Fact of the Day

[DarkRavie]

Fact of the Day - ETIQUETTE

Did you know... that etiquette is the set of conventional rules of personal behaviour in polite society, usually in the form of an ethical code that delineates the expected and accepted social behaviours that accord with the conventions and norms observed by a society, a social class, or a social group. (Wikipedia)

 

Etiquette Mysteries: 6 Popular Rules Explained

by Interesting Facts

The catalog of social graces is constantly growing and changing to reflect the world we live in. Yet for every self-explanatory etiquette principle (silence your phone at the movies), there’s another seemingly arbitrary one (men should escort women on the left). While these “rules” may seem old-fashioned and are often broken in today’s society, they were once the guidelines for proper manners. We took the courtesy of demystifying six of them.

 

1. Why You Should Always Pass the Salt and Pepper

Seasoned etiquette aficionados often express dismay at the way people pass salt and pepper shakers. Regardless of which condiment a dining companion requests, in America, the polite response is to pass both shakers at the same time. This action conveniences everyone at the table. Think of salt and pepper as a pair of spouses or siblings — it becomes less likely that one will go missing if they stay together. Keeping the shakers in tandem also prevents a person from passing the wrong shaker. In addition, there’s a chance the recipient’s neighbor may need both ingredients, which are now within easy reach. Hence a rhyme that invokes two Blue’s Clues characters: “Mr. Salt and Mrs. Pepper always travel around the table together!” Politeness also dictates that shakers be placed on the table, not into outstretched hands. The thinking is occasionally linked to the superstition that two people grasping a salt shaker will eventually argue.  

 

2. Why You Should Keep Your Elbows off the Table

In the Old Testament of the Bible, the Book of Ecclesiastes includes the line, “Be ashamed of breaking an oath or a covenant, and of stretching your elbow at dinner.” Many have translated this directive as a warning to keep elbows off the table at all times. Table manners were originally introduced to prevent mealtime fights, with the knife and fork establishing each eater’s boundary lines. Today, the elbow rule stops people from slouching or accidentally leaning their arms into food dishes. Moreover, when breaking bread with a group, placing your elbows on the table blocks those on either side of you from making eye contact.      

 

3. Why You Shouldn’t Drink When You Are Being Toasted To

If a loved one or co-worker raises a glass in your honor, break the instinct of joining in on the toast. Since you’re being fêted, etiquette experts would perceive lifting your glass as a vain gesture, like giving applause to your own performance. Instead, practice the role of grateful recipient: Refrain from touching your glass and punctuate the toast with a “thank you.” Another common toast faux pas is clinking glasses to make the good tidings official. Knocking drinks with a tableful of people can require awkward stretching, causing spills or even broken glassware. A more dignified solution? Just hold those glasses aloft.  

 

4. Why You Shouldn’t Point at Another Person

When assisting theme park guests, Disney employees are trained to point with two conjoined fingers, index and middle. While the act reportedly doubles as a nod to Walt Disney’s smoking, the larger explanation is that standard pointing is considered rude in numerous cultures — especially if aimed at another person. A perception that dates back to Shakespeare’s time, pointing brings unwanted attention to the recipient, implying that they’ve committed a wrong. Repeated pointing in Japan can even instigate hostility. Figurative “finger-pointing” is defined as “making explicit and often unfair accusations of blame.” In situations where you feel compelled to point, it is kinder to use an open palm, flight attendant-style.      

 

5. Why You Shouldn’t Respond to “Thank You” With “No Problem”

There's a common perception that by answering an expression of gratitude with “no problem,” you're hinting that the effort exerted was or almost became an inconvenience. (Ditto “no worries,” “don’t mention it,” or “it was nothing.”) “Thank you” neither pleads for forgiveness nor merits a brush-off. “No problem” isn't necessarily the latter, though. Despite the negative phrasing, it's generally understood by Gen-Xers and Millennials as an attempt to be humble. In addition, the traditional response to “thank you” is understated in several languages — from Mandarin (mei guanxi or “it’s OK”) to German (keine ursache or “never mind”) — and the advent of texting has made the global vernacular less formal. But at least when speaking, etiquette authorities encourage people to try replies such as “you’re welcome,” “my pleasure,” and “of course.”

 

6. Why You Should Open a Car Door With the Hand That’s Furthest Away

Cycling accounts for more than 25% of daily travel in the Netherlands; thus, Dutch citizens tend to be more conscientious toward bike riders than Americans. Yet we can all learn from their example with the “Dutch Reach,” a subtle move for anyone seated on the left-hand side of a car. Upon parking, Dutch drivers are instructed to use their right hands when opening their doors, even though their left hands are closer. This forces individuals to fully turn their upper bodies toward their exit, increasing the probability that they will spot anyone approaching in a bike lane. Some local drivers even tie ribbons to their door handles as reminders, and the Dutch Reach Project employs the slogan, “Reach, Swivel, Look, Open” — good safety advice regardless of your seat placement.

