Fact of the Day

[DarkRavie]

Fact of the Day - BOBCATS

Did you know... that the bobcat, also known as the red lynx, is a medium-sized cat native to North America. It ranges from southern Canada through most of the contiguous United States to Oaxaca in Mexico. It is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List since 2002, due to its wide distribution and large population. Although it has been hunted extensively both for sport and fur, populations have proven stable, though declining in some areas. (Wikipedia)

 

Fascinating Facts About Bobcats
By Melissa Breyer  |  Updated May 24, 2021

 

The bobcat (Lynx rufus) is the most common wildcat in North America. The IUCN estimates the bobcat population to be between 2.3 million and 3.5 million. They are found in Mexico, five Canadian provinces, and every contiguous U.S. state other than Delaware. However, bobcats are elusive and are rarely seen across their range. This is due to their preference for finding cover wherever they live, whether that's scrubland, forests, swamps, or even residential areas. Bobcats are most easily identified by the tail that gives them their name. It has a cut or "bobbed" look and only measures 4.3 to 7.5 inches long.

 

1. They Are The Smallest Lynx
These medium-sized cats are similar to their cousin, the lynx, but are a bit smaller. Ranging anywhere from 8 to 33 pounds, these cats are about the size of a cocker spaniel. The bobcat is 25 to 42 inches long, not including the tail, and males are larger than females. Bobcats in more northern climates tend to grow larger than ones in the south.

2. They Are Frequently Misidentified
Bobcats are often erroneously identified as other animals. Sometimes they are mistaken for domestic cats or stray kittens. In other cases, people believe they see a Florida panther, Canada lynx, or mountain lion. Even biologists sometimes have difficulty telling the Canada lynx and bobcat apart if they can't see a paw print. The Canada lynx has massive, very hairy feet that act as snowshoes.

 

3. They Mainly Eat Small Prey
While bobcats can tackle large prey such as deer, they subsist mostly on rodents and rabbits. Despite their reputation for eating household pets, they rarely choose them as prey. That said, they do occasionally take advantage of unsecured chickens or domestic pets. Bobcats will even eat sharks or fish. Bobcats are crepuscular hunters, preferring to hunt at dusk and dawn. Depending on prey availability, they sometimes keep a more nocturnal hunting schedule. They are stealthy hunters and can pounce 10 feet in one leap.

 

4. They Are Territorial
Bobcats primarily live a solitary life. Their range size varies widely depending on the availability of suitable prey. Females typically have territories of around 6 square miles, while males' territories span about 25 square miles and may overlap with one or more female bobcats' home ranges. Bobcats don't usually share territories with another cat of the same sex. They keep other bobcats out of their territory through scent marking with urine, feces, and anal gland secretions.

 

5. They Don't Stick to a Single Den

Bobcat at her red rock den

Bobcats have various dens in their territory. The main one, called a natal den, is usually a cave or rock shelter. They sometimes choose hollowed-out trees, fallen trees, or take over abandoned beaver lodges and earthen burrows. Bobcats keep auxiliary dens scattered across their territory, using them for cover or to keep kittens close by while hunting. These dens may consist of rock ledges, brush piles, and even stumps. Bobcats spray urine at the entrances of shelters to ward off intruders.

6. Bobcat Mothers Teach Their Young to Hunt

Mother and Young Bobcat

Female bobcats deliver litters of one to six kittens, with younger bobcats producing fewer kittens. After birth, the young stay in the den for the first two months. The mother starts bringing prey to the kittens at the end of the first month. Once kittens emerge from the den, she shows them how to hunt while still providing them with food. By 11 months of age, the kittens are kicked out of mom's territory.

 

7. Some Bobcats Are in Trouble
Bobcat populations plummeted during the early 20th century because of the popularity of their fur. Since then, successful conservation measures led to the IUCN listing them as a species of least concern. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service classifies the Mexican bobcat as endangered, but it is not currently on the IUCN register. Bobcats remain on the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) index and, as such, are under trade restrictions. However, 38 states, seven Canadian provinces, and Mexico allow for some types of bobcat hunts. Thousands of bobcats are harvested for the fur industry each year, invasive pythons in Florida are decreasing their numbers in the Sunshine State, and rodenticides kill bobcats as they consume targeted species.

 

8. They Can Run Very Fast

Bobcat (Lynx rufus), adult animal with 2 young subadults in the snow.

Bobcats run at speeds of up to 30 mph. They are more sprinters than distance runners, as they only run for short distances when attempting to capture prey. Their hunting running gait is another way that a bobcat lives up to its name: they sometimes run like a rabbit, placing their hind feet in the same place as their front feet. This style of running creates a bobbing appearance when they run.

 

 

Source: Wikipedia - Bobcat  |  Facts About Bobcats

[DarkRavie]

Fact of the Day - NAIL POLISH

Did you know..... that nail polish is a lacquer that can be applied to the human fingernail or toenails to decorate and protect the nail plates. The formula has been revised repeatedly to enhance its decorative effects and to suppress cracking or peeling. Nail polish consists of a mix of an organic polymer and several other components that give it colors and textures. Nail polishes come in all shades of color and play a significant part in manicures and pedicures. (Wikipedia)

 

Interesting Facts about Nails and Nail Polish

by Did You Know Fashion

 

Do you think of your nails all the time? Most people don’t unless you’re a nail junkie or a manicurist who is totally in love with your job. Aside from the stubbed toe, a broken fingernail, or the occasional mani-pedi, we don’t give our nails much thought.

For sure, there are things you don’t know about nails and your nail polish. We list some of the fascinating facts about them:

 

1. Nails are made of the same material as our hair.

Although different in color and structure, our nails (both in fingers and toes) are made of the same material as our hair, which is keratin. That means the same foods that are good for the hair are good for the nails also. Keratin is a protein, so healthy fats, and oil is needed to keep both nails and hair strong and moisturized. Also, much like hair follicles, nails store history of alcohol, nicotine, and illicit substance consumption for months.

 

2. Many aspects affect nail growth.

The rate of nail growth is affected by a lot of things like gender, hormones, weather and hand activity. On average, fingernails grow for about 3.5 millimeters a month. Women’s nails actually grow slower than men’s. But during pregnancy, women’s nails tend to grow faster due to hormone secretions. If you would observe, nails typically grow faster in the summer than in the winter. The dominant hand also contains the nails which grow the fastest, and that is why typing with nails, playing sports and getting a nail massage actually stimulate nail growth. Because of that, toenails grow a little bit slower, with an average of 1.6 millimeters a month. Strangely, the longer the fingers, the faster the nails grow – the middle nail grows the fastest and the thumbnail grows the slowest.

 

3. Nails can tell a lot about your overall health.

A well-educated dermatologist can tell about your body health just by examining your nails. If you have abnormally pale nails, you might have anemia. Dark, vertical lines on the nail bed mean you might be having melanoma. Depressions and small cracks in nails are often associated with psoriasis. Brittle and thin nails might mean thyroid problems. Yellowing and thickening nails are signs of fungal infection. Meanwhile, bluish discolorations might indicate lung disease. If you see something unusual about your nails, don’t think of it as just a skin condition. Consult your dermatologist immediately.

 

4. Nail polish was invented in ancient times.

The art of nail painting goes back as early as 3,000 BC. During the Ming Dynasty, aristocratic women of ancient China would soak their nails in a formula made of egg whites, beeswax, gelatin, and gum Arabic, adding dyes from vegetables, orchids, and roses to color their nails. Archaeological evidence proves the presence of manicure kits in ancient Babylon. Surprisingly, they were found in the tombs of Babylonian soldiers. The warriors would stain their nails with black and green kohl paint to strike fear to their enemies. Painting nails were part of the tough guys’ pre-battle ritual. Meanwhile, in Egypt, ancient women used nail polish to show their social status. Those in the lower classes wore light colors while the elite was allowed to put on red and other darker shades.

 

5. Modern nail polish was a by-product of car paint.

When car paint was invented in the 1920s, a French makeup artist named Michelle Menard tried to adapt it to create a polish for nails. Menard was working then for a company named Charles Revson, which is now known as Revlon.  Revlon started selling its first nail polish in salons during 1932 and at drugstores and department stores in 1937. Now lacquers and gel polishes are the most popular polishes

 

6. It’s best to give your nails a break between manicures and pedicures.

The nail, though it’s hard, is still skin. It’s a living tissue that needs oxygen to breathe, just like our facial skin. Keeping the nails smothered with nail polish all the time can dry them out due to lack of oxygen, which in turn makes them brittle and prone to breakage. It is advisable to take a three-day break from wearing nail polishes every three weeks to keep them strong and healthy.

 

7. French manicure is really French.

French fries did not originate in France but in Belgium. French manicures, on the other hand, really did come from France. The French manicure is probably the most popular nail color scheme. It originated in the 18th century Paris, but it became popular during the 1920s to 1930s. The idea behind this manicure was to allow the French royalty to have elegant hands and nails to show their social status. People from the lower class were not allowed to color their nails.

 

8. Red nail polish used to be scandalous.

Red nails are totally attractive, but if you have them in the 1950s, you would be considered promiscuous. Some churches even banned women from worshiping during Sundays if they had painted nails. During the Victorian era, women with paint on their nails were considered sinful, and women who did so were usually prostitutes.

 

9. Some people can be allergic to nail polish.

If one of your passions in life is getting your nails done and one of your closest friends is allergic to nail polish, you’d likely feel sorry for her. It’s probably because of formaldehyde, which is one of the main ingredients of nail polish that can irritate sensitive skin. But the good news is that many brands today offer formaldehyde-free nail polishes like Clinique and Deborah Lippman. Plus, campaigns are being formed to remove the “toxic trio” in nail paints – formaldehyde, toluene, and dibutyl phthalate – so, we are pretty much looking forward to a more skin-friendly mani-pedi future.

 

10. Your nail polish color is not a random thing.

Unless you’re obsessed about your favorite color, your nail polish color of choice isn’t random, whether you realize it or not. According to psychological experts, color preferences are usually a reflection of our current mental state and the thoughts that are subconsciously stored in our memories. The next time you pick a shade for your manicure, it probably means a lot more than you think.

 

11. The most expensive nail polish costs $250,000.

With a quarter of a million dollars, you can buy a lot of things like a house, a fancy car or a college education. But if you’re super-duper fancy, you can also buy a bottle of Black Diamond Nail Polish created by a diamond company named Azature instead. The ridiculously pricey nail polish contains 267 carats of real black diamonds. Plus, the jeweler is based on Hollywood and has adorned stars like Beyoncé and Rihanna, so they pretty much have the right to set that price tag.

 

12. Nail polish and nail polish remover last indefinitely.

Unopened nail polish can last indefinitely, but once opened, it can only live for two years. Some of its ingredients will evaporate once the bottle is opened, causing the polish to separate and thicken. To thin it, add a few drops of nail-lacquer thinner. However, nail polish removers do not have any shelf life. You may even preserve a bottle for your future grandchildren to use without any worry of its expiry.

 

Source: Wikipedia - Nail Polish  |  Facts About Nail Polish

 

 

Edited January 14, 2022 by DarkRavie

[DarkRavie]

Fact of the Day - FOOD

Did you know.... that food is any substance consumed to provide nutritional support for an organism. Food is usually of plant, animal or fungal origin, and contains essential nutrients, such as carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, or minerals. (Wikipedia)

 

Food Facts That Will Blow Your Mind

by Neharika Sharma  |  September 12, 2020

Food is one of the most diverse ecosystems. It covers an enormous range of fruits, vegetables, herbs, seeds, dishes etc. While some of these items are too basic and are a part of our regular meals, others have some mind-blowing qualities. That’s the beauty of food! From nourishment to medicinal necessities, it covers all. No matter how well-versed you are with the understanding of food items, some things continue to surprise you. Here are 10 amusing facts about food that will blow up your mind!

 

KETCHUP

1. During 1800s, it was believed that ketchup has medicinal qualities. It could cure ailments like diarrhea.

 

CHICKEN

2. Chicken contains 266 percent more fat than it did 50 years ago. A study has claimed that chicken, now, has more fat than proteins.

 

CHEESE

3. The most stolen food in the world is ‘cheese’. As per reports, 4 percent of the total cheese produced globally is stolen.

 

PEANUTS

4. Peanuts can be used to make dynamite. The oil derived from peanuts can be processed to produce glycerol. This, in turn, can be used to make nitroglycerin, one of the constituents of dynamite.

 

CHOCOLATE

5. Chocolate was once used as currency. The Maya civilization used it as money.

 

APPLES

6. You’ll be amazed to know that apples and roses are connected. They belong to the same family. Same applies to cherries, pears, and apricots. They belong to rose family called Rosaceae.

 

HONEY

7. Pure honey has a very long shelf life. It won’t spoil and can last up to 3000 years.

BRAZIL WAX

8. The wax used to coat candies and cars is the same. Carnauba, also called Brazil wax and palm wax, is not only used to cover the little gummy candies, but also your cars to make them look shiny.

 

CRANBERRIES

9. Ripe cranberries can bounce like rubber balls and thus, they’re also referred to as bounce berries. The bounce signifies the berry is still nice and firm.

 

POTATOES

10. Potatoes can absorb and reflect radio wave signals. In 2012, when Boeing wanted to test out its wireless signal on new plane, they ended up placing huge piles of potatoes on the seats.

