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156

TIL: Babies are born without kneecaps

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Mxpb TIL During WWII, Chinese resistence fighters mixed high explosives into flour for smuggling. The flour could be used for pancakes and safely eaten. Uneaten pancakes could still be used as explosives.
YpkaZ TIL that the word nepotism comes from the practice of popes appointing their nephews as cardinals, a way to secure their power over the college of cardinals
69g0J TIL artist Salvador Dali illustrated a 1969 edition of Alice in Wonderland, with only 2,700 copies printed. It included twelve illustrations and a front-cover etching signed by Dali himself. Signatures of Dali can be spotted throughout, such as the melting clock found at the Mad Tea Party.
OGnQX TIL the Swiss Guard who guards the Pope must take a vow of celibacy, pass Swiss Army basic training and several other things. They had had a heroic last stand where they were massacred defending Rome in 1527 and there are only 135 of them at one time.
x6NJB TIL Johann Bücheler built Switzerland's first guillotine in 1836 after another carpenter became depressed. He earned 160 francs but became an outcast. To earn some money he build a bonsai guillotine and beheaded celery.