 

 

Source: Wikipedia - Etiquette  |  Etiquette Mysteries Explained

[DarkRavie]

Fact of the Day - PEN NAMES

Did you know... that some authors become so iconic that they cease, in some sense, to be people—especially once they’re dead, and have passed securely into the realm of our collective imagination. But there’s much to be gained from digging a little deeper into those writers, or at the very least, scratching off that first surface: the names (and personas) they invented for their writing careers. (Emily Temple | June 28, 2018)

 

Famous Pen Names and the Stories Behind Them

by Interesting Facts

Most writers go by their real name. From Dickens to Dostoevsky, Alcott to Asimov, the lion’s share of all-time greats have published their novels, stories, plays, and poems under true-to-life bylines. But not all of them. Many distinguished men and women of letters have used pseudonyms to accompany their works, and some are so ubiquitous that the public may not even know they’re a pen name. Here are five of the most notable cases and the stories behind them.

 

1. Mark Twain

Samuel Langhorne Clemens went by many names. The author and humorist published a number of letters as Thomas Jefferson Snodgrass and a novel about Joan of Arc as Sieur Louis de Conte. There continues to be debate about the meaning behind "Mark Twain," with some even suggesting that it involves his bar tab, but the most widely accepted theory involves the same Mississippi riverboats he made famous in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. The precise etymology relates to the practice of depth sounding. “Twain” is an old way of saying “two,” and the phrase “by the mark twain” means that the mark on the rope suggests a depth of two fathoms. (A “fathom” is a maritime measurement that means six feet, so two fathoms equals 12 feet.) According to Twain — or, rather, Clemens — himself, he wasn't the one who came up with the name: “Mark Twain was the nom de plume of one Captain Isaiah Sellers, who used to write river news over it for the New Orleans Picayune. He died in 1863 and as he could no longer need that signature, I laid violent hands upon it without asking permission of the proprietor's remains. That is the history of the nom de plume I bear.”

 

2. Toni Morrison

Not everyone with a pen name is happy about it. Case in point: Toni Morrison, née Chloe Ardelia Wofford. She started going by her saint's name, Anthony, after converting to Catholicism at the age of 12, and the shorter “Toni” caught on soon after. Morrison, meanwhile, was her husband's last name — but she'd already divorced him by the time she began her writing career. According to a 2012 New York Magazine profile, “to this day, she deeply regrets leaving that now world-famous name on her first novel, The Bluest Eye, in 1970.” “Wasn’t that stupid?” she said. “People who call me Chloe are the people who know me best. Chloe writes the books.” She considered Chloe her true self, while Toni was the acclaimed author and Nobel laureate who did the press tours, the speeches, the “legacy and all of that.”

 

3. J.K. Rowling

Even as a muggle, J.K. Rowling has always had a few tricks up her sleeve when it comes to writing under an assumed name. And while it’s true that her real name is Joanne Rowling, the Harry Potter author doesn’t actually have a middle name. She chose J.K. because her publishers, fearful that the apparent target audience for a series about witchcraft and wizardry would be less inclined to read something written by a woman, asked her to use two initials. The “K” in this case stands for Kathleen, the first name of her paternal grandmother. It doesn’t end there. After the enormous success of Harry Potter, Rowling wanted to try her hand at a different genre. She did so by publishing The Cuckoo’s Calling under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith in 2013, hopeful that her new endeavor could succeed on its own merits rather than ride Harry Potter’s coattails. And though the detective novel was warmly received by critics, it wasn’t until some amateur sleuths uncovered its true authorship that sales skyrocketed. Rowling — who has faced controversy and criticism recently for her transphobic stance — has said that she chose the name in honor of Robert Kennedy, a personal hero of hers, and has written four more books in the series as Galbraith.

 

4. George Orwell

Unlike many other pseudonymous writers, George Orwell isn’t especially well known as such. Best known for Nineteen Eighty-Four and Animal Farm, he was born Eric Arthur Blair in 1903 and opted for a pen name prior to the publication of his 1933 memoir Down and Out in Paris and London. It's a powerful account of his time as an impoverished laborer in the two capital cities, and Orwell opted to publish under a pen name out of fear that it would embarrass his family. Several other options were considered: X, P.S. Burton, Kenneth Miles, and H. Lewis Allways. “George Orwell” won out both because he considered it a “good round English name” and because it evoked the River Orwell in England’s Suffolk County, which he lived near at the time and was extremely fond of.

 

5. Stephen King

The master of horror has published 61 novels, from Carrie and It to The Shining and Pet Sematary, but only 54 of them are under his real name. The remaining seven are credited to Richard Bachman, King’s longtime nom de plume. Dating back to 1977, when the first of these Bachman works was released, the reasoning was simple: King was too prolific for his publishers. Conventional wisdom at the time, according to the FAQ page on his website, was that "one book a year was all the public would accept" and adopting a pen name "made it possible for me to do two books in one year." Before settling on Richard Bachman, King was originally partial to a name that "had gotten out on the grapevine" and was therefore unusable: Gus Pillsbury. His pen name is a combination of Richard Stark, one of whose novels King had on his desk while making his decision, and the band Bachman Turner Overdrive, whose song "You Ain't Seen Nothin' Yet" was playing at that same fateful moment.

 

 

Source: Surprising Stories Behind Pen Names  |  Facts About Famous Pen Names

[DarkRavie]

Fact of the Day - MYTHICAL CREATURES

Did you know.... that a legendary creature is a type of fictional entity, typically a hybrid, that has not been proven and that is described in folklore (including myths and legends), but may be featured in historical accounts before modernity. (Wikipedia)

 

Mermaids, Centaurs, and More: Mythological Creatures 101

by Interesting Facts

Woven into tapestries, glittering from stained-glass windows, standing guard as statues, or starring in our favorite stories, films, and TV shows, mythological beasts such as unicorns and dragons have been a part of many cultures for centuries. But where did they come from, and how did they capture our collective imagination? Read on for some fascinating details about the fantastic creatures that populate our mythical cultural zoo.