 

Source: Wikipedia - Food  |  Facts You Might not Know About Food
 

[DarkRavie]

Fact of the Day - CINDERELLA

Did you know.... that Cinderella, heroine of a European folktale, the theme of which appears in numerous stories worldwide; more than 500 versions of the story have been recorded in Europe alone. Its essential features are a youngest daughter who is mistreated by her jealous stepmother and elder stepsisters or a cruel father; intervention of a supernatural helper on her behalf; and the reversal of fortune brought about by a prince who falls in love with her and marries her. One of the oldest known literary renderings of the theme is a Chinese version recorded in the 9th century AD. The familiar English version is a translation of Charles Perrault’s “Cendrillon,” which appeared in his influential collection of fairy tales, Contes de ma mère l'Oye (1697; Tales of Mother Goose, 1729). Some of the features of Perrault’s version, such as the fairy godmother, are uncharacteristic. Usually, the supernatural helper is the girl’s dead mother or an animal agent sent by her. The prince’s recognition of the cinder maiden by the token of a “glass” slipper is unique in Perrault. In other versions of the story the test of recognition is often a golden or silver slipper or a ring. (Britannica)

 

THINGS YOU PROBABLY DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT 'CINDERELLA'
by Erik Davis  |  MARCH 9TH, 2015

 

The Cinderella story is one that’s been around for ages, going as far back as the 1st century B.C. We bet you didn’t know that. In fact, there’s probably a lot of things you might not know about the servant girl turned Disney princess, and with a new live-action Cinderella movie about to drop – starring Lily James as the blue-dressed beauty -- here are a bunch of fun facts to take with you to the theater.

 

1. Yes, the Cinderella story does in fact date back to the 1st century BC. 

An ancient Greek geographer is said to have spun a tale about a slave girl from Ancient Egypt whose sandal was snatched by an eagle. When the sandal is recovered by a king who admires its beautiful shape, he seeks out the shoe’s owner and eventually makes the woman his wife. The more popular published versions arrived in 1634, 1697 and 1812, with the latter two – Cendrillon, by Perrault (pictured above) and Aschenputtel, by the Brothers Grimm – truly giving shape to the character most associate with the 1950 animated Disney classic.

• One More Thing: The name Cinderella comes from the French word Cendrillon, which in English translates to “little ash girl.”

 

2. Cinderella hasn’t always worn a glass slipper or had a fairy godmother.

It was Charles Perrault who first introduced the glass slipper and fairy godmother to the Cinderella story in 1697’s Cendrillon. Other versions have found the heroine wearing a magic ring or magic gold, silver or fur slippers. Similarly, the spirit of Cinderella’s deceased mother has at times portrayed the fairy godmother-type character.

• One More Thing: According to the third Cinderella movie, her shoe size is a women’s 4 1/2. Do they still make glass slippers in a 4 1/2?

 

3.  Cinderella helped save Walt Disney

When Walt Disney decided to make an animated feature starring Cinderella in 1948, in some ways it was the biggest risk of his career. The studio wasn’t doing well at the time, with their last hit being Snow White in 1937. At the end of World War II, Disney was $4 million in debt, and Cinderella was considered to be a big ole’ roll of the dice for Disney Animation. If the movie lost money, Walt may have had to cease making feature films and shut down Disney Animation. Luckily for us (and Disney), the film was a major hit.

• One More Thing: During the war years, Disney was kept afloat by making training videos for the United States government. It was during this time that the company also began dabbling in live-action films simply to get by. Watch one below starring Donald Duck.

 

 

 

4. Disney’s animated Cinderella was also its first live-action Cinderella, too.

Due to the company’s economic hardships at the time, Walt Disney couldn’t afford to pour funds into Cinderella like he had done for Fantasia and Pinocchio. So instead he shot the entire movie in live action first (see an image above), then used the footage in a number of ways – from designing the sets to assisting the animators, who weren’t thrilled with the fact that it limited them creatively.

• One More Thing: The entire production took about two years to complete.

 

5. Cinderella is mad old… for a Disney princess, that is.

At around 19 or 20 years old, Cinderella is considered to be the oldest of all the Disney princesses, with 19-year-old Tiana right there behind her. At 14 years old, Snow White is the youngest princess, while Frozen’s Anna – Disney’s newest princess – is 18 years old.

• One More Thing: Cinderella may soon lose her status as the oldest of her princess bunch once Star Wars: The Force Awakens hits theaters this December and Princess Leia becomes an official Disney princess. Well, that's if she's still a princess...

 

6. Cinderella (1950) features Walt Disney’s favorite piece of animation

• One More Thing: Watch this Cinderella fan recreate that moment in live action, minus any special effects.

 

7. The Cinderella song you’ve probably never heard

 

As far back as Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937), Walt Disney wanted a scene where a princess and a prince dance among the clouds. The scene was briefly outlined for Snow White, but it was cut because Disney felt it slowed the film’s pace. Then, when it came time for Cinderella, not only was an entire scene storyboarded, but a song – called “Dancing on a Cloud,” performed by Ilene Woods – was also recorded. 

• One More Thing: Oh, Walt finally got his dancing-on-a-cloud scene into the Sleeping Beauty finale, which you can watch here.

 

8. Those poor stepsisters

Cinderella’s dear old stepsisters got off pretty easy in the 1950 animated movie, but not so in earlier versions of the tale. Like the Grimm interpretation, in which birds pecked out the sisters’ eyes. And then Perrault – Perrault! – went so far as having the stepsisters cut off parts of their feet in order to fit them into a tiny slipper, prior to making a revision. How do you say “ouch!” in French?

• One More Thing: In the 2015 Cinderella, the stepsisters are played by Sophie McShera (Drizella) and Holliday Grainger (Anastasia).

 

 

9. Mickey Mouse’s secret Cinderella cameo

For decades, Disney animators have hidden Mickey Mouse ears – and sometimes Mickey himself – inside their movies, as well as the theme parks. Cinderella (1950) is no exception. If you look real closely you can spot Mickey’s head among the bubbles while Cinderella sings “Sweet Nightingale.” Watch the scene here. (And for those who can’t find it, we’ve inserted the image above.)

• One More Thing: These days, Disney hides all sorts of characters in their movies. For example, you can find shout-outs to both Frozen and Wreck-It Ralph in Big Hero 6. And, instead of a hidden Mickey Mouse, you’ll find a hidden Oswald sticker stuck to Hiro’s ceiling. See his big black ears sticking out?

 

 

10. Emma Watson almost played Cinderella

When it came time to cast the 2015 live-action version of Cinderella, Disney looked at a number of actresses, including Saoirse Ronan, Alicia Vikander, Imogen Poots, Lily James and Margot Robbie. Harry Potter’s Emma Watson was offered the part, but she turned it down, later deciding to play Belle in an upcoming live-action version of Beauty and the Beast (2017) instead. Once Watson stepped aside, Lily James was cast.

• One More Thing: James has said her favorite part of playing Cinderella is getting to wear the big blue ball gown.

 

 

Source: Britannica - Cinderella  |  What You Might Not Know About Cinderella

[DarkRavie]

Fact of the Day - MAN-MADE DISASTERS

Electronic waste in Guiyu, China

 

Did you know.... that human-instigated disasters are the consequence of technological or human hazards. Examples include war, social unrest, stampedes, fires, transport accidents, industrial accidents, conflicts, oil spills, terrorist attacks, nuclear explosions/nuclear radiation. Other types of induced disasters include the more cosmic scenarios of catastrophic climate change, nuclear war, and bioterrorism. (Wikipedia)

 

Deadliest Manmade Disasters in the Past 50 Years
by Talia Lakritz  |  May 31, 2019, 7:02 PM

Chemical explosions, oil spills, and devastating wildfires have caused enormous damage to the environment.

 

The United Nations' World Environment Day on June 5 hopes to raise awareness and spur action to protect the environment and prevent disaster from striking. Unfortunately, accidents happen. Oil spills, poisonous-gas leaks, and out-of-control wildfires have caused devastating damage to the environment and those who live in it.

• Here are nine environmental disasters from the past 50 years that wreaked havoc on humans, animals, and the environment.

 

Seveso disaster — 1976

Technicians check the pollution degree inside "Zone A," the most polluted area fenced off to outsiders, two years after a dioxin poison cloud spread from a chemical plant in Meda, Italy.

 

A cloud containing a kilogram of TCDD, a carcinogenic byproduct of the trichlorophenol used to produce hand soaps, leaked from a chemical plant in Meda, Italy, in 1976, settling over the towns of Meda and Seveso. Over 700 people were evacuated and 77,000 animals were killed as a precaution to prevent chemicals from poisoning the food chain. Many children in the area developed chloracne, a skin condition caused by overexposure to halogenated aromatic compounds often reported by military veterans.

 

Love Canal — 1978

A fence around the contaminated Love Canal dump site in Niagara Falls, New York. 

 

From 1942 to 1953, the Hooker Chemical Co. used a canal in Love Canal, New York, to dispose of 21,000 tons of toxic chemical waste. In 1978, The New York Times reported that chemicals from the canal had leaked into people's homes, yards, and school playgrounds after years of heavy rainy seasons created toxic puddles. President Jimmy Carter declared a state of emergency that same year, relocated 239 families, and declared a second state of emergency in 1981 to evacuate the rest of Love Canal's residents, who had been experiencing high rates of miscarriage, birth defects, and diseases such as epilepsy, asthma, migraines, and nephrosis.

 

Bhopal gas leak — 1984

A gas tank in Bhopal, India, after the deadly gas leak.

 

The Bhopal disaster has been called the worst industrial accident in history. In 1984, 45 tons of poisonous methyl isocyanate gas leaked from an insecticide plant in Bhopal, India. Thousands of people died immediately. A total of between 15,000 and 20,000 people died, and a half million people survived with respiratory and eye problems.

 

Chernobyl disaster — 1986

This April 1986 photo shows the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, the site of the world's worst nuclear accident, two to three days after the explosion in Ukraine.

 

On April 26, 1986, a nuclear reactor in the town of Chernobyl, Ukraine, blew up, leaving nuclear remnants that affected people in a 200-mile radius for decades to come, Business Insider previously reported. The Chernobyl nuclear disaster forced 350,000 people to be evacuated over fears of radiation poisoning. It's still considered one of the worst nuclear-reactor disaster in history. 

 

Exxon Valdez oil spill — 1989

Cleaning up the Exxon Valdez oil spill. 

 

When the Exxon Valdez oil tanker hit the coast of Prince William Sound, Alaska, 11 million gallons of oil spilled across 1,300 miles and devastated wildlife populations in the area. According to the National Park Service, 250,000 seabirds, 2,800 sea otters, 300 harbor seals, 250 bald eagles, 22 killer whales, and billions of salmon died because of pollution from the spill. Congress passed the Oil Pollution Act in 1990 outlining procedures for responding to similar disasters.

 

Asbestos in Libby, Montana — 1990

A home undergoing abatement for removal of asbestos in Libby, Montana.

 

Since 1919, 400 people have died and almost 3,000 have become sick because of toxic asbestos dust from vermiculite mining in Libby, Montana. The mining company W.R. Grace and Co. had also distributed vermiculite, often used as insulation for the construction of buildings, around playgrounds and backyards in Libby. The mine was shut down in 1990, and the EPA declared a public health emergency in 2008. Cleaning up the tainted vermiculite required deconstructing homes, businesses, and other buildings.

 

Gulf War oil spill — 1991

Burgan oil fields burning in 1991.

 

The Gulf War oil spill was the largest oil spill. Between 5 and 10 million barrels of oil spilled into the Persian Gulf, killing 30,000 birds and reducing the breeding success of some species by half, according to CNN.

 

Jilin chemical plant explosions — 2005

Chemical explosions, oil spills, and devastating wildfires have caused enormous damage to the environment.

 

Six people died, 70 were injured, and tens of thousands had to be evacuated when explosions at a petrochemical plant rocked through Jilin, China. Chemicals seeped into China's Songhua River, then into the Amur River at the China-Russia border, where benzene levels were measured at 108 times as high as standard safety levels, and eventually into the Pacific Ocean. A blockage in one of the plant's nitration towers caused the explosions, according to World Atlas.

 

The Camp Fire — 2018

A structure engulfed in flames during the Camp Fire in Paradise, California.

 

The Camp Fire of 2018 was California's deadliest wildfire. Eighty-five people died and 19,000 buildings were destroyed, according to The New York Times. The town of Paradise was incinerated. The cause of the fire was found to be power lines owned by Pacific Gas & Electric.

 

Source: Wikipedia - Artificial Disasters and Hazards  |  Facts About Man-Made Disasters

Edited January 17, 2022 by DarkRavie

[DarkRavie]

Fact of the Day - GARGOYLES

Did you know.... that in architecture, and specifically in Gothic architecture, a gargoyle is a carved or formed grotesque with a spout designed to convey water from a roof and away from the side of a building, thereby preventing rainwater from running down masonry walls and eroding the mortar between. Architects often used multiple gargoyles on a building to divide the flow of rainwater off the roof to minimize the potential damage from a rainstorm. A trough is cut in the back of the gargoyle and rainwater typically exits through the open mouth. Gargoyles are usually an elongated fantastical animal because the length of the gargoyle determines how far water is directed from the wall. When Gothic flying buttresses were used, aqueducts were sometimes cut into the buttress to divert water over the aisle walls. (Wikipedia)

 

Fearsome Facts about Gargoyles
BY JEFF WELLS  |  OCTOBER 31, 2016

 

They conjure images of hideous, brooding creatures perched high above the cities and villages of the world. The most terrifying ones look as though they might break from their stone moorings and take flight. But gargoyles, it turns out, are full of surprises. Read on to learn the origin of their name, their very functional purpose, and what makes a gargoyle different from a grotesque.

 

1. THEY SERVE A PRACTICAL PURPOSE.

When gargoyles began appearing on churches throughout Europe in the 13th century, they served as decorative water spouts, engineered to preserve stone walls by diverting the flow of rainwater outward from rooftops. This function, technically speaking, distinguishes gargoyles from other stone beasts like grotesques and bosses, although these days the term encompasses all sorts of decorative creature carvings.

