› added 11 years ago

175

TIL that in response to the United States buying the Philippines from Spain for $20 million, Andrew Carnegie personally offered $20 million to the Philippines so that the Filipino people could buy their independence back from the United States.

Read more alsalca.blogspot.co.uk

via reddit.com

D178g TIL Neil Armstrong was working on his farm and got his wedding ring stuck in the gears of a tractor. He didn’t get it out in time—his ring and ring finger got torn clean off. He then packed it in some ice and drove himself to the hospital to get it reattached
160oP TIL that Los Angeles has oil rigs concealed in fake buildings all over the city including one that's meant to resemble a synagogue and even has a small island chain built off it's coast for the sole purpose of drilling oil. They are the only decorated oil islands in the United States.
rRblw TIL While he was sick former Japanese fighter pilot Tetsuzo Iwamoto's last words were "When I get well, I want to fly again".
m1kpp TIL: New Zealand's Scott Base in Antarctica is only 3 kms (1.9 miles) from the USA's McMurdo Station. They are connected by road.
ep4ln TIL in the 1400s, Saxon bakers appealed to 5 different Popes for permission to use butter during the Advent season, and Pope Innocent VIII sent the "butter letter" finally approving it