 

1. Mermaids

Legends of part-human, part-fish beings can be found in many places around the world, including India, China, Scotland, Brazil, Greece, and beyond. In some European folklore, mermaids are said to live in fantastic underwater palaces decorated with gems from sunken ships, though they have also been known to perch on rocks above the surface, where they sing beautiful songs that lure sailors to their doom. They’re often depicted as pale or silvery, with long golden or reddish hair, and it’s said that they can transform their tails into legs and go ashore to mix with people if they wish. They lack souls, however, unless they marry a human and receive a baptism. In many stories, they can peer into the future or grant wishes. Some scholars trace all mer-stories to Oannes, Lord of the Waters, a Babylonian deity adopted from the Akkadians, who worshipped him thousands of years ago. Though depictions varied, Oannes was often shown with the head and torso of a man and the lower body of a fish. He was said to dwell beneath the sea at night, but during the day, Oannes went on land to teach humans wisdom. The first female mermaid-type creature arrived on the mythological scene a little later. She is usually identified as the Semitic moon goddess Atargatis, or Derceto, who threw herself into a lake after a dalliance with a mortal and acquired the body of a fish. By the 16th century, the image of a mermaid perched on a rock, combing her long tresses with one hand and holding a mirror with the other, was well-established in the popular imagination. (The word “mermaid,” by the way, comes to us from the Old English mere, which once meant “sea.”) Sailors reported mermaid sightings for centuries, although whether they were really seeing seals or manatees is anyone’s guess. Some of these sightings continued even into the 19th century, when mermaid folklore inspired Hans Christian Andersen’s famous 1837 fairy-tale “The Little Mermaid.” More than 150 years later, Disney (loosely) adapted Andersen’s story into a beloved 1989 animated film of the same name, putting mermaids squarely in the mainstream.

 

2. Centaurs

Centaurs come to us specifically from Greek mythology. The word “centaur” derives from the Greek kentauros, the name of a Thessalonian tribe who were renowned as expert horsemen. (No one knows where the word for the tribe itself came from.) For the ancient Greeks, centaurs were a race of creatures that were half-human and half-horse. They were said to have sprung from the mating of the hero Centaurus with a field of mares, or (in other versions) from King Ixion of Thessaly and a cloud he believed to be the goddess Hera. Centaurs were often described as wild and lascivious, although they could also be peaceful and wise, as in the case of the Centaur king Chiron, mentor to the hero Heracles. The most famous story of the centaurs involves a wedding of the Lapith king Pirithous at which the centaurs got drunk and tried to carry off the women. Scenes from this wedding and a resulting fight are depicted on the relief panels above the columns of the Parthenon.

 

3. Unicorns

The rare, magical unicorn was once thought of as native to India, although it also appears in Chinese myths and Mesopotamian artwork. The first Western account of the unicorn comes from the Greek writer Ctesias, who wrote a book on India based on stories he had heard from traders and other visitors to the Persian court. His book described a creature with a white body, purple head, and blue eyes, plus a long horn of red, white, and black. In later accounts, the unicorn is described as the size of a goat, with a beard, spiraled horn, and lion’s tail. Although no fossils of any unicorn-like creatures have been found, they were apparently real animals to ancients like Pliny the Elder, who wrote in detail about their supposed behavior and characteristics. By the Middle Ages, unicorns were the subject of an elaborate body of folklore. They were said to be pure white and to dwell in forests, where flowers sprung up wherever they grazed. Because of their purity, they were associated with both the Virgin Mary and Jesus Christ. A unicorn’s horn — called an alicorn — was powerful medicine, able to purify water and detect poison. Royals drank from cups supposedly made from unicorn horns, but in fact often made from narwhal tusks sold by enterprising Viking traders. (At one point, the King of Denmark believed he had a unicorn-horn throne, but later scholars think it, too, was made from narwhal tusks.) Powdered unicorn horn was also a popular item in apothecary shops. Because they were symbols of strength and nobility as well as purity, unicorns also frequently appeared on heraldic crests. In fact, the unicorn is the national animal of Scotland, where it has been part of the royal coat of arms since the 1500s. Another famous unicorn depiction is in the unicorn tapestries of France, which were produced in the late Middle Ages and still fascinate scholars today.

 

4. Dragons

Like some other creatures on this list, dragons are found in ancient mythology from around the world — in Greek, Vedic, Teutonic, Anglo-Saxon, Chinese, and Christian cultures, among others. They have heads like crocodiles; scales of gold, silver, or other rich colors; large wings; and long, fearsome tails they use to beat and suffocate their opponents. Often said to be descended from giant water snakes, they are sometimes immune to fire, which they can swallow and breathe at will to incinerate their enemies. In some ancient stories, dragons were thought to originally hail from Ethiopia or India. (Elephants were supposed to be their favorite food.) And in Western myths, they're often depicted guarding treasure or trying to eat maidens. Christians associated them with sin and the devil. In Chinese myths, they are far more benevolent, a symbol of divinity, royalty, and prosperity. Chinese dragons were first mentioned as early as the third millennium B.C., when a pair were supposedly seen by the Yellow Emperor (a mythological figure also known as Huangdi). According to legend, four dragon kings ruled over the four seas, and brought storms and rain. Dragon figures are still popular in Chinese culture today, as they are in Western fantasy art, literature, and role-playing games. (See: The Lord of the Rings, Game of Thrones, and Dungeons and Dragons.)