2. THE NAME COMES FROM A DRAGON-SLAYING LEGEND.
The word gargoyle derives from the French gargouille, meaning "throat." This would appear to take its inspiration from the statues' water-siphoning gullets, but in fact the name comes from the French legend of "La Gargouille," a fearsome dragon that terrorized the inhabitants of the town of Rouen. For centuries, according to the story, the dragon swallowed up ships and flooded the town, until around 600 BCE, when a priest named Romanus came along and agreed to vanquish the beast in exchange for the townspeople's conversion to Christianity. Romanus tamed the dragon by making the sign of the cross, then led it into town where it was burned at the stake. The creature’s head, however, wouldn’t burn, so the townspeople cut it off and affixed it to their church. The gargouille’s head became a ward against evil and a warning to other dragons.

3. THEY WERE MEANT TO INSPIRE FEAR IN PARISHIONERS.

 

Because most Medieval Europeans were illiterate, the clergy needed visual representations of the horrors of hell to drive people to the sanctuary of the church. Placing gargoyles on the building’s exterior reinforced the idea that evil dwelt outside the church, while salvation dwelt within. "How better to enforce church attendance and docility than by providing a daily reminder of the horrors to come," wrote Gary Varner in his book, Gargoyles, Grotesques and Green Men: Ancient Symbolism in European and American Architecture.

4. THEY ALSO BROUGHT PAGANS TO CHURCH.
Churches would also model gargoyles after the creatures worshipped by pagan tribes, thinking this would make their houses of worship appear more welcoming to them. It was a bit of clever marketing that worked, according to scholar Darlene Trew Crist. "Churches grew in number and influence as the pagan belief system and many of its images were absorbed into Christianity," she wrote in American Gargoyles: Spirits in Stone.

 

5. THEY DATE BACK TO ANCIENT EGYPT.
Although the name gargoyle dates back just a few centuries, the practice of crafting decorative, animal-themed drain spouts reaches back several millennia. The ancient Egyptians had a thing for lions, as did the Romans and the Greeks. The oldest gargoyle-like creation is a 13,000-year-old stone crocodile discovered in Turkey.

6. NOTRE DAME'S GARGOYLES ARE FAIRLY RECENT CREATIONS.

The world’s most famous gargoyles, and the ones that most influenced the popular wings-and-horns image of the creatures, are found on Paris’s Notre Dame Cathedral. Although the cathedral was constructed in the 13th century, the gargoyles were part of an extensive restoration project in the mid 1800s. Conceived by architect Eugène Viollet-le-Duc and sculptor Victor Pyanet, the gargoyles have little in common with Medieval gargoyles, scholars contend, and were intended to represent the time period rather than recreate it.

7. PITTSBURGH IS A HOTBED FOR GARGOYLES.
In the 19th century, the Steel City embraced the Gothic architecture revival that swept across America. Many of its Gothic churches, government buildings, and other edifices remain, along with their iconic gargoyles. All told, Pittsburgh features more than 20 authentic gargoyles, and hundreds of grotesques. Many of them are featured in the city's "Downtown Dragons" tour run by the History and Landmarks Foundation.

 

8. SOME WERE FASHIONED AFTER BUILDERS AND CHURCH ELDERS.

Cologne Cathedral in Germany features a gargoyle fashioned after the church’s longest-serving council member, while at the Cathedral Saint Jean in Lyon, France you can see a gargoyle modeled after the building’s renovation construction manager, Ahmed Benzizine. Because nothing says "thank you" like a hideous stone creature carved in your likeness.

9. A FRENCH CATHEDRAL SWAPPED ITS GARGOYLES FOR "GREMLINS."
During the restoration of Chapel of Bethlehem back in the early '90s, sculptor Jean-Louis Boistel decided to replace the building’s crumbling gargoyles with a few pop-culture icons. This included Gizmo and a gremlin from the movie Gremlins, an Alien xenomorph, and a robot from the popular anime UFO Robot Grendizer. Many locals were put off by Boistel’s creations, which are technically grotesques, but enough young movie fans got behind the "geek chapel" idea to get it approved.

 

10. THERE'S A DARTH VADER GARGOYLE IN WASHINGTON D.C.

Back in the '80s, the Washington National Cathedral held a contest for kids to design its newest gargoyle. Coming on the heels of the Star Wars trilogy, of course someone proposed a Darth Vader gargoyle. The cathedral, which had already installed some off-the-wall gargoyles and grotesques during its extensive restoration work, named 13-year-old Christopher Rader's design as one of its winners, and in 1986 put Lord Vader high up on the cathedral’s "dark side" north wall. It can be difficult to spot, but the cathedral offers this handy guide.

 

Source: Wikipedia - Gargoyle  |  Fearsome Facts About Gargoyles

Edited January 19, 2022 by DarkRavie

[DarkRavie]

Fact of the Day - LOGOS

Did you know... that a logo is a graphic mark, emblem, or symbol used to aid and promote public identification and recognition. It may be of an abstract or figurative design or include the text of the name it represents as in a wordmark.  In the days of hot metal typesetting, a logotype was one word cast as a single piece of type (e.g. "The" in ATF Garamond), as opposed to a ligature, which is two or more letters joined, but not forming a word. By extension, the term was also used for a uniquely set and arranged typeface or colophon. At the level of mass communication and in common usage, a company's logo is today often synonymous with its trademark or brand. (Wikipedia)

 

FASCINATING FACTS BEHIND WORLD-FAMOUS LOGOS

by UNBELIEVABLE FACTS  |  Year 2018

A logo is something that defines a brand. It defines what a company stands for and how consumers can associate themselves with the brand. Companies spend millions of dollars in the design of their logos so that they can have unique logos to stand out from their competitors. We see hundreds of logos every day, but there are a few that just stick in our minds. Maybe it’s the colors of the logo or a hidden element that adds to the aesthetics. We bring to you ten such fascinating facts behind world-famous logos.

 

 

1. The FedEx logo has an intentionally hidden white arrow between the letters “E” and “x” that was created by blending two different fonts together. It has won over 40 design awards and is renowned for the best use of negative space.

 

The FedEx logo is one of the most recognized logos in the world. But the bold lettering and bright colors of the logo are not what makes the logo great. It’s the hidden arrow between the letters “E” and “x” that adds a certain charisma to the logo and is the perfect use of negative space. The design is both simple and clear. Lindon Leader designed the FedEx logo in 1994. This logo is a legend when it comes to designers. It has won around 40 design awards and had been termed as one of the best logos, out of the top eight, to be designed in the past 35 years. When Lindon started working on the logo for FedEx, the CEO Fred Smith said two things, “You can make them pink and green for all I care; just give me a good reason why. My trucks are moving billboards. I better be able to see a FedEx truck loud and clear from five blocks away.” Lindon started working keeping these two things in mind. While he was tweaking with the letters, he saw a small arrow appear between the letter E and x. He had to mix the best qualities of two different fonts, Univers and Futura Bold, to make the arrow look natural and unforced. When few final designs were showcased to FedEx, the CEO was the first to notice the hidden arrow in Lindon’s design and everyone loved it!

 

2. VLC Media Player uses a traffic cone as its logo because the students who wrote the code for the VideoLAN project had a traffic cone collection.

 

We have all wondered at some point in our lives what the traffic cone in VLC Media Player stands for. Well, today you can put all your speculations to rest! The creator of VLC Media Player is the ViaRézo Association of the École Centrale’s Networking Students’ Association. Once, some students from the association came back drunk with a traffic cone. They then started a cone collection. When the VideoLAN project began to develop the VLC Media Player, they decided to use the cone as their logo.

 

3. The logo for Domino’s Pizza has three dots because there were only three original Domino’s stores in 1965. They planned to add a new dot for every new store, but the idea was dropped due to the fast growth of the franchise.

 

Domino’s was originally DomiNick’s, a small pizza store that was purchased by Tom Monaghan and his brother James. The brothers decided to split their time to run the business. But James was not willing to let go of his full-time job as a postman to run the pizza business. He quit and sold his half of the business to Tom. By 1965, Tom purchased two additional pizza stores and expanded his business. He wanted all the three stores to share the same brand name. When the original owner of DomiNick’s forbade him from using that original name, Tom renamed the stores Domino’s after a suggestion from one of his employees. Since the business was comprised of only three stores at that time, Tom decided to add three dots to the logo. He also planned to include one dot for every new store that he added to the brand. But the business expanded so fast that Tom had to drop the idea. If they had continued the idea, the logo would have had more than 13,000 dots by now!

 

4. The Walt Disney logo is not based on Walt’s own signature. It is, in fact, based on an employee’s version of it who used to sign fan mail on Walt’s behalf. The stylized version got so famous that Walt Disney had problem signing his own autographs!

 

The Walt Disney logo is recognized by people all across the world and across all age groups. The original logo had just the words “Walt Disney Presents.” The image of the castle was added much later. But that is not the intriguing part. Most of us believe that it’s Walt Disney’s signature that appears on the logo. But that is not the case. It is, in fact, a stylized version of Walt’s actual signature created by a group of artists. When the company started to grow, Walt didn’t have much time to sign every piece of fan mail that he received. His secretary and some other employees were the ones who would take care of fan mails and sign them on Walt’s behalf. This led to a situation in the 1940s where there existed more fake versions of Walt’s signature than actual and original ones. The stylized version became so popular that it gave Walt Disney a hard time while signing autographs. Over the years, Walt tried to change his signature to match the stylized version, but you can still see the difference. 

 

5. The logo for Bluetooth, which was named after the Danish King Harald Bluetooth, is derived from the Danish letters that represent the king’s initials – H (ᚼ) and B (ᛒ).

 

Ericsson named their revolutionary technology “Bluetooth” after Harald Bluetooth who ruled Denmark as their king between 958 and 986 CE. During his rule, he introduced Christianity to Denmark and Norway and contributed to the unification of various Danish tribes under one kingdom. This analogy was used while naming the wireless technology Bluetooth because, just like the king united people, the technology enabled the unification of various devices and made communication between them easier. The logo is designed by using a bind rune. A bind rune is basically a combination of runes or letters that were used to write Germanic languages before Latin letters were adopted. In the logo, the two Younger Futhark runes, or more commonly called Scandinavian runes, that represent the king’s initials are merged – ᚼ (Hagall) and ᛒ (Bjarkan).

 

Read about the next 5 logos here.

 

Source: Wikipedia - Logo  |  Facts About Behind World Famous Logos
 

Edited January 19, 2022 by DarkRavie

[DarkRavie]

Fact of the Day - CUTTHROAT ISLAND (movie)

Did you know.... that Cutthroat Island is a 1995 adventure swashbuckler film directed by Renny Harlin and written by Robert King and Marc Norman from a story by Michael Frost Beckner, James Gorman, Bruce A. Evans, and Raynold Gideon. It stars Geena Davis, Matthew Modine, and Frank Langella. The film is an international co-production among companies in the United States, France, Germany, and Italy. (Wikipedia)

 

Cutthroat Island: 10 Behind The Scenes Facts
Cutthroat Island was one of the cinemas' biggest bombs, and its downfall makes for one of the greatest cautionary tales in Hollywood history.

BY JUSTIN VAN VOORHIS  |  DECEMBER 06, 2020

From Battlefield Earth to The Bonfire of The Vanities, Hollywood has suffered some horrendous flops, however, 1995's Cutthroat Island bombed so bad that this swashbuckling pirate movie sank an entire movie studio, Carolco Pictures, and ruined the reputations and careers for many involved. The cause of Cutthroat Island's failure is rooted in excess, ego, and hope for success in a genre from a bygone era. The production has become a Hollywood legend, featuring stories of recasting, over-spending, and a disastrous shoot on the water. The production company, Carolco Pictures, needed desperately for the movie to be a hit and they put all they had into it. Ultimately, Cutthroat Island flopped, and what was a dying studio's last hope became the nail in its coffin.

 

Excessive Studio Spending

In the late 80s and early 90s, Carolco Pictures was making hit after hit with movies like Terminator 2, Basic Instinct, and Total Recall. Funded by money gained from successful movies like the Rambo sequels, Carolco offered stars more money in order to compete with other major studios. Thus, Carolco became known for excessive spending on private jets, parties, and limos. When Arnold Schwarzenegger signed on to Terminator 2, not only was he paid $14 million, but he was given a $17 million private jet. Essentially, the studio was spending more than they were taking in.

 

The Last Hope

With excessive spending and costs rising, Carolco needed a sure-fire hit to bail them out of potential bankruptcy and they felt their best chance was a pirate movie called Cutthroat Island. So, they canceled a Paul Verhoeven-directed movie called Crusade starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, after Verhoeven couldn't guarantee that it wouldn't go over budget. By not doing Crusade, Carolco shifted money to Cutthroat Island, increasing the budget from $60 million to $100 million. Also, overseas distributors paid Carolco a lot of money in distribution rights having been promised that the movie was going to be a huge hit. With overseas money invested, there was no turning back now.

 

Husband And Wife Team

Renny Harlin directed Cutthroat Island and it starred his then-wife Geena Davis. Renny Harlin had garnered acclaim from directing action movies like Die Hard 2 and Cliffhanger, and was given free rein on the movie. Geena Davis had won an Oscar and recently starred in hits like A League of Their Own and Thelma & Louise, but was not known for action. However, Harlin convinced the head of Carolco to cast Davis in an attempt to help her branch out into action movies.

 

Michael Douglas

Michael Douglas was originally cast as co-lead William Shaw opposite Davis' Morgan Adams, however, despite always wanting to do a movie like Cutthroat Island, he departed due to two reasons. Michael Douglas didn't have adequate time to prepare for Cutthroat Island after finishing his previous movie. He would've had to take fencing lessons and prep for a shoot that required him to be in almost every scene. He also claimed that producers were expanding Geena Davis' role at his expense and Matthew Modine, who was not known for action either but was an experienced fencer, was cast instead.

