› added 6 years ago

69

TIL - between the 4th and 5th century, ancient Athens adopted Ostracism, a (check and balance) system that allowed the citizens to vote to exile and banish anyone deemed a threat or tyrant for ten years. The ostracism was only considered valid if the total number of votes counted to at least 6000

VMZEG TIL the term "Caucasian" was first used for skull traits, not skin color. Caucasian populations were thus not exclusively "white," but ranged in complexion from white-skinned to dark brown.
x6okB TIL about 4% of all stocks generated all $34.8 trillion in wealth for shareholders between July 1926 and December 2016. 96% of all stocks collectively performed no better than 1- month treasury bonds.
WkwnL TIL The US government imposed a livestock reduction on the Navajo in the 1930s. They bulldozed trenches,herded sheep and goats into them, coated them in flammable liquid, and burned them alive. They were promised land expansion that never materialized. From the memoir of Chester Nez, Code Talker.
v1nYK TIL In order to gather private data for use in an investigation, officers usually need a warrant. To bypass these rules, The Secret Service bought the location data they needed from a private company. Private companies are allowed to collect data from individuals and sell it to anybody they want
VBNjD TIL from 1896 to 1923, the state of New York passed a law which banned alcohol from being served on Sundays except in hotels that served meals. Bar owners then started offering the cheapest rooms available, and met the meal requirement by offering sandwiches made of rubber.