5. Kraken

The kraken has been recorded in Scandinavian writings for hundreds of years. This giant sea monster was said to haunt the icy waters near Norway, Iceland, and Sweden, where it would engulf ships in its massive tentacles and pull them to the bottom of the sea. It was usually described as having a giant bulbous head and eyes bigger than a person. By some accounts, the kraken would anchor itself to the bottom of the ocean and feast on small fish that larger sea creatures sent their way to avoid being eaten themselves (Scandinavian fisherman thus often said that if an area was teeming with fish, a kraken was probably nearby.) Once the kraken grew too fat to remain tethered to the sea floor, it would rise to the surface and attack ships. In other accounts, the creature rose to the surface when the waters were warmed by the fires of hell. The kraken also reportedly had skin like gravel and was sometimes mistaken for an island; one account says that in 1700, a Danish priest celebrated mass on the back of a kraken. Some think that kraken accounts may have involved real-life giant squids, an elusive deep-sea creature that can weigh up to a ton and has eyes as big as a dinner plate, if not quite as big as a person.

 

6. Griffins

In the lore of ancient Egypt and Greece, griffins were small, ferocious beings with the body of a lion and the head, wings, and talons of an eagle. The folklorist Adrienne Mayor has argued that stories of the griffin may have been inspired by ancient discoveries of fossils from Protoceratops dinosaurs, a relative of the Triceratops that had four legs, a sharp beak, and long shoulder blades that may have been interpreted as wings. In any case, the earliest known depictions come from Egypt in the third millennium B.C. Back then, griffins were said to attack humans and horses, and were useful for protecting palaces, treasure, and tombs. The ancient Greeks thought they lived in Scythia — an empire centered on what is now Crimea — where they guarded the gold for which that land was famous. Like unicorns and dragons, they were popular on coats of arms and crests during the Middle Ages and beyond.

 

7. Phoenixes

The phoenix is a sacred bird associated with fire, the sun, and rebirth. About the size of an eagle, it’s said to have red-gold plumage, a long tail, and a harmonious song that sounds like a flute. Versions of the creature are found in Egyptian, Greek, and Chinese folklore, among other places. In one ancient legend, after 500 years of life, the phoenix would make a nest of dry twigs, strike rocks with its beak until it lit a spark, and then set itself ablaze. Once the fire cooled, a new phoenix would rise from the ashes. Early Christian writers saw it as an image of the Resurrection. The bird was also associated with immortality, and only one was said to exist at any given time. (And in case you’re wondering, the town in Arizona is named for the mythological creature.)

 

Source: Wikipedia - Legendary Creatures  |  Facts Explained About Mythological Creatures
 

[DarkRavie]

Fact of the Day - CHEESE

Did you know... that cheese is a dairy product produced in wide ranges of flavors, textures and forms by coagulation of the milk protein casein. It comprises proteins and fat from milk, usually the milk of cows, buffalo, goats, or sheep. (Wikipedia)

 

Amazing Facts About Cheese

by Interesting Facts

Cheese, glorious cheese. One of humanity’s oldest culinary creations, cheese has been around for nearly 4,000 years and comes in more than 1,800 varieties. Here’s a sampler platter of facts about everybody’s favorite dairy product.

 

1. Swiss Cheese Is a Scientific Mystery

Surprisingly, nobody really knows for certain why Swiss cheese has holes. The longstanding theory was that bacteria in the cheese emits carbon dioxide, creating bubbles — or “eyes” — that burst as the cheese matures. (Cheese varieties without these eyes are referred to as “blind.”) While this has been the leading hypothesis for the past century, there are other theories. A 2015 study suggests that small particles of hay in milk may cause the famous holes. There’s evidence that these small specks weaken the cheese’s internal structure, causing gas bubbles to emerge.

 

2. Cheese Is Surprisingly Human

There’s a reason the scent of certain cheeses smells like feet, armpits, or sweat: The bacteria that make human beings stinky are closely related to the bacteria responsible for stinky cheeses, such as Limburger. In fact, some cheeses are so human-like that mosquitoes can mistake them for flesh.

 

3. The World’s Most Expensive Cheeses May Surprise You

One of the world’s priciest cheeses? Moose. Made in Sweden, moose cheese is created exclusively at a 59-acre farm that sells the stuff to high-end restaurants for approximately $500 per pound. The cheese is amazingly high in butterfat, making it rich and creamy. Even more pricey is pule, a cheese made from the milk of Serbian donkeys. It reportedly costs about $1700 per pound. (Reviewers say it tastes like manchego.)

 

4. Newborn Children Used to be Welcomed With Cheese

In parts of medieval England, it was traditional for a father to buy a cheese — called “groaning cheese” — when his wife gave birth. The cheese was hollowed out and pieces presented to everyone present around the birth. At the child’s christening, the baby would be passed through the wheel of cheese for good luck.