 

Harlin Begged To Be Fired

Renny Harlin claimed to have seen the film being a disaster coming. He knew that Carolco was on the verge of bankruptcy and their distributor, MGM, was in the process of being sold which meant that the Christmas-scheduled movie probably wouldn't get the proper marketing push. Now that Michael Douglas was gone, Harlin and Davis asked to be let go but Carolco denied their requests due to contractual obligations. They both felt having a female as the lead of a pirate movie might not go over well, so they were both scared. Harlin even paid another writer a million dollars of his own money to rewrite the script, which had been originally centered around Michael Douglas' character.

 

Disastrous Shoot

While occupied with desperately finding a new male lead, Harlin couldn't give input on the sets, thus requiring them to be rebuilt at great cost. Some of the production's other issues were an injured cinematographer who was then replaced, over two dozen crew members quitting after Harlin fired the chief camera operator, the cast and crew falling ill, and million-dollar wooden pirate-ship sets catching fire. Also, pipes broke allowing raw sewage to flow into water tanks the actors were using to film some sequences. Harlin also requested the actors to do their own stunts which resulted in his own wife coming away with bruises and injuries.

 

Want to know more about Behind the Scenes of Cutthroat Island, then click here.

 

 

Source: Wikipedia - Cutthroat Island  |  Facts About Behind the Scenes of Cutthroat Island

Edited January 20, 2022 by DarkRavie

[DarkRavie]

Fact of the Day - CARIBOU

Did you know.... that the reindeer, also known as the caribou in North America, is a species of deer with circumpolar distribution, native to Arctic, subarctic, tundra, boreal, and mountainous regions of northern Europe, Siberia, and North America. This includes both sedentary and migratory populations. It is the only representative of the genus Rangifer. Herd size varies greatly in different geographic regions. (Wikipedia)

 

Caribou: Facts You Won’t Believe!

By Kidadl Team  |  Published on Aug 05, 2021  |  Updated on Nov 04, 2021

 

Since time, these animals and their association to Santa's sleigh, have attracted a magical fascination surrounding their existence. You will be surprised to know that both Caribou and Reindeer animals have been classified as a single species Rangifer tarandus. Caribou animals belong to the deer family wherein both the males and females of the species grow antlers. The long legs of Caribou help them move through snow quite easily. While most species of these animals are present in adequate numbers, the woodland Caribou has been identified as endangered. The Caribou are found in the tundra region as well as in northern woodland regions of US and Canada. Are you wondering what type of animal the Caribou is and want to learn more about the species, Rangifer tarandus? In that case, read along to learn some interesting facts about these mystifying groups of deer.

What type of animal is a Caribou?
Caribou or rangifer tarandus is a variant of deer species. However, the reference associated with this member of the deer family largely depends on their geographical distribution. For instance, Rangifer tarandus in North America are regarded as reindeer when domesticated and Caribou when living in the wilderness.

 

What class of animal does a Caribou belong to?

Caribou belong to Class Mammalia; that is, organisms that are characterized by the presence of mammary glands for the nourishment of young ones. Rangifer tarandus share the family name Cervidae with other members such as brockets, pudu, deer, and elk. The Inuit name for these animals is tuktu. Caribou belong to the deer family where both male and female animals grow antlers and are found in the tundra region.

 

How many Caribous are there in the world?
As per recent reports, there are over five million Caribous active in the wild. However, they may be subject to a vulnerable stage of extinction if humans continue to hunt them. Caribous prefer living in herds and huge herds of these animals can be found in the Arctic tundra or North American woodland in Canada and US. They are normally found in regions where there is plenty of snow.

 

Where does a Caribou live?

Caribou belong to deer family (occurring at a wide range of longitudes, however only at higher latitudes). Herds of subspecies such as Rangifer tarandus caribou can be located as far as 46° North latitudes, while subspecies such as Svalbard reindeer can be found at 80° North latitudes along the northern hemisphere. The Caribou species is an original inhabitant of regions like Scandinavia, Russia, Mongolia, and eastern Europe, Greenland. Their herds are also found in Canada, from Washington to Maine,  northern China (north of the 50th latitude) around Arctic tundra. They prefer to live near their food sources such as plants and lichen.

 

What is a Caribou's habitat?
These mammals are the inhabitants of arctic, tundra, subarctic, boreal, forest, and mountainous regions. They prefer to live in herds and away from other animals and live amongst themselves. As per recent studies, around 51 herds of Caribou are present in Canada but out of them around 20 herds are facing decline in the overall numbers. Some herds are shared by Canada and Alaska. Even during winters, Caribou prefer less sheltered areas as the wind sweeps away the snow, making it easier for them to reach plants and lichen, which are their primary food source. The cloven hooves also enable the Caribou to walk quite easily in deep snow. During the winters, they use their hooves to dig through the snow and access lichen and other food sources.

 

Who do Caribous live with?

Caribou or rangifer tarandus is a social mammal and is observed to socalise, particularly during the summer months. In Canada, they travel in large herds with their numbers as much as tens of thousands. Movement in herds proves to be quite advantageous for Caribou. It is known to provide some solace from pestering warble flies, nose bot flies, and mosquitoes. In contrast to the traveling progression of summer, in cooler weather, the cluster of Rangifer tarandus slump, and are reduced to as little as 10 members per herd.

 

How long does a Caribou live?
The average lifespan of the Caribou ranges between 12-15 years in the wild. In contrast to their male counterparts, the female Caribou have a longer lifespan (over 15 years), whereas the expectancy of males ranges between 5-10 years. Their lifespan also depends on how easily and frequently they are able to access their favorite food, which are plants and lichen.

 

How do they reproduce?

The breeding season for rangifer tarandus extends from October to November, also known as the fall rut. During this time, the male members of the species compete in fights to lay claims on their female peers. The dominant male, then adopting polygynous breeding procedures, gets access to a small herd of about 5-15 females for mating. Preparing for this annual mating event, the male Caribou are observed brushing away the velvet from their antlers. Following the fusion of male and female gametes, the gestation period in Rangifer tarandus ranges between 228-234 days. The females of the species often move to a common calving ground, abandoning the herds. Following gestation, generally, one offspring per female Caribou is born; there are rare reports of twins being born to a Caribou.

 

What is their conservation status?
The Caribou includes quite a number of subspecies categorized under their name. With a total population of about five million, these members of the Cervidae Family are listed as Least concerned by IUCN. However, a number of subspecies are found to be vulnerable such as woodland Caribou. Though, availability of food is a major cause of migration amongst Caribou as they need to feed regularly to maintain themselves in cold weather conditions. Moreover, the hunting of the woodland Caribou by northern indigenous people is another reason behind their reducing numbers.  
 

What do Caribous look like?

Caribous exhibit a large variation in terms of size, though generally, the subspecies of the southern latitudes are larger than their northern relatives. These animals possess hairy fur, which works primarily in the direction of instilling insulation and therefore is found covering the entire length of their bodies. The coat of Rangifer tarandus is double-layered, with an inner undercoat of dense, soft, and fine wool stationed right next to their epidermis and an outer layer of long, hollow, and tapered hair. They range in color from white, light beige color to tones of dark brown with a tinge of white patches on their breast, belly, areas near hooves and neck. The hooves of the Caribous species are broad, concave, and padded. The antlers are the defining characteristics of these animals. In resemblance to the branches of a tree, the crown of Rangifer tarandus also possesses numerous tines or antler branches arising from the frontal bones of their skull.
 

How cute are they?
With their fascinating appearance and majestic antlers, the Rangifer tarandus is a stunning sight to set eyes on.

 

How do they communicate?

 

 

Want to read more about the Caribou? Click here.

 

Source: Wikipedia - Caribou  |  Caribou Facts

[DarkRavie]

Fact of the Day - SCHRODINGER

Did you know... that Erwin Rudolf Josef Alexander Schrödinger, sometimes written as Erwin Schrodinger or Erwin Schroedinger, was a Nobel Prize-winning Austrian-Irish physicist who developed a number of fundamental results in quantum theory: the Schrödinger equation provides a way to calculate the wave function of a system and how it changes dynamically in time. (Wikipedia)

 

Interesting Facts about Erwin Schrodinger

by Facts King  |  Date: Unavailable

Schrödinger (front row 2nd from right)

 

Erwin Schrodinger is one of the most influential thinkers and scientists of the 19th and 20th centuries. The important Austrian made huge advancements in quantum physics that have helped change and define the way we look at the world.  Schrodinger is so much more than just his cat though, so let’s take a look at 10 interesting facts about Erwin Schrodinger. 

 
1. He has a crater on the moon named after him 
Erwin Schrodinger has had a lot of memorials and buildings name after him thanks to his undeniable influence on the world, but one thing that is named after him is quite literally out of this world.  A crater on the dark side of the moon has been named after the scientist. The crater is officially known as ‘large crater Schrodinger’, an interesting fact about Erwin Schrodinger.

 
2. Schrodinger’s Cat 

Schrodinger’s most famous idea is that of ‘Schrodinger’s Cat’. This was a thought experiment that was first thought up in 1935. The idea is a theoretical question and has a cat was locked in a box or small chamber with a bottle of poison, a Geiger counter, radioactive material, and a hammer.  The radioactive matter is incredibly small, meaning there is a 50/50 chance of it being detected by the Geiger counter. If it is detected, however, then it will cause the hammer to smash the poison and kill the cat.  This thought experiment was designed to undermine the flaws in the Copenhagen Institute’s take on the quantum superposition. The experiment theorizes that until the box is opened, the cat exists in a limbo state of being both alive and dead. The theory is often referenced in popular culture and has become a staple of modern-day philosophical thinking. 

 

3. Erwin Schrodinger was born in 1887  
Erwin Schrodinger was born on the 12th of August 1887 in Vienna, Austria. His father, Rudolf Schrodinger, was a botanist, while his mother was Georgine Emilia Brenda Schrödinger, the daughter of a chemistry professor.  His mother was half Austrian, half English and was a Lutheran, while his father was a catholic. Despite being raised by two religious parents and attending church at a young age, an interesting fact about Erwin Schrodinger is that he was an atheist.

 

4. He died in 1961 

Erwin Schrodinger had battled ill health for a lot of his life. He spent some time in the 1920s in a sanatorium in Arosa, where he was fighting against tuberculosis. It would be this illness that would catch up with him once again later in life. Erwin Schrodinger died from tuberculosis on January 4th, 1961 in his home city of Vienna, Austria. He was 73 years old. 

 

5. He was awarded the Nobel Prize 
Erwin Schrodinger received a great many awards during his lifetime. While he received a lot of honorary degrees and other awards for his hard work, the most significant prize that he won came when he won the Nobel Prize for Physics in 1933, an interesting Erwin Schrodinger fact. Schrodinger had just left the University of Berlin to go and teach at Oxford University at the time. He shared the prize with another scientist, Paul A.M. Dirac. During his speech for the prize, he stated that the prize would have been going to his mentor, Fritz Hasenöhrl, had he not been tragically killed during the First World War.

 

6. He Left Germany in the Second World War 

After being forced to join the Austro-Hungarian forces in the First World War, Schrodinger took a stance against the rise of the Nazi party and their anti-semitic views in the build-up to the Second World War.  He and his wife, Annemarie Bertel, left Germany after getting the attention of the Nazi party and fled to Italy. Of course, Italy’s political situation was equally as worrying and Schrodinger and Bertel managed to secure a safe passage to England, where Schrodinger would take up several university positions. 

 

7. He earned a PhD at the age of 23 
Erwin Schrodinger showed an aptitude for learning at an incredibly young age. After capturing the attention of his teachers and those around him with his fine academic performances, Schrodinger eventually went on to study his doctorate at the University of Vienna.  In 1910, under the supervision of his mentor, Fritz Hasenöhrl, Erwin Schrodinger was awarded his PhD in physics at the remarkably young age of just 23. A sign of the greatness that he would go on to achieve during his life. 

 

8. He had a spiritual side 

A painting with complex iconography

Despite all of his work in the sciences and his declaration at a young age that he was an atheist, there was still a spiritual element to Erwin Schrodinger.  Schrodinger had very keen interests in Eastern religions and pantheism, and he would regularly feature religious and spiritual iconography in his work. He was a particular believer in the Hindu Vedanta philosophy. 

 

9. The Schrodinger Equation
Erwin Schrodinger’s most influential contribution was The Schrodinger Equation. The Schrodinger Equation is a linear partial differential equation that is used to describe the wave or state function of a quantum-mechanical system, an interesting Erwin Schrodinger fact. Schrodinger made the discovery in 1925 and it would be this would propel him to go on to win a Nobel Prize less than a decade later. This discovery made significant advancements in the area of quantum physics possible. 

 

10. He had an Irish Passport 

Schrödinger's grandson in Dublin to mark DNA letter going on display for first time

Due to his often controversial opinions and his unique lifestyle, Erwin Schrodinger lived a somewhat nomadic life, spending time in several different countries before returning back to Vienna at the end of his life.  One country where he was particularly welcomed was Ireland. Schrodinger was invited to live and work in Dublin at the Institute of Advanced Studies by the then Taoiseach (Prime Minister)  Éamon de Valer in 1939.  Schrodinger then lived in Dublin with his wife and his other partner for well over a decade and in that time he became an Irish citizen and was given an Irish passport. This is often viewed as one of the most productive periods of Schrodinger’s life. 

 

Conclusion 
Erwin Schrodinger’s impact on the modern world is undeniable. His work have helped to change the world we live in and his thought experiments have earned him his place in popular culture today. 

