the official currency of the USA until the beginning of the 20th century. The first dollars had the figures and faces of the characters of Greek and Roman mythology and pictures with the participation of Native Americans appeared on the money.
LmEm TIL the Amazon river dumps so much fresh water into the Atlantic that it is possible to drink from the surface for about 200 mile offshore
nWVD9 TIL that Leon Theremin, inventor of the theremin (musical instrument), also invented the first ever burglar alarm, the first CCTV system, the first drum machine, and one of the first covert listening devices. He also saw both the birth and the fall of the Soviet Union, living to the age of 97.
8eb9P TIL that Norway once knighted a penguin. Sir Nils Olav, a king penguin, serves as the official mascot and colonel-in-chief of the Norwegian King’s Guard. He has been promoted several times and even inspected the troops!
awB4Z TIL that to apply to become a communist party member in China, you need to write periodic "thought reports" for two years, detailing your opinions on society and about your personal life. Additionally you have to attend classes once a week for three months and pass a final exam.