› added 4 years ago

95

TIL that as compensation for claiming New Amsterdam (New York) from the Dutch in 1667, the English relinquished claims to the disputed South American territory of Suriname. Today, Suriname is the only independent country in the Americas where most people speak Dutch.

b9JQ7 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
R5W4l TIL Steven Spielberg desperately wanted to release Schindler’s List in 1993 in time for the Warsaw Ghetto anniversary. But Universal wanted him to finish Jurassic Park first. To keep Universal happy, he had George Lucas oversee Jurassic’s post-production while he’s filming Schindler’s List in Poland
rNEpd TIL 1978, when Atari's then-corporate parent, Warner Communications,refused to open additional locations, they sold the rights of Chuck E. Cheese to Atari Co-founder, Nolan Bushnell for $500,000. He was later joined by Atari's other Co-Founder, Gene Landrum, who came onboard as their CEO.
mx8bx TIL of Genie Wiley, a girl who was raised in a dark isolated room with no indication of an outside world for the first 13 years of her life, her father was incredibly abusive, and when authorities rescued her she couldn't speak at all and only made infantile noises.
P19GJ TIL: Ken McElroy, known as "the town bully," was murdered in 1982 in front of 30-46 witnesses by at least two shooters. But nobody saw anything, and the murder remains unsolved. Fascinating story.