 

Source: Wikipedia - Erwin Schrodinger  |  Facts About Erwin Schrodinger
 

[DarkRavie]

Fact of the Day - GLADIATORS

Did you know.... that a gladiator was an armed combatant who entertained audiences in the Roman Republic and Roman Empire in violent confrontations with other gladiators, wild animals, and condemned criminals. Some gladiators were volunteers who risked their lives and their legal and social standing by appearing in the arena. Most were despised as slaves, schooled under harsh conditions, socially marginalized, and segregated even in death. (Wikipedia)

 

Facts about Gladiators in Ancient Rome
by Francesca  |  July 30, 2021

Are you passionate about travel and ancient history? Once you arrive in Rome you will definitely want to see the Colosseum. As you know, is a spectacular amphitheatre that could accommodate up to 50,000 spectators. In this place, many gladiators fought to entertain the population. But also to entertain the “i patrizi” of ancient Rome. I’m sure you have seen the movie “Gladiator” with Russell Crowe and Joaquin Phoenix to learn more. But if you want and need to know more about gladiators read on here. You will find the top 10 facts about Gladiators in Ancient Rome!

 

1. Origins of the fights

According to historians, the fighting originated in the ancient Etruscan period. Instead, according to others, the fights between gladiators started as blood rites. These blood rites were usually staged during the funerals of some wealthy nobles. And were often held on the graves to represent the virtues of the dead. They became real “funeral games” and grew popular in the 1st century BC with Julius Caesar. Caesar made a hundred gladiators fight in memory of his father and his deceased daughter.

 

2. Slavery

According to some historians, gladiators were slaves bought and trained to fight. Most often they were murderers or people who had committed various crimes. But according to other historians, this has not always been the situation. Many people attracted by the money, glory and “spotlight” became real “freelance gladiators”. They devoted themselves to the “gladiatorial cause”.

 

3. Fights between gladiators and animals

According to scholars, many fights also took place with animals. Animals that the Romans considered “exotic and dangerous” such as lions and tigers. But according to other authorities, fights between gladiators and animals were rare. Often the “venatores” during the “bestiarii” were usually reserved only for specialized gladiators.

 

4. Women

It wasn’t just the men who took care of the fighting. Women who were usually enslaved were also sent to fight in the arena. There were no half measures even if they were often frowned upon. There were some that specialized in fighting and became very famous. We have traces about it in Suetonius’s “Lives of the Caesars”. The emperor Domitian had offered nocturnal shows with gladiators. The expected fights were between men and women but also with the dwarves.

 

5. Celebrities

Very often the winning gladiators became famous and known wherever they fought. The population ran to watch their fights. And for a moment they forgot about the lack of food and health problems. According to some mosaics of Pompeii, gladiators were very popular among women. They were usually depicted catching women along the way with a net. According to some scholars, women believed their sweat was aphrodisiac.

 

6. The fighting emperors

Even the emperors and “patricians” fought to ensure the favour of the population. With the aim of becoming famous and followed by everyone, they became gladiators for a day. The most famous fighters were Caligula, Hadrianus and Titus. Emperor Commodus instead killed bears and other dangerous animals. And once they were brutally killed he loved to collect a sum of money as price. Stuff for emperors right?

 

7. Until their death

Movies and TV series have shown us how gladiators were often exploited to death. Oftentimes this was not the case. Because they were an investment for their trainers. The most famous and the strongest allowed them to earn huge sums of money. for this reason they avoided making them fight all the time. Some fights, lasted so long that in the end, they opted for a draw. Many times it all depended on the vote of the population with their thumbs. Usually, their life was not very long but it depended on experience or being famous.

 

8. Typology of gladiators

The gladiators differed according to their role and costume.
 

The most famous and well-known were:
Eques:  they were usually armed with a helmet with brim and visor, a flat and round shield, a spear and a “spatha”.
Mirmillone: equipped with a short sword and a large rectangular shield.
Trace: armed with a curved blade sword and a small curved rectangular shield. But also with a crested helmet with a visor with a gryphon head.
Secutor: specialized in fighting the retiarius. In order not to offer any point of attachment to the enemy’s net, he wore an oval helmet with very small slits.
Reziario: his armour consisted of a throwing net, a trident and a dagger. He did not have a shield, nor was he wearing a helmet.
Provocator: equipped with a medium rectangular shield. But also with a metal shield on the chest in the shape of a crescent moon. He was usually equipped with a short, straight blade sword.
Essediairus: They often fought with the chariot and horses. But they continued to fight on foot.

 

9. Organization

Gladiators were often divided into categories based on their skills and level. The experience was a must and victories and defeats were usually taken into account. They were always classified according to their armour and their fighting styles. Usually, the “trace” fought with the “mirmillone” or with a “reziario” and so on. The most famous and well-known gladiators were also sent out of Rome. They often fought in the other arenas located along  Italy. Such as for example the arena of Pompeii or Naples but also in the areas near Verona.

 

10. Conquering freedom

Very often the gladiators could win their freedom. They were slaves bought by “entrepreneurs” of the time who obviously wanted their money back. To win freedom they had to make their owner earn money, make him rich. They had to free their freedom. Once free they wore the “pileus” a white wool cap.

Source: Wikipedia - Gladiator  |  Facts About Gladiators
 

[DarkRavie]

Fact of the Day - KRAKOW

Did you know... that Krakow's history dates back to the Stone Age, when a Slav settlement was built on Wawel Hill. The hill is surrounded by the flowing Vistula River, which provided security for the settlers and remains a defining feature of Krakow today. The first documented instance of the settlement being referred to as "Krakow" is from the year 965, and by that time it was a bustling European trade port, according to Magic Krakow. The name comes from King Krakus, the ruler of an early tribe and, according to myth, the founder of Krakow. (Discovering Krakow)

 

Interesting facts about Kraków

by Admin  |  August 2019

• Kraków also known as Cracow, is the second largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland.
• The official name of the city is Royal Capital City of Krakow.
• The city is situated in the southern part of Poland, on the Vistula River, in a valley at the foot of the Carpathian Mountains.
• As of August 2019, the population of Kraków is about 800,000 people.
• The city covers a total area of 327 square kilometers (127 square miles).

 

• The average altitude is 219 meters (719 feet) above sea level.
• The city has grown from a Stone Age settlement to Poland’s second most important city.
• It began as a hamlet on Wawel Hill and was already being reported as a busy trading center of Central Europe in 965.
• It was devastated by Tatar invasions during the 13th century but was quickly rebuilt, receiving “Magdeburg rights,” which consisted of a municipal constitution, in 1257.

 

• Kraków was the capital of Poland from 1038 to 1596 and the capital of the Grand Duchy of Kraków from 1846 to 1918.
• With the establishment of new universities and cultural venues at the emergence of the Second Polish Republic in 1918 and throughout the 20th century, Kraków reaffirmed its role as a major national academic and artistic center.
• After the invasion of Poland by Nazi Germany at the start of World War II, the newly defined Distrikt Krakau (Kraków District) became the capital of Germany’s General Government.

 

• After World War II came communism, and another chapter of rebirth.
• Over the thousand years of Kraków’s existence, all of the great European architectural styles – Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance, baroque and art nouveau.
• Cited as one of Europe’s most beautiful cities, its Old Town was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1978. It was among the first World Cultural Heritage Sites declared by UNESCO. Kraków Old Town is one of the most famous old districts in Poland today and was the center of Poland’s political life from 1038 until King Sigismund III Vasa relocated his court to Warsaw in 1596.

 

• The main square of the Old Town of Kraków is the principal urban space located at the center of the city. It dates back to the 13th century, and at 3.8 hectares (9.4 acres) is one of the largest medieval town squares in Europe. The Project for Public Spaces (PPS) lists the square as the best public space in Europe due to its lively street life.

 

• The Kraków Cloth Hall dates to the Renaissance and is one of the city’s most recognizable icons. It is the central feature of the main square. It was once a major centre of international trade. Traveling merchants met there to discuss business and to barter. During its golden age in the 15th century, the hall was the source of a variety of exotic imports from the east – spices, silk, leather and wax.

 

• Saint Mary’s Basilica is a Brick Gothic church adjacent to the main square in Kraków. Built in the 14th century, its foundations date back to the early 13th century and serve as one of the best examples of Polish Gothic architecture. Standing 80 m (262 ft) tall, it is particularly famous for its wooden altarpiece carved by Veit Stoss (Wit Stwosz).

 

• The Wawel Castle is a castle residency located in Kraków Old Town. Built at the behest of King Casimir III the Great, it consists of a number of structures situated around the Italian-styled main courtyard. The castle, being one of the largest in Poland, represents nearly all European architectural styles of medieval, renaissance and baroque periods. The Wawel Royal Castle and the Wawel Hill constitute the most historically and culturally significant site in the country.

 

The Wawel complex, with the Cathedral on the left and Castle to the right.

 

• The Wawel Cathedral is a Roman Catholic church located on Wawel Hill in Kraków. More than 900 years old, it is the Polish national sanctuary and traditionally has served as coronation site of the Polish monarchs as well as the Cathedral of the Archdiocese of Kraków.

 

• The Wieliczka Salt Mine is one of the largest tourist attractions in Poland, registered on the UNESCO list and visited by over a million tourists every year. The mine, built in the 13th century, produced table salt continuously until 2007, as one of the world’s oldest salt mines still in operation. Now a museum, the mine’s attractions include dozens of statues, three chapels and an entire cathedral that has been carved out of the rock salt by the miners.

 

• Kraków is a major attraction for both local and international tourists, attracting about 13 million visitors a year.
• In 1978, Karol Wojtyla, archbishop of Kraków, was elevated to the papacy as Pope John Paul II—the first Slavic pope ever, and the first non-Italian pope in 455 years.
• In 2000, Kraków was named European Capital of Culture (for a period of one calendar year).
• In 2013, Kraków was officially approved as a UNESCO City of Literature.
• The name of Kraków is traditionally derived from princ Krakus, the legendary founder of Kraków and a ruler of the tribe of Lechitians. In Polish, Kraków is an archaic possessive form of Krak and essentially means “Krak’s (town)”. Krakus’s name may derive from “krakula”, a Proto-Slavic word meaning a judge’s staff, or a Proto-Slavic word “krak” meaning an oak, once a sacred tree most often associated with the concept of genealogy.

 

Source: VBT Discovering Krakow  |  Just Fun Facts About Krakow

Edited January 24, 2022 by DarkRavie

[DarkRavie]

Fact of the Day - CAMPBELL'S SOUP

Did you know.... that Campbell Soup Company, doing business as Campbell's, is an American processed food and snack company. The company is most closely associated with its flagship canned soup products; however, through mergers and acquisitions, it has grown to become one of the largest processed food companies in the U.S. With a wide variety of products under its flagship Campbell's brand as well as other brands like Pepperidge Farm, Snyder's of Hanover, V8, and Swanson. Under its brands, Campbell's produces soups and other canned meals, baked goods, beverages, and snacks. It is headquartered in Camden, New Jersey. (Wikipedia)

 

 

Things You Probably Didn't Know About Campbell's Soup
It's more than just soup, y'know!

by Campbell Soup Company  |  September 25, 2019

150 years ago, Campbell Soup Company was born from a simple idea — to make delicious and affordable food accessible to all. 150 years later, they remain true to that vision. Generations of home cooks have made Campbell food, snacks, and recipes part of their family's daily and holiday food traditions.

 

1. Campbell Soup Company is 150 years old this year.

It was founded in 1869 — that's four years after the end of the Civil War! Here are a few other things that also happened that year: the Transcontinental Railroad was finished, the Periodic Table of Elements was invented, and the Cincinnati Red Stockings became the first professional baseball team in the US. In other words, this company has been around for a looooooooooong time.

 

2. It started as a jelly company.

Well, kind of. Joseph Campbell was a fruit vendor. His partner, Abraham Anderson, was in the canning business. Campbell and Anderson started off selling canned veggies, fruit preserves and butters, mincemeat, ketchup, and other condiments (hopefully not all in the same can).

 

3. Without Campbell Soup Company, we probably wouldn't love soup as much as we do.

John T. Dorrance, a chemist and the nephew of the then-president, invented condensed soup in 1897. It's basically soup with about half the water (the heaviest ingredient in soup). Then, late-19th-century soup-lovers just had to add some water to get a bowl of soup. This revolutionized the game and made it a lot easier and cheaper for people to have delicious soup whenever they wanted!

 

4. Legend has it that the classic red and white design of the Campbell's soup can was inspired by Cornell University's football uniforms...

A company executive, Herberton Williams, attended a Cornell football game and was so struck by the visibility of the team's new red and white uniforms that he suggested the new color scheme for the soup can. And thus, an icon was born.

 

5. ...and the little bronze medallion on the front of the can is an actual medal that Campbell won at the Paris World's Fair in 1900.

If your soup company won a medal, wouldn't you want everyone to know about it?

 

6. Campbell is probably the only company that could make vegetable juice cool.

In 1948, Campbell acquired a vegetable juice company called V8. Thanks in part to their iconic "Wow, I could've had a V8!" ad campaign in the 1970s, Campbell turned the vegetable juice into a healthy snack option, and V8 became (and still is) the #1 vegetable juice in the US.

 

7. They make your favorite cookies...

In 1937, Margaret Rudkin founded Pepperidge Farm when her son's doctor suggested he eat more wholesome foods to help with his allergies. Unable to find a wholesome bread, she started baking her own. Margaret's bread was not only healthier, but it was also delicious! In 1961, Campbell bought Pepperidge Farm, and Margaret became the first woman on the company's board of directors.

 

8. ...and your favorite fish-shaped cheese crackers!

Margaret traveled to Switzerland in 1962, and she found a cracker made by Kambly, a Swiss company. It was shaped like a fish because the founder's wife was a Pisces. She promptly brought the recipe back to Pepperidge Farm! In Switzerland, Kambly still manufactures "Goldfish — The Original" crackers.