 

5. Music May Affect Cheese Flavor

In 2018, researchers separated nine giant wheels of Emmental cheese and played them selections from Mozart's “The Magic Flute,” Led Zeppelin's "Stairway to Heaven," and "Jazz (We've Got)" from A Tribe Called Quest, among other sonic selections. The cheeses were exposed to the music 24 hours a day over six months. When food technologists later analyzed the samples, they discovered that the cheese exposed to classical music and rock had a milder flavor compared to a control. As for the hip-hop cheese? It had "a discernibly stronger smell and stronger, fruitier taste than the other test samples." Researchers are further studying how acoustic waves might affect cheese development.

 

6. Everybody Loves (to Steal) Cheese

Each year, about 4% of the world’s cheese supply is stolen — making it the most-stolen food in the world. Cheese, after all, is big business: Global sales exceeded $114 billion in 2019. In Italy, Parmesan is so valuable it can be used as loan collateral, according to CBS News. Consequently, the black market for cheese is thriving. From 2014 to 2016, organized crime was responsible for stealing about $7 million of Parmesan. And dairy-based crime definitely isn’t limited to Italy: In 2009, a duo of cheese thieves in New Zealand led police on a high-octane car chase — and tried to throw off the pursuit by tossing boxes of cheddar out the window.

 

7. Cheese Was Once Used for Divination

In both ancient Greece and the European Middle Ages, people occasionally tried to predict the future using cheese — a practice known as tyromancy. By some accounts, the holes in the cheese were “read” as omens, much in the same way the shapes that tea leaves form at the bottom of a cup might be interpreted. In other accounts, women attempted to predict their future husbands by writing the names of suitors on scraps of cheese. The first scrap to mold was the “winner.”

 

8. There Have Been Poems About Cheese

A 19th-century Canadian poet named James McIntyre tried to make a name for himself by writing lyrical verse in homage to fromage. His poetry included titles such as: “Hints to Cheesemakers,” “Prophecy of a Ten Ton Cheese,” and “Lines Read at the Dairymaid’s Social.” But his most famous work is “Ode on the Mammoth Cheese: Weight over Seven Thousand Pounds.” It is reproduced here in all of its glory:  

 

We have seen the Queen of cheese,
Laying quietly at your ease,
Gently fanned by evening breeze --
Thy fair form no flies dare seize.
 

All gaily dressed soon you'll go
To the great Provincial Show,
To be admired by many a beau
In the city of Toronto.
 

Cows numerous as a swarm of bees --
Or as the leaves upon the trees --
It did require to make thee please,
And stand unrivalled Queen of Cheese.
 

May you not receive a scar as
We have heard that Mr. Harris
Intends to send you off as far as
The great World's show at Paris.
 

Of the youth -- beware of these --
For some of them might rudely squeeze
And bite your cheek; then songs or glees
We could not sing o' Queen of Cheese.
 

We'rt thou suspended from baloon [sic],
You'd caste a shade, even at noon;
Folks would think it was the moon
About to fall and crush them soon.
 

You may have already come to this realization on your own, but it’s worth mentioning that McIntyre is widely considered one of the worst poets of all time.

 

Source: Wikipedia - Cheese  |  Cheese Facts
 

[DarkRavie]

Fact of the Day - QUEEN ELIZABETH II

Did you know... that Elizabeth II is Queen of the United Kingdom and 14 other Commonwealth realms. Elizabeth was born in Mayfair, London, as the first child of the Duke and Duchess of York. Her father acceded to the throne in 1936 upon the abdication of his brother, King Edward VIII, making Elizabeth the heir presumptive. (Wikipedia)

 

Surprising Facts About Queen Elizabeth II

by Interesting Facts

The longest-reigning monarch in British history has led a fascinating life. Her Majesty has served as the ruler of the United Kingdom since February 1952, when her father, King George VI, passed away, and she became queen at just 25 years old. From serving in World War II to creating her own breed of dog to favoring the same $9 nail polish for over 30 years, here are some fascinating tidbits about Her Royal Highness Queen Elizabeth II.

 

1. She Celebrates Two Birthdays

While the queen’s actual birthday falls on April 21 (she turned 95 in 2021), she also has a second “official” birthday in the summer. It’s marked with a ceremony called Trooping the Colour, a practice that has existed for over 260 years to ensure that British sovereigns whose birthdays fall during colder months also have a ceremony that happens during nicer weather. More than 1400 soldiers, 200 horses, and 400 musicians participate in the military parade, which usually happens in June. (The “colors” in the ceremony’s name refers to the hues of the flags used by regiments in the British Army; “trooping” refers to officers marching up and down waving the flags.) The public turn out in droves to take part, and members of the royal family also join the procession on horseback or in carriages.

 

2. She Never Went to School

British royals throughout history were often educated at home, and that includes Queen Elizabeth. She was taught by private tutors, with a focus on British law and history. The young Elizabeth also learned to ride horses, and was privately instructed in religion by the Archbishop of Canterbury. The queen has also studied music, art, and French throughout her life. (She speaks fluent French, often switching between English and French while delivering speeches in French-speaking countries.)

