› added 10 years ago

103

TIL Texas oil tycoon Jim West used to throw handfuls of silver dollars around just to see people scramble for them.

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y9aJ TIL vanilla flowers only open once for 2-3 hours and require hand pollination to produce a bean
e0jBD TIL Palmerston island is one of the most isolated communities in the world, it is visited by a supply ship only twice a year and most of its inhabitants (about 70) are descended from one person who arrived there 150 years ago
loKJA TIL in World War II, American soldier John R. Fox died when he deliberately called an artillery strike on himself. Realizing that German troops were overrunning his position, the strike delayed the enemy long enough for other American units to organize a counter attack
Oo0o4 TIL Richard Norris Williams survived Titanic sinking, but spent too much time in freezing water and rescue doctor recommended amputation of both his legs. He refused and proceeded to win his first tennis tournament a few months later and became Wimbledon doubles champion in 1920.
4XWoJ TIL that animals don't just go into a long sleep during hibernation...