 

9. The Campbell test kitchen invented the Green Bean Casserole.

In 1955, a Campbell test kitchen chef, Dorcas Reilly, invented the classic holiday dish. It's a quick, easy side dish that uses only six ingredients and can be prepared in 10 minutes. Nearly 65 years later, it's still one of the most popular holiday dishes, found on Thanksgiving Day tables across the country. In fact, Green Bean Casserole recipes were viewed more than 6 million times last holiday season!

 

10. The company never tried to sue Andy Warhol for his Campbell's Soup Can paintings. In fact, they kinda liked them!

In the early '60s, pop artist Andy Warhol exhibited his now-iconic paintings of Campbell's Soup cans. Campbell sent a lawyer to the exhibit to determine if any trademarks had been infringed upon. After reviewing their lawyer's opinion, the company decided they were OK with their flagship product becoming a timeless work of art. Years later, the company even commissioned a piece of Warhol's art as a gift for a retiring board member!

 

11. Campbell and Lassie were basically BFFs.

Campbell Soup Company was the sole sponsor of Lassie for its entire TV and radio run from 1954–1971. In fact, Campbell's first television commercial ran during an episode of Lassie!

 

12. You probably have a ton of Campbell Soup Company products in your pantry right now!

You definitely have some Campbell's soup in your pantry. You might also have some Pepperidge Farm cookies, Goldfish crackers, SpaghettiOs, Kettle Brand or Cape Cod potato chips, Snyder's of Hanover pretzels, Prego pasta sauce, Pace salsa, or any of the other dozens of brands in the Campbell family.

 

Source: Wikipedia - Campbell Soup Company  |  Facts About Campbell's Soup
 

Edited January 25, 2022 by DarkRavie

[DarkRavie]

Fact of the Day - THE LITTLE RASCALS

Did you know.... that Our Gang (also known as The Little Rascals or Hal Roach's Rascals) is an American series of comedy short films chronicling a group of poor neighborhood children and their adventures. Created by film producer Hal Roach, also the producer of the Laurel and Hardy films, Our Gang shorts were produced from 1922 to 1944, spanning the silent film and early sound film periods of American cinema. Our Gang is noted for showing children behaving in a relatively natural way; Roach and original director Robert F. McGowan worked to film the unaffected, raw nuances apparent in regular children, rather than have them imitate adult acting styles. The series also broke new ground by portraying white and black children interacting as equals during the Jim Crow era of racial segregation in the United States. The franchise began in 1922 as a silent short subject series produced by the Roach studio and released by Pathé Exchange. Roach changed distributors from Pathé to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) in 1927, and the series entered its most popular period after converting to sound in 1929. Production continued at Roach until 1938, when the Our Gang production unit was sold to MGM, where production continued until 1944. Across 220 short films and a feature-film spin-off, General Spanky, the Our Gang series featured over 41 child actors as regular members of its cast. As MGM retained the rights to the Our Gang trademark after buying the series, the Roach-produced sound Our Gang films were re-released to theaters and syndicated for television under the title The Little Rascals. Roach's The Little Rascals package, currently owned by CBS Media Ventures, and MGM's Our Gang package, currently owned by Turner Entertainment and distributed by Warner Bros., have since remained in syndication. New productions based on the shorts have been made over the years, including a 1994 feature film, The Little Rascals, released by Universal Pictures. (Wikipedia)

 

What You Never Knew About The Little Rascals
Learn more about Spanky, Alfalfa and the rest of 'Our Gang.'
By MeTV Staff  |  Sep 15, 2016

Few Hollywood creations have become global icons like The Little Rascals. The tykes were titans of pre-war entertainment, churning out hundreds of short films in the 1920s, '30s and '40s. Hal Roach's movies introduced a ragtag bunch of children to the world who would become household names. Who doesn't recognize Alfalfa's hair or Froggy's croaking voice? In 1949, Roach bought back the rights to the 1927–1938 Our Gang shorts from MGM. However, MGM held on to the "Our Gang" name. So, Roach repackaged his originals for television in the 1950s and renamed them The Little Rascals. The rebundled TV episodes introduced new generations to Spanky, Buckwheat and the gang. For decades, The Little Rascals have been kept alive in reruns and reboots. Let's take a look at some things you might not know about this iconic franchise.

 

 

1. There were 220 short films starring 41 child actors.

Wheezer, Porky, Farina, Bonedust, Pineapple… How many Rascals can you name? While Alfalfa, Spanky, Buckwheat and Dorothy became the most familiar faces, they did not join Our Gang until its second decade. Roach rebundled 79 of the 80 Our Gang shorts filmed with sound to make The Little Rascals TV series. The early silents and later MGM episodes are not circulated as much.

 

2. Mickey Rooney and Shirley Temple failed their 'Our Gang' auditions.

Believe it or not, two of Hollywood's most successful child stars didn't cut the mustard. "I remember the kid," Hal Roach recalled of Rooney in the Leonard Maltin book The Little Rascals: The Life and Times of Our Gang. "I just didn't think he'd fit into the gang." Likewise, Temple was rejected. The two's careers turned out just fine, thanks.

 

3. Chubby, Stymie and Buckwheat won contests to join the cast.

The producers conducted national talent searches to fill vacancies in the Our Gang cast. Norman "Chubby" Chaney, Matthew "Stymie" Beard (pictured) and Billie "Buckwheat" Thomas won contests to join the gang.

 

4. Ernie "Sunshine Sammy" Morrison was the first African-American actor to sign a long-term contract in Hollywood.

Morrison inked a deal with Roach in 1919, three years before Our Gang began.

 

5. Makeup legend Max Factor added the ring around the eye of Pete the Pup.

The man behind the cosmetics giant, born Maksymilian Faktorowicz, founded Max Factor & Company in Los Angeles in 1909. He quickly hooked up with Hollywood. According to the book Circus Tricks for Your Dog: 25 Crowd-Pleasers That Will Make Your Dog a Star, he drew the circle around the eye of Pal the Wonder Dog, the original canine star of Our Gang.

 

6. Pete's ring moved from his right eye to his left after the original dog died.

In 1930, Pal the Wonder Dog was sadly poisoned and died, or so it is told. One of his offspring inherited the role of Petey. The young pup was named Lucenay's Peter in real life. His eye circle mysteriously moved to the other side. That dog's final appearance came in 1932's The Pooch, after which a string of dogs filled the role.

 

7. The rock & roll band The (Young) Rascals were inspired by The Little Rascals.

The Rascals topped the charts in the 1960s with their smashes "Good Lovin'" and "Groovin'." The band was originally called The Young Rascals. In an interview on the website The Rascals Archive, member Dino Danelli recalled, "We came up with the name Rascals at the Choo Choo Club. One night we were playing there and someone said, 'You ought to call the band the Little Rascals.' We said, 'Rascals, yeah.. well, why don't we dress up like rascals?'

 

8. The theme song was not introduced until the 101st Our Gang short.

You all recognize "Good Old Days." The tune is forever associated with The Little Rascals. However, the song was not used until 1930's Teacher's Pet, the 101st Our Gang short, which also marked the first appearance of June Marlowe's Miss Crabtree character.

 

9. George "Spanky" McFarland's final role was a cameo on 'Cheers.'

At the beginning of the episode "Woody Gets an Election," Cliff and Norm spot McFarland drinking alone at the bar. McFarland would die months later in the summer of 1993. He is just one of two Rascals to have a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, along with Jackie Cooper, who went on to play Perry White in 1978's Superman.

 

10. Pogo creator Walt Kelly produced Our Gang comic books

Kelly is a legendary cartoonist and animator, having worked on Disney classics like Fantasia and having created the comic strip Pogo. In the 1940s, he drew Our Gang comic books for Dell Comics.

 

11. There was just one Our Gang feature film made, set in the Civil War.

While the Rascals ruled the medium of film shorts, they had far less success in features. Just one misguided full-length was made, 1936's General Spanky, a period piece that sent Spanky, Alfalfa and Buckwheat back to the Civil War. Needless to say, it would not hold up with modern audiences.

 

12. Gary Coleman starred in a pilot for Norman Lear's 'Our Gang' reboot.

Television pioneer Norman Lear crafted two pilots for his attempted Little Rascals reboot in 1977, "Rascal" and "Souper Nuts." They were not picked up, obviously, though one exec did fall in love with star Gary Coleman, picking him for the lead in Diff'rent Strokes.

 

Source: Wikipedia - Our Gang  |  What You Might Not Know About The Little Rascals

[DarkRavie]

Fact of the Day - DON KNOTTS

Did you know... that Jesse Donald Knotts was an American actor and comedian. He is widely known for his role as Deputy Sheriff Barney Fife on The Andy Griffith Show, a 1960s sitcom for which he earned five Emmy Awards. He also played Ralph Furley on the highly rated sitcom Three's Company from 1979 to 1984. He starred in multiple comedic films, including the leading role in The Ghost and Mr. Chicken (1966) and The Incredible Mr. Limpet (1964). In 1979, TV Guide ranked him number 27 on its 50 Greatest TV Stars of All Time list. (Wikipedia)

 

 

Interesting Facts About Don Knotts Showcase His Incredible And Hilarious Career

by Erica Scassellati  |  2020

 

Don Knotts is a legendary actor best known for his role as Barney Fife in The Andy Griffith Show. Knotts won five Emmy Award for Best Supporting Actor and the show certainly wouldn’t have been the same without him. He also enjoyed success on the big screen in films such as The Incredible Mr. Limpet (1964), The Ghost and Mr. Chicken (1966), and The Reluctant Astronaut (1967). Knotts remained pretty busy until his death in 2006, even doing some voice acting until the year before he passed away. He captured the hearts of many and there is probably not a soul who lived during The Andy Griffith Show that doesn’t know his name. Knotts led a very full life and wore many hats throughout his years. It’s interesting to look back on the things about him fans may have missed.

 

1. Knotts Faced Many Challenges In Early Life
Don Knotts certainly had his fair share of struggles in his early life. He was the youngest of four sons and his father William had a nervous breakdown at the prospect of raising him. William also suffered from schizophrenia and alcoholism and was said to have threatened Knotts’ with a knife. Growing up during the Great Depression, Knotts’ family was pretty poor. As he got older he began taking up jobs to earn money.

 

2. His Stint As A Ventriloquist

Knotts first took up entertaining as a ventriloquist, performing at various church and school functions in his home town of Morgantown, West Virginia. His Dummy was named Danny “Hooch” Matador but their relationship must have been turbulent. Eventually, Knotts ditched ventriloquism and allegedly threw Danny into the South Pacific.

 

3. He Was A Decorated Soldier

Don Knotts wearing a formal dress uniform circa 1950-1960
Knotts served in the U.S. Army from 1943-1946. He was a highly decorated non-combatant, achieving the rank of Technician Grade 5 (the equivalent of a Corporal) at the time of his discharge. A veteran of the Second World War, Knotts was notably given the World War II Victory Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, Honorable Service Lapel Button, and a Marksmanship Badge.

 

4. Andy Griffith Enjoyed Pushing Knotts’ Buttons
Andy Griffith and Knotts formed a strong friendship while on The Andy Griffith Show that lasted their whole lives. Griffith was even so impressed by Knotts’ ability to make people laugh that he felt that Barney should have the funniest lines while he played the straight man. However, he was also constantly pulling practical jokes on Knotts, to his annoyance. Griffith even mockingly gave him the nickname “Jess” after Knotts’ first name “Jesse” which he hated.

 

5. Received Bullets In The Mail

A running gag on The Andy Griffith Show was Barney’s incompetence with firearms. After so many misfires, Andy eventually instructs Barney to carry his gun unloaded with a bullet in his shirt pocket.  Fans either as a joke or out of sympathy for Knotts’ character sent him real bullets in the mail. Poor Barney!

 

6. Expected The Andy Griffith Show To End After Five Seasons

The producers of The Andy Griffith Show had originally planned on ending the series in 1965, but Griffith relented to network pressure and agreed to keep the show on for several more years. Unfortunately, Knotts had already made up his mind to sign a contract with Universal Pictures to pursue a more film-oriented career. He later explained that the decision to leave the show was an incredibly difficult one.

 

7. Success On The Big Screen
Although Knotts left The Andy Griffith Show to focus on his film career, his time on the show definitely had an impact. One of his films with Universal Pictures called The Ghost and Mr. Chicken was actually inspired by an episode of The Andy Griffith Show called “Haunted House.” In Knotts’ first starring role in The Incredible Mr. Limpet, he played a man who transforms into a talking fish in order to help the U.S. Navy. He enjoyed success as he continued his acting career on the big screen.

 

8. Style and Suave Were Not In Short Supply

Although Barney Fife is almost always dressed in his police uniform, Knotts still managed to be known for having a unique sense of style. He often rocked a straw hat and coat, and his facial features gave him a distinctive look. Despite his comedic roles, he also got along pretty well with the ladies. Knotts was married three times and his daughter Karen joked in an interview with People Magazine, “He was really quite the ladies man, especially between marriages.”

 

9. His Role In Pleasantville Almost Went Someone Else

As the years went by, Knotts was able to adapt to new roles and challenges in comedy. In 1998 he played the mysterious TV repairman in the film Pleasantville. Surprisingly that role almost went to another comedy legend, Dick Van Dyke. Although Van Dyke is an excellent talent in his own right, we’re glad the role went to Knotts in the end.

 

10. A Statue Of Barney Fife Was Destroyed In Mount Airy

After Knotts’ death in 2006, Tom Hellebrand commissioned a statue to be made of Barney Fife in  Mount Airy, N.C. The city was the inspiration for The Andy Griffith Show and the perfect setting for a statue in his honor. Unfortunately,  the statue had to be taken down before it was even fully completed. Paramount, who owned the rights to the show, withdrew its approval for the statue made in Knotts’ likeness. Luckily a new statue in Knotts honor was unveiled in 2016. Regardless, it doesn’t take a statue to remember and hold dear the hilarious career of Don Knotts.

