› added 5 months ago

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TIL that, following the success of the 2003 Invasion of Iraq's "most wanted" playing cards, the US Department of Defense printed "Archaeology Awareness" playing cards. They were intended to educate soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan about the importance of protecting archaeological sites.

YpOa7 TIL in 2016 two alligators were found guarding €500,000 worth of crystal meth, €300,000 in cash, and several firearms in Amsterdam. The owner of the crocodiles was following the law and had the appropriate permits for the animals.
VMajZ TIL As the Geneva convention rules that don't allow employing POWs in dangerous tasks; Denmark designated 1,000 Germans as "Surrendered Enemy Personnel" rather than POWs and forced them to work in mine clearance. In 6 weeks, 250 of them have died and were replaced by 1,200 more surrendered Germans.
wGVY TIL that besides gold, Fort Knox has also held, among other things, the US Constitution, part of the Hungarian Crown Jewels, and reserves of morphine and opium.
mX7v TIL over 11% of all Americans are infected with parasitic Pinworms, which make your ass itch at night when they come crawling out of your anus to lay their eggs. This makes you scratch your ass and helps these sticky eggs spread, often to your own breakfast, thereby repeating the cycle.
1amgV TIL that churros are pressed out in a star shape because otherwise it's very possible for them to violently explode while frying, spraying hot oil and bits of churro all over the kitchen