 

3. She Served With the British Army During World War II

In 1945, Queen Elizabeth joined the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS) — the women’s branch of the British Army — to serve as a subaltern (or junior officer) during World War II. During her time in the army, the queen learned to drive and to maintain vehicles as a truck driver and mechanic. Today, she is the only living head of state to have served in World War II. When the war ended, the then-princess and her sister, Princess Margaret, secretly joined revelers in the street to celebrate the Allied victory. She even did the conga at the Ritz. The queen later called it “one of the most memorable nights of my life.”

 

4. She Doesn’t Need a Driver’s License or Passport

While the queen is often chauffeured around in a custom Bentley limousine, she also once enjoyed driving herself around in her beloved Range Rover (until recently, when she reportedly gave up driving, at least on public roads). But unlike every other person who drives in the U.K., Her Royal Highness does not require a driver’s license nor a license plate on her car. As the name in which British passports are issued, she also does not require a document of her own for international travel.

 

5. She Once Acted With James Bond

 

In 2012, the queen acted in a short video segment with Daniel Craig in his role as James Bond. Filmed for the London Olympics, the Danny Boyle-directed clip showed the queen doing her best 007 as she skydived from a helicopter into the stadium where the opening ceremony was being held. While the queen did have her own lines for the appearance — and was said to be a natural — the actual jump was performed by a stuntman.

 

6. She Doesn’t Eat Pasta, Potatoes, or Garlic

Since she’s a healthy nonagenarian, there’s bound to be some interest in the queen’s daily diet. Darren McGrady, who served as her personal chef for 15 years, revealed in 2017 that Her Royal Highness stays away from starchy foods unless they’re served at a state dinner. Instead, she eats an abundance of grilled fish, chicken, and vegetables, as well as salad and fresh fruit. McGrady also said that she did not like food prepared with garlic or too many onions. Her daughter-in-law Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall  confirmed the anti-garlic stance during an appearance on MasterChef Australia, saying it is common among royals due to their frequent public appearances.

 

7. Her Favorite Nail Polish Is a $9 Bottle of Essie

Since 1989, the queen has preferred Essie’s “Ballet Slippers” as her nail polish of choice. The pale, almost translucent shade of pink has become standard within the royal family, where it is reportedly against the dress code to wear dark or bright nail polish. According to Essie, “Ballet Slippers” remains one of the company’s most popular colors, and a bottle of it is sold every two seconds.

 

8. She’s Owned More Than 30 Corgis and Invented the “Dorgi”

Throughout her life and reign, Elizabeth has always kept corgis. She got her first corgi in 1933, when her father brought one home as a family pet. When she was 18, she got her own pet corgi, Susan, from which all her other dogs over the years would be descended. She has also owned almost a dozen “dorgis” — a cross between a dachshund and a corgi that was first introduced to the royal household when one of the queen’s dogs mated with Princess Margaret’s dachshund.

 

9. She Uses Her Purse to Send Signals To Her Staff

The queen is hardly ever seen without one of her signature Launer handbags; she is said to own about 200 of them. While she reportedly uses her purse to carry a mirror, lipstick, mints, and reading glasses, she also discreetly sends signals to her staff with it. According to one royal historian, Her Royal Highness will switch her purse from her left arm to her right if she wishes to be politely ushered away from a conversation. If she places her purse on the floor, it means she needs saving from an uncomfortable situation. And if the handbag ends up on the table at dinner, it reportedly means she wishes to be whisked away within the next five minutes.

 

10. She Drinks a Glass of Champagne Before Bed

It’s only fitting that the queen of England would choose a classy nightcap. Her first cousin Margaret Rhodes reportedly once said that Queen Elizabeth ended most days by enjoying a glass of Champagne before going to sleep — most likely Bollinger Champagne, the official supplier to the royal household. Her Majesty also reportedly enjoys a gin and Dubonnet with a slice of lemon before lunch, a glass of wine with lunch, and a dry martini in the evening.

 

 

Source: Wikipedia - Elizabeth II  |  Facts About Queen Elizabeth II
 

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Fact of the Day - THE SKY

Did you know... that the sky is an unobstructed view upward from the surface of the Earth. It includes the atmosphere and outer space. It may also be considered a place between the ground and outer space, thus distinct from outer space. In the field of astronomy, the sky is also called the celestial sphere. (Wikipedia)

 

Why Is the Sky Blue? And Other Questions About the Sky

by Interesting Facts

We look at the sky almost every day, but if we stare at it for a little longer than usual, it can start raising a lot of questions. While we generally know the answers to a lot of the immediate queries (Where does the sun rise and set? What is the brightest star in the sky?), many phenomena remain a mystery. Our atmosphere is a big science fair, and once you start digging in, you’ll find demonstrations of color waves, states of matter, and the speed of light. Here’s an overview of some of the most pressing questions about the sky above us.

 

1. Why Is the Sky Blue?

To understand this question, think about the atmosphere as a prism. In a prism, white light refracts through its polished surfaces and separates into the colors of the rainbow. The sun produces white light, so when its light travels through the atmosphere, it refracts a rainbow of colors. But then why do we mostly see blue? Each color comes from an electromagnetic wave. While red has the longest, slowest wavelength, blue and violet move in quick, short waves. As these colors pass through the atmosphere, they oscillate charged particles in air molecules like oxygen and nitrogen. Blue and violet are scattered in all directions at around 10 times the efficiency of red light, so they get the highest coverage area in our sky. Our eyes are more sensitive to blue than violet, which is why we see the sky as blue. By contrast, on the moon, the sun just looks like a glowing disc traveling through the dark, night sky. This is because the moon doesn’t have an atmosphere, so there’s nothing to scatter the sun’s light and reveal individual colored wavelengths.