 

 

Some of Don Knott’s Notable Acting Roles Include:

• No Time for Sergeants – 1958 
• Barney Fife – The Andy Griffith Show – 1960s
• The Incredible Mr. Limpet – 1964
• The Ghost and Mr. Chicken – 1966
• The Reluctant Astronaut – 1967 
• The Shakiest Gun in the West – 1968
• The Love God? – 1969
• How to Frame A Figg – 1971
• The Apple Dumpling Gang – 1975
• Three’s Company – Started 1977
• The Apple Dumpling Gang Rides Again - 1979
• The Private Eyes – 1980
• Pleasantville – 1998

 

Source: Wikipedia - Don Knotts  |  Facts About Don Knotts' Life

[DarkRavie]

Fact of the Day - PEANUTS (COMIC STRIP)

Did you know.... that Peanuts is an indelible part of American culture. Charles Schulz’s comic strip about a pensive boy named Charlie Brown and his friends made its debut on October 2, 1950. By 1999, it was running in 2600 newspapers in 75 countries, and it’s still in plenty of papers today, though its creator is no longer around. The characters are an iconic part of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. They show up in theme parks and MetLife insurance commercials. And You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown was one of the most popular high school musicals of the 1970s and ‘80s. (MentalFloss)

 

Things You Might Not Know About “Peanuts”
Get the facts about the famous comic strip Peanuts and its creator.
by ELIZABETH NIX  |  ORIGINAL: OCT 2, 2015  |  UPDATED:AUG 22, 2018 

 

1. Schulz’s lifelong ambition was to be a cartoonist.
A Minnesota-born barber’s son, Schulz dreamed of becoming a cartoonist from a young age. He had a less-than-distinguished academic record, but outside the classroom he drew constantly and read newspaper comic strips with his dad. When Schulz was 15, he published his first drawing, a picture of his dog, who later served as the inspiration for Snoopy. Following his high school graduation in 1940, he worked odd jobs and submitted cartoons for publication in magazines. However, Schulz received “nothing but rejection slips,” as he later noted.

 

Snoopy, Lucy. Charlie Brown, and Linus stand in a line in a drawing from the Charles Schultz, 1968.

 

2. Schulz wasn’t a fan of the name Peanuts.
In 1947, one of Schulz’s local newspapers, the St. Paul Pioneer, started publishing a weekly comic panel he’d created called “Li’l Folks,” which featured the forerunners of the Peanuts characters. In 1950, Schulz sold “Li’l Folks” to the United Feature Syndicate after being turned down by other syndication companies. Due to worries about potential copyright infringement, the syndicate opted to rechristen Schulz’s comic strip Peanuts, likely after the Peanut Gallery where the live audience of kids sat on “The Howdy Doody Show.” Even after Peanuts became hugely successful, Schulz said he never liked the name and wanted to call the strip “Good Old Charlie Brown.”

 

3. The strip wasn’t an instant hit.
When Peanuts made its October 1950 debut, it was published in seven U.S. newspapers. That first year, the comic strip came in last place in the New York World Telegram’s reader survey of cartoons; however, a book of Peanuts reprints helped the strip gain a larger audience. Eventually, the strip was syndicated to more than 2,600 newspapers around the globe and read by more than 350 million people in 75 countries. Schulz was also named Outstanding Cartoonist of the Year. In 1958, the first plastic toy dolls of Charlie Brown, Snoopy and other Peanuts characters were produced, launching a massive flow of Peanuts merchandise ranging from greeting cards to pajamas. By 1999, some 20,000 different new products featuring members of the Peanuts gang were being marketed every year.

 

Snoopy balloon at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. 

 

4. Many of the Peanuts characters were inspired by real people and events.
Snoopy was one of Schulz’s earliest Peanuts characters, appearing for the first time on October 4, 1950, two days after the comic strip’s debut. Schulz loosely based Snoopy on a black-and-white dog named Spike he had as a teenager. The cartoonist originally planned to call his cartoon dog Sniffy, but shortly before the comic strip launched Schulz was passing a newsstand and noticed a comic magazine featuring a dog with the same name. Now in need of a new name, Schulz remembered his mother’s suggestion that the family should name their next dog “Snoopy.” After serving in World War II, Schulz worked as an instructor at the Minneapolis correspondence school where he’d taken art classes as a teen. It was there where he befriended Charlie Brown, whose name would later become that of his main character. Also while employed at the school, Schulz became romantically involved with a redhead named Donna Johnson, who worked in the accounting department. She eventually rejected him for another man, leaving Schulz crushed. However, the experience inspired the cartoonist to develop a character called the Little Red-Haired Girl, Charlie Brown’s unrequited love. In 1968, following the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Schulz introduced his comic strip’s first black character, Franklin, whose father was a soldier in the Vietnam War. Another character, a yellow bird called Woodstock, was named for the 1969 landmark music festival.

 

A scene from A Charlie Brown Christmas.

 

5. TV execs thought “A Charlie Brown Christmas” would flop.
Network executives expected the Christmas special to be shown once on TV and then disappear. Their pessimism stemmed from various concerns. The special casted children to play the voices of the characters, many of whom lacked professional acting experience, and included a monologue for Linus in which he quotes the Bible. They also felt the lack of a laugh track and the show’s jazz soundtrack contributed to the overall slow-paced storytelling. Instead, when the program premiered on December 9, 1965, it drew a large audience. It later won an Emmy award and became one of the longest-running holiday specials of all time.

 

This banner is held by astronaut John Young inside the Apollo 10 spacecraft on its way to the Moon.

 

6. Snoopy went to space.
Following the 1967 Apollo 1 fire disaster, NASA officials contacted Charles Schulz to use Snoopy as their safety mascot. Schulz helped design a pin for the Silver Snoopy award, which was presented to aerospace workers for outstanding contributions toward safer spaceflight operations. Later, during the Apollo 10 mission (which served as the dress rehearsal for the historic Apollo 11 moon landing), NASA dubbed the lunar module “Snoopy” and the command module “Charlie Brown.”

 

7. Schulz was a World War II veteran.
During the war, Schulz was drafted into the Army and assigned to the 20th Armored Infantry Division. He trained as a machine gunner and was sent to Germany toward the end of the conflict; his division helped liberate the Dachau concentration camp. Schulz later commemorated Veteran’s Day in Peanuts and referenced fellow vets such as Bill Mauldin, who became famous for his cartoons featuring U.S. troops. Schulz also honored the anniversary of D-Day in Peanuts and was involved in planning the National D-Day Memorial in Virginia. He once said, “I think any sensible person with a grasp of history would have to admit that D-Day was the most important day of our century.”

 

Cartoonist Charles M. Schulz with a life-size Snoopy puppet.

 

8. The Peanuts creator died one day before his final Sunday comic strip appeared.
In December 1999, after being diagnosed with colon cancer, Schulz announced he would retire. On February 12, 2000, the 77-year-old cartoonist died at his home in Santa Rosa, California, the day before his last Sunday Peanuts strip appeared in newspapers. Schulz had stipulated in his syndicate contract that no one else could take over the comic strip he’d drawn for nearly half a century. In all, Schulz produced 17,897 Peanuts strips: 15,391 daily strips and 2,506 Sunday strips.

 

9. There’s a museum devoted to all things Peanuts.
In 2002, the Charles M. Schulz Museum & Research Center opened in Sonoma County, California, where the cartoonist lived and worked for four decades. Among the museum’s collection of Peanuts-related artwork, letters and photographs are a recreation of Schulz’s work studio and a life-size wrapped Snoopy doghouse by the artist Christo. Numerous other museums, including the Louvre and the Smithsonian, have hosted Peanuts-themed exhibits. In 2016, the Snoopy Museum Tokyo is slated to open in Japan.

 

Source: Peanuts Facts  |  What You Might Not Know About "Peanuts"

Edited January 28, 2022 by DarkRavie

[DarkRavie]

Fact of the Day - PENS

Luxury pen.

Did you know.... that A pen is a common writing instrument that applies ink to a surface, usually paper, for writing or drawing. Early pens such as reed pens, quill pens, dip pens and ruling pens held a small amount of ink on a nib or in a small void or cavity which had to be periodically recharged by dipping the tip of the pen into an inkwell. Today, such pens find only a small number of specialized uses, such as in illustration and calligraphy. Reed pens, quill pens and dip pens, which were used for writing, have been replaced by ballpoint pens, rollerball pens, fountain pens and felt or ceramic tip pens. Ruling pens, which were used for technical drawing and cartography, have been replaced by technical pens such as the Rapidograph. All of these modern pens contain internal ink reservoirs, such that they do not need to be dipped in ink while writing. (Wikipedia)

 

Fourteen Fantastic Pen Facts

by Content Hub  |  June 2014

Pens are something that we come across every single day. Although they are quite useful, they don’t get nearly as much attention as they deserve. ‘What’s so interesting about pens? I look at them every day. They aren’t really fascinating.’ – you might say to yourself.

 

1. On average a pen can write approximately 45,000 words.
 

2. In 1938, the first ballpoint pen was invented by Hungarian journalist Laszio Biro, however the first patent belonged to John Loud in 1888.

 

Magnified tip of a ballpoint pen
 

3. The first fountain pen was invented by a New York insurance agent, Lewis Edson Waterman in 1883. Later Waterman had it patented in 1884.
 

4. The ‘Nanofountain Probe’ is the smallest fountain pen on record; writing lines that are just 40 nanometre in width.

 

 

5. For over 1000 years the quill was a popular writing instrument, with the first being used circa 700 A.D.
 

6. Fountain pens with gold nibs, have the ability to learn. Due to the soft metal used it can slowly adjust and adapt to your writing style over time.

 

 

7. A ‘Space Pen’ uses pressurized ink cartridges meaning that it can write underwater, in varying temperatures, at zero gravity and on wet and greasy paper.
 

8. In June 1943, Biro and his brother Georg, a chemist made the first commercial models of the now well known Biro pens.

 

Birome's advertising in Argentine magazine Leoplán, 1945
 

9. Biro pens or ballpoint pens work whereby a small rotating ball made of brass, tungsten carbide or steel disperses ink when you write. This ball has two functions, not only does it allow ink to flow out of the pen at a controlled rate, but it also prevents the ink from drying up.
 

10. The British government bought the rights to the Biro pens, so that they could be used by the Royal Air Force Crew. This was because the pens would still work at high altitude.

 

 

11. In 1949 Marcel Bich introduced the first inexpensive ballpoint pen, aptly named BIC after himself.
 

12. In 1963 the ‘Hi-Liter’ was developed in Massachusetts by Carter’s Ink, who developed a the water-based marker that emitted an eye-catching translucent ink.

 

 

13. Permanent markers date back to 1910, where Lee Newman patented the first marking pen. In 1952 the ‘Magic Marker’ was then developed by Sidney Rosenthal.
 

14. In 1984 gel ink was first invented by a company called ‘Sakura Color Products Corp’, based in Osaka, Japan. Gel pens were also developed by the same company.
 

The tip of a gel pen

 

Source: Wikipedia - Pen  |  Facts About Pens

[DarkRavie]

Fact of the Day - BIG BANDS

Whitemanband1921

Did you know.... that A big band or jazz orchestra is a type of musical ensemble of jazz music that usually consists of ten or more musicians with four sections: saxophones, trumpets, trombones, and a rhythm section. Big bands originated during the early 1910s and dominated jazz in the early 1940s when swing was most popular. The term "big band" is also used to describe a genre of music, although this was not the only style of music played by big bands. Big bands started as accompaniment for dancing. In contrast to the typical jazz emphasis on improvisation, big bands relied on written compositions and arrangements. They gave a greater role to bandleaders, arrangers, and sections of instruments rather than soloists. (Wikipedia)

 

 

SECRET SIGNALS AND BRAIN WAVES: 12 FUN FACTS ABOUT JAZZ
If you think jazz is hard to appreciate, think again, with these 12 jazz facts that will give you something to toot your horn about.

by Esplanade  |  June 2016

 

Which genre of music allows you to play the same notes night after night but differently each time? Why, jazz of course, to put it simply. As Esplanade’s jazz appreciation month swings into action this July, the spirit of spontaneity, creative expression, and innovation descends upon us through the swinging rhythms, soulful improvisations and infectious grooves of Singapore's jazz cats.

 

Here are 12 fun facts that will not only surprise you but also give you something to toot your horn about.

If you haven't had the chance to encounter its myriad forms and styles, tune in to Jazz in July and #givejazzachance.

 

1. Jazz actually started out as pop.
While most people today consider it a genre of the elite and well-established, its roots are quite the opposite. A combination of ragtime, European chamber elements, marching band music and blues, jazz exploded into the American music scene in the 1920s and became the most popular music form of the era. Need proof? Take it from the writer F. Scott Fitzgerald, credited with popularizing the term "the Jazz Age" and whose novel, The Great Gatsby (1925), epitomized this decadent, tumultuous period.

 

2. No one really knows how the word "jazz" came about.
In fact, since it was originally a slang word, it was sometimes spelt as “jas”, “jass”, “jaz”, even “jasz”. One of the most popular theories is that it was first used as a baseball term to mean verve, vim, and fighting spirit; another suggests that it was derived from the African slang word “gism” or “jism”, which had sexual connotations.

 

 

3. Jazz musicians “turn off” a part of their brains during improvisation.
Here's some food for thought. According to a study conducted by two professors from John Hopkins University, when jazz musicians improvise, their brains turn off the dorsolateral prefrontal and lateral orbital regions linked to self-censoring, inhibition and introspection, and turn on the medial prefrontal cortex—the part of the brain that lets self-expression flow. Findings also show activity in the language areas of the brain when two musicians are having a "musical conversation". Even if you’re not a jazz musician, listening to jazz stimulates your mind since the brain mimics the pulsating rhythms of improvisation—it’s kind of like a “monkey see, monkey do” situation. If you’re looking for new ways to spur your child’s creativity and critical thinking, jazz is one way to go.

