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TIL that the Holy Roman state of Hesse-Kessel became a "mercenary state" renting out its army to other major powers. The state maintained strict neutrality, to the point that it would rent out soldiers to both sides of a conflict and the Hessian soldiers would end up fighting each other.

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apdZ TIL Cancer is the #1 cause of disease-related deaths in children. In 2010 the American Cancer Society only directed $0.01 (a penny) to childhood cancer research for every dollar of public support.
gM4WA TIL in Luxembourg, for the first 4 years of school, Luxembourgish is the medium of instruction, before giving way to German, which in turn gives way to French. Similarly, in the pаrliament, debates are conducted in Luxembourgish, legislation is drafted in German, and the statute laws are in French
M7mGA TIL the tragic story of New Zealander Kerry Hamill, murdered by the Khmer Rouge. Kerry left clues for his loved ones in his forced confession, this included using his home phone number as his secret CIA digits and claiming Colonel Sanders was a superior officer.
b9X7j TIL that Simón Bolívar, the great liberator of South America, was nicknamed 'iron butt' (culo de hierro) for his "endurance on horseback." Old 'iron butt' would go on to free Venezuela, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Perú, and Panamá from Spanish control in the 1800s.
JY0AV TIL of Sanford B. Dole, who became the President of the Republic of Hawaii, after a pro-American coup d'état overthrew the Hawaiian monarch. His government secured Hawaii's annexation by the United States. His cousin founded the pineapple company that would become the Dole Food Company.