 

2. Why Are Sunsets and Sunrises Colorful?

Sunsets and sunrises are colorful for a similar reason that the sky is blue: It’s about how light scatters in our atmosphere. During the day, the sun is close enough that we see blue in all directions. But as the sun rises and sets, there’s more atmosphere for the light to travel through. This longer journey gives yellow, orange, and red waves, which naturally take longer to scatter through the atmosphere, a chance to shine. This also explains the golden, or magic, hour, when the sun covers everything in a soft, diffused glow shortly after rising and before setting.

 

3. Why Does Outer Space Look Black?

Scientists still don’t know for sure why outer space appears black, but there are a few ideas. In scientific circles, many astronomers wrestle with Olbers’ paradox: If the universe is endless and full of infinite stars, why are we not bathed in the glow from this blanket of stars on Earth? Some theorize that light from distant stars doesn’t have time to reach the Earth in a way that’s visible to our eyes because the universe is expanding faster than the speed of light. There’s also a lot of light in space that we can’t see. Think back to the blue sky and color wavelengths. There are plenty of light waves that are above or below the threshold for what our eyes can see. Slow, long radio waves and quick, short gamma rays aren’t visible to the naked eye. Stars give off all kinds of invisible light, including infrared, ultraviolet, and other colors we can’t see with our eyes alone.

 

4. How Do Clouds Form?

First, a quick recap from science class: Water can exist as a solid, liquid, or gas. When ice melts, it turns into a liquid; when water freezes, it turns into a solid; when water evaporates, it turns into a gas that’s held in the air. One of the ways gas turns back into liquid is precipitation, like rain or snow. Clouds form when the air saturates, meaning the air is holding too much moisture. When this happens, condensation can occur. It’s the same phenomenon that causes the outside of a cup of water to become wet on a hot day, but instead of glass, that moisture binds to tiny particles in the air like dust, ash, and salt. As a result, that moisture becomes visible as clouds or fog. The air’s capacity for water depends on atmospheric pressure, which changes with temperature, so clouds can also form when temperatures suddenly cool. Rain, snow, and hail happen when the clouds become too heavy and that moisture gives in to gravity.

 

 

Source: Wikipedia - Sky  |  Questions About the Sky
 

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Fact of the Day - WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE

Did you know... that English playwright William Shakespeare is by far one of the most famous names in the theatre industry, yet there are still many facts about him that would shock and surprise you. This year marks 400 years since the death of Shakespeare and how his legacy continues.  (Great British Mag | April 2021)

 

Astounding Facts About William Shakespeare

by Interesting Facts

Despite being one of the most well-known figures in the history of Western literature, there is a tremendous degree of mystery surrounding the life of William Shakespeare. Fortunately, much of what we do know about the Bard is fascinating. From his wedding to his will to one unusual way his name lives on, here are nine tidbits you might not know about one of the most amazing creators of all time.

 

1. No One Knows What Shakespeare Was Doing for Seven Years

There is no historical record of Shakespeare’s life between 1585 and 1592, after which he became established as a dramatist and playwright. The Bard would have been about 21 years old at the beginning of that period. What was he up to? Nobody really knows, though some theories hypothesize that he was a law clerk, a soldier, a schoolmaster, or an actor.

 

2. Shakespeare Had a Shotgun Wedding

Shakespeare married Anne Hathaway in 1582, when he was 18 years old and she was 26. They remained together until his death in 1616. Their courtship began with a rather abrupt start, as Hathaway was several months pregnant at the time of their marriage.

 

3. “Shakespeare” Is Just One Way to Spell His Name

Unlike many other aspects of life in Elizabethan England, spelling was a rather liberal endeavor. Proper names were spelled in a wide variety of different ways, and "Shakespeare" was no exception. There are 14 different spellings across various sources referring to Shakespeare the playwright, including “Shaxberd,” “Shake-speare,” and “Shaskpe.”

 

4. Shakespeare Lived Through the Plague

Though it is only rarely mentioned in his plays, Shakespeare lived through several outbreaks of the Bubonic plague in England. He was lucky to have survived it, but lost several of his loved ones to it, including three sisters, his brother Edmund, and possibly his son Hamnet (although Hamnet’s precise cause of death is unclear).

 

5. Shakespeare’s Death Is Mysterious

Though the time of his passing has been documented, Shakespeare’s cause of death remains a mystery. An anecdote from a clergyman's diary, written decades after, claims that the writer died from a severe fever, possibly related to typhus, but that has never been proven.

 

6. He Gave His Wife His “Second-Best Bed”

By the time of his death, Shakespeare was a wealthy man. The lion’s share of his estate went to his daughter, Susannah Hall. His wife, on the other hand, received slightly less: his second-best bed. This is not a metaphor; it was a common practice at the time to give the best of one’s goods to children and goods of a slightly lower quality to one’s spouse.