 

4. A jazz performance is full of secret hand and body signals.
Secret signals? Say what?! With so many things happening on stage, musicians communicate with each other non-verbally. They usually cue the end of their solos with nods, or the end of the piece by pointing their fingers at their heads (meaning it’s time to play the “head” – the main theme or original melody of a song). The next time you’re at a jazz performance, see if you can spot any "sign language"!

 

 

5. The piano trio is the most common jazz configuration.
It has often been said to represent the essence of jazz in the most condensed yet effective way. A piano trio takes full advantage of swing, interaction, and dynamics.

 

6. While many consider jazz a relic, it is well on its way to making a glorious comeback in mainstream music.
Musicians such as Kendrick Lamar, Flying Lotus, Grammy award winners Robert Glasper and Esperanza Spalding, among others, are bringing it back through their own musical fusions that range from Jazz Age-inspired “hot jazz”, hip-hop-infused hybrids, to world jazz. Did you know that Flying Lotus, an experimental multi-genre producer, electronic musician, DJ and rapper, is the grand-nephew of jazz legend John Coltrane?

 

 

7. Jazz is one of the most hybrid forms of music.
Because it is free-spirited and spontaneous, jazz has come a long way since it was first introduced. It has spawned different styles such as Bebop, Big Band, Swing, Latin jazz, Dixieland, Gypsy jazz, and Bossa nova jazz, and also encompasses contemporary sub-genres including Free jazz, Acid jazz, and Soul jazz.

 

8. Jazz and Indian classical music share more in common than you think.
Like jazz, Indian classical music—defined by its two systems, Hindustani and Carnatic—allows for extended improvisations and dazzling displays of melodic and rhythmic virtuosity. Both genres have pulse-oriented rhythms and modes. In fact, saxophonist John Coltrane and guitarist John Mclaughlin are just some of the many jazz musicians who were heavily influenced by it. The former was drawn to Hindustani music because of revered sitar player Ravi Shankar (credited for single-handedly popularizing Indian music in the West), while the latter was influenced by Carnatic music, as evidenced by his music groups The Mahavishnu Orchestra and Shakti (which featured big names, such as Carnatic violinist L. Shankar, tabla player Zakir Hussain, mridangam player R. Raghavan, and ghatam player T. H. "Vikku" Vinayakram).

 

 

9. If not for jazz, dance styles such as the Charleston, black bottom, Argentine tango, and the trot would not have made their way into the dance halls of America.
The birth of jazz gave rise to public music and dance halls, which brought social dancing up a notch from the classic waltz and tango. Inspired by the highly expressive nature of the music, new dance styles were constantly created or introduced.

 

10. Jazz boosts your creativity and productivity at work, relieves stress, and increases your immunity.
Did you know that listening to jazz activates theta brain waves (4-8 hertz), the most highly creative brain wave? They inspire new insights and solutions to unresolved problems—or to put it plainly, they bring about “eureka!” moments. Jazz is also just as effective at reducing anxiety as a massage and, according to a Time magazine article, has the same restorative effect as total silence. Listening to it for 30 minutes can also improve your immunoglobulin A (IgA) levels, which prevents viral and bacterial infections!

 

 

11. Before the saxophone became synonymous with the image of the jazz musician, its distant cousin, the clarinet, was a much more popular instrument.
The clarinet was once the dominant instrument in jazz; it defined the sound of the swing era and was known by its nickname, ‘licorice stick’. When the saxophone first appeared, many jazz musicians were adverse to it.

 

12. The term "hipster" was derived from one of the terms unique to jazz.
You’ve heard of the term “jazz cats”, which refers to jazz musicians. But before they adopted the nickname, did you know that they called each other “alligators”, or “gate” for short? In fact, this is just one of many terms that are unique to jazz. “Hep” was a popular term in the 1930s used to describe someone who is cool and knowledgeable: a hepster/hep cat. The term “hipster” was derived from this.

 

 

 

Some other interesting jazz terms:
Blow – to improvise a piece or play an instrument

Boogie – an early style of piano blues

Chops – excellent musical skill

Lick – a term for phrase or solo

Scat – improvising the words of a song with wordless syllables; made famous by Ella Fitzgerald

 

Source: Wikipedia - Big Band  |  Fun facts About Jazz
 

Edited January 30, 2022 by DarkRavie

[DarkRavie]

Fact  of the Day - FOSSILS

Did you know.... that a fossil is any preserved remains, impression, or trace of any once-living thing from a past geological age. Examples include bones, shells, exoskeletons, stone imprints of animals or microbes, objects preserved in amber, hair, petrified wood, oil, coal, and DNA remnants. (Wikipedia)

 

Fossil Facts
by Sophia  |  Modified: 17 Jan 2022

Fossilization is nature’s way of keeping its own time capsules. These fossil facts will show how this peculiar process teaches us about the world before us – and how we got to the now.

• Dinosaur bones and remains have been found in 7,900 dig sites.
• A fossil is any preserved remains, imprint, or trace specimens of living things from a previous geological period.
• The study of fossils is called paleontology. 
• Fossils aren’t just dinosaur bones –  but include ancient plants, bacteria, fungi, and other prehistoric animals as well. 
• Permineralization is a fossilization process where mineral deposits carried by water form internal casts in empty spaces of dead organisms. 

 

The first fossils ever recorded were of marine mollusks.

The first fossils were recorded in writing as early as 570 B.C., although paleontology has not been established yet as a discipline at this point. Ancient Greek scholars Xenophanes, Herodotus, Eratosthenes, and Strabo wrote about fossils of marine organisms. From these fossils, they surmised that land was once underwater. The Megalosaurus is known as the first dinosaur ever described scientifically. In 1819, British fossil hunter William Buckland found a large fossil in Stonesfield, Oxfordshire, England. He eventually officially named it a megalosaurus in 1824.

 

The Pokemon game franchise has 26 fossil Pokemon, including evolutions.

Fossil Pokemon are a thing, and there’s 26 of them. Most of these Pokemon are recovered from obtainable “fossil” items at specific points of the storyline. These items are then taken to a lab of sorts where they can be revived and spawned into Pokemon.  One of the more interesting fossil facts: each one of these Pokemon is based on real-life fossils. Generation I’s Omanyte and Kabutops are based on the ancient ammonite and trilobite. Generation IV’s Cranidos and Shieldon are based on the Pachycephalosaurus and Pachyrhinoceros.

 

The Bone Wars was the Gold Rush of fossils.

In a historic event also known as the Great Dinosaur Rush, the Bone Wars was a 15-year period of intensely competitive fossil hunting. A rivalry between renowned paleontologists Edward Drinker Cope and Othniel Charles Marsh formed from 1877 up till 1892. Each of the two paleontologists used petty methods to outdo the other including bribery, theft, and tampering of bones.  Now, who won the Bone Wars, you might ask? With Marsh finding 80 new dinosaur species and Cope at 56, the title for most fossils found was bagged by Marsh. Overall, the Bone Wars led to 136 new species of dinosaurs discovered, including the most popular ones we know now. 

 

Finders keepers? You could go to jail for finding and keeping a fossil.

Since fossils are extremely rare and oft expensive, it is a strictly regulated resource. For example, the Mongolian government considers all fossils found in Mongolia as government property. As such, you can’t keep them for yourself or trade them elsewhere. Once the government discovers you’re trying to sell stolen Mongolian fossils, they will file lawsuits to make you return them. This usually only applies to fossils of extreme value, such as when American fossil smuggler Eric Prokopi had to return a Tyrannosaurus Baatar skeleton from Mongolia. For the U.S., it depends on the ownership of the land where the fossil was found. If you found it in your backyard, then it’s yours. However, it is still encouraged that you register it with the authorities for research purposes. On the other hand, fossils found on someone else’s land belong to whoever owns it. Some heritage sites such as conservation parks and indigenous land do not allow fossil hunting.

 

The most well-preserved fossil looks like a statue.

The ankylosaurus, close relative of the Borealopelta.

 

The Borealopelta of the ankylosaurus family was the most “complete” specimen ever recovered – with its skin, tissues, and even its last meal still intact. The specimen was found by Shawn Funk in 2011 at an Alberta mine. The recovery process took an entire construction team two weeks. The cleaning and assembly of the extremely delicate fossil took Mark Mitchell 7,000 hours for 5-and-a-half years. The Borealopelta was 20 ft long, weighted 1.5 tons, and had 20-inch spikes for each shoulder junction.

 

The oldest fossils are 3.5 billion years-old.

Stromatolites are the oldest fossils recorded out of any life form on Earth. These cauliflower-shaped, rock-like structures are formed by cyanobacteria activity and sprouted on Earth as early as 3.5 billion years ago. 

 

Megalodon teeth are one of the most commonly-distributed fossils.

Sharks lose teeth regularly as they grow, including the Megalodon. As a result, fossilized Megalodon teeth are common fossil finds in many areas of the world. However – despite how common Megalodon teeth may be – large or exceptionally well-preserved specimens can be of very high value to collectors. For instance, 7” Megalodon teeth are so rare, that the last one sold for almost US$50k, while smaller or damaged teeth can range from US$15 to US$50.

 

Lucy is the most famous fossil.

Lucy is a 3.2 million-year-old Australopithecus afarensis named after the Beatles’ “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds.” It is the world’s most famous fossil. Discovered by Donald Johanson and Tom Gray in the Afar region of Ethiopia in 1974. It is one of the most complete skeletons of an erect-walking human ancestor ever recovered, with 40% of the structure intact. Her discovery allowed scientists to conclude that upright walking developed before the big brains of modern humans. Lucy’s brain is about the size of a chimp’s.

 

Source: Wikipedia - Fossil  |  Bizarre Fossil facts

Edited January 31, 2022 by DarkRavie

[DarkRavie]

Fact of the Day - LUNAR NEW YEAR

Did you know..... that Lunar New Year is the beginning of a calendar year whose months are Moon cycles, based on the lunar calendar or lunisolar calendar. It is particularly celebrated in countries within East and Southeast Asia (ESEA), being influenced by the Chinese lunisolar calendar. It is also a feature of the Hinduism –Buddhist calendars of South Asia, as well as the Islamic and Jewish calendars.

 

The Origin and History of Chinese New Year: Who Start and Why
by Cindy  |  Updated Jan. 26, 2022

 

 

Chinese New Year, also known as the Lunar New Year or the Spring Festival, is the most important among the traditional Chinese festivals. The origin of the Chinese New Year Festival can be traced back to about 3,500 years ago. Chinese New Year has evolved over a long period of time and its customs have undergone a long development process.

 

 

A Legend of the Origin of Chinese New Year: Nian

Like all traditional festivals in China, Chinese New Year is steeped with stories and myths. One of the most popular is about the mythical beast Nian (/nyen/), who ate livestock, crops, and even people on the eve of a new year. (It's interesting that Nian, the 'yearly beast', sounds the same as 'year' in Chinese.) To prevent Nian from attacking people and causing destruction, people put food at their doors for Nian. It's said that a wise old man figured out that Nian was scared of loud noises (firecrackers) and the color red. Then, people put red lanterns and red scrolls on their windows and doors to stop Nian from coming inside, and crackled bamboo (later replaced by firecrackers) to scare Nian away.  The monster Nian never showed up again.  (Learn more legends about the Chinese New Year.)

 

 

 

Chinese New Year's Origin: In the Shang Dynasty
Chinese New Year has enjoyed a history of about 3,500 years. Its exact beginning is not recorded. Some people believe that Chinese New Year originated in the Shang Dynasty (1600–1046 BC), when people held sacrificial ceremonies in honor of gods and ancestors at the beginning or the end of each year.

 

Chinese Calendar "Year" Established: In the Zhou Dynasty

The term Nian ('year') first appeared in the Zhou Dynasty (1046–256 BC). It had become a custom to offer sacrifices to ancestors or gods, and to worship nature in order to bless harvests at the turn of the year.

 

 

Chinese New Year Date Was Fixed: In the Han Dynasty
The date of the festival, the first day of the first month in the Chinese lunar calendar, was fixed in the Han Dynasty (202 BC – 220 AD). Certain celebration activities became popular, such as burning bamboo to make a loud cracking sound. (See when Chinese New Year is and how the date is determined.) 

 

 

In the Wei and Jin Dynasties
In the Wei and Jin dynasties (220–420), apart from worshiping gods and ancestors, people began to entertain themselves. The customs of a family getting together to clean their house, having dinner, and staying up late on New Year’s Eve originated among common people.

 

More Chinese New Year Activities: From the Tang to Qing Dynasties 

 

The prosperity of economies and cultures during the Tang, Song, and Qing dynasties accelerated the development of the Spring Festival. The customs during the festival became similar to those of modern times. Setting off firecrackers, visiting relatives and friends, and eating dumplings became important parts of the celebration. More entertaining activities arose, such as watching dragon and lion dances during the Temple Fair and enjoying lantern shows. The function of the Spring Festival changed from a religious one to entertaining and social ones, more like that of today.

 

In Modern Times
In 1912, the government decided to abolish Chinese New Year and the lunar calendar, but adopted the Gregorian calendar instead and made January 1 the official start of the new year. After 1949, Chinese New Year was renamed to the Spring Festival. It was listed as a nationwide public holiday. Nowadays, many traditional activities are disappearing but new trends have been generated. CCTV (China Central Television) Spring Festival Gala, shopping online, WeChat red envelopes, fireworks shows, and overseas travel make Chinese New Year more interesting and colorful.

 

Source: Wikipedia - Lunar New Year  |  Facts About the Chinese New Year