 

7. He Put a Curse on His Grave

It’s perhaps a modest request that a great playwright wished for his remains to be left in peace, but Shakespeare wasn’t taking any chances. His gravestone at the Church of the Holy Trinity in Stratford-upon-Avon reads:

"Good friend for Jesus’ sake forbear, To dig the dust enclosed here. Blessed be the man that spares these stones, And cursed be he that moves my bones."

 

8. The Curse Didn’t Work

In 2016, a team of scientists used radar scans to investigate the burial site of William Shakespeare and uncovered signs of disturbances around the remains. The evidence suggests that his skull was likely removed from his grave at some point in history.

 

9. His Name Lives On in the Stars

Several moons of Uranus (Titania, Oberon, Ariel, Miranda, and Puck) are named after characters from Shakespeare’s plays "A Midsummer Night’s Dream" and "The Tempest." And so the Bard’s legacy shines brightly in the night sky — provided you have a good telescope.

 

 

Source: Strange Facts About Shakespeare  |  Shakespeare Facts

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Fact of the Day - GEMSTONES

Did you know... that since the beginning of time, humans have always had a fascination for shiny and glossy gemstones. The Romans believed that a diamond was a piece of a falling star. On the other hand, the ancient Greeks believed that a diamond was the teardrop of the Gods. Today we know much more about gemstones and understand the formation of a unique stone, and still, there is no end to our fascination. From the Egyptian ruler Cleopatra's famous love for emeralds and other green gemstones like peridots to the well-known emerald necklace which sank with the Titanic in the Atlantic Ocean, the passion for gemstones has remained true. It is quite rightly said that a diamond is a girl's best friend. (Kidadl Team | Published on Feb 09, 2022 | Updated on Apr 05, 2022)

 

Mind-Blowing Facts About Gemstones

by Interesting Facts

Gemstones are fascinating in appearance alone — these jewels are, after all, designed to be eye-catching — but behind them is a story to suit every interest, whether you’re an armchair geologist or just love pretty things. Astronomy buffs can marvel at the diamonds sparkling throughout the cosmos. For mythology buffs, there’s a teetotaling origin story that will change the way you look at amethysts. And if you have opinions on birthstones, wait until you hear how they evolved. These seven facts might just change the way you see gemstones forever.

 

1. Rubies and Sapphires Have the Same Base Mineral

Corundum is a colorless mineral that’s the second-hardest natural substance on Earth, just behind diamonds. While the average person probably doesn’t recognize this aluminum oxide in its pure form, with just a few impurities it becomes a household name. With a touch of chromium, it becomes a ruby, and just a few hints of iron and titanium turns it into a sapphire. This isn’t a unique phenomenon. Variations of the gemstone beryl, an aluminum silicate, include emerald, morganite, and aquamarine. Some garnets are called hessonite, rhodolite, and andradite. Amethyst is a kind of quartz. Sought-after color variations of gems like diamonds and topaz also come from impurities. Contrary to what you might think, impurities aren’t always a bad thing!

 

2. The Sun Could Someday Turn Into a Giant Diamond

Right now, the core of our sun is a hotbed of nuclear fusion. While some stars explode in a giant supernova and become neutron stars or black holes, our sun is a medium-mass star. After several billion years, it will burst into a red giant, then leave behind its core as a white dwarf. Here’s where it gets interesting: White dwarfs are one of the highest-gravity environments in the galaxy, with a gravitational field that can be 350,000 times that of Earth’s. This compresses the oxygen and carbon of its core, causing it to crystallize. Diamonds are pure carbon that has crystallized under high pressure. (The ones on Earth formed in the planet’s core and were brought to the surface in ancient volcanic eruptions.) So while there’s some oxygen mixed in, the core of a white dwarf is essentially a diamond. After decades of theory, in 2013 scientists actually observed this phenomena in the cosmos. Astronomers at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics identified a 10 billion-trillion-trillion-carat core just 50 light-years from Earth, in the constellation Centaurus. And in 2014, astronomers announced that they’d found an 11 billion-year-old crystallized dwarf the size of Earth.

 

3. Modern Birthstones Evolve Based on Marketing

As a concept, birthstones date back pretty far, from the Christian Bible to the mystical gemstones of Hindu tradition. The tradition of wearing a stone for the month you were born began to gel in 16th-century Poland or Germany, likely due to increased trade between Europe and Asia. While these traditional gemstones certainly overlap with modern ones, there are some notable changes: March, for example, was once bloodstone, not aquamarine. In 1912, however, the birthstone list became a wildly successful marketing tactic. The National Association of Jewelers standardized the 12 birthstones by month, choosing stones that most jewelers could produce and sell easily. That last part is key, and specific birthstones have continued to evolve over the last century. Many classic, perennial favorites have stayed in place — diamonds for April and sapphire for September, for example. Some months shifted based on color: December has been assigned a wealth of blue stones, from the traditional turquoise and lapis lazuli to the more modern blue zircon, blue topaz, and tanzanite. Others, like October, have shifted significantly. October’s traditional birthstone is the opal, which is still widely recognized. But in 1952, the Jewelers of America swapped in pink tourmaline to match the rest of the transparent list. As recently as 2016, Jewelers of America added spinel to the August list as part of a marketing campaign.

 

4. Amethysts Were Used as Ancient Drinking Protection

Amethysts were so widely used as wards against intoxication or hangovers in ancient times that it’s where they got their name: It comes from “not drunk” in ancient Greek. The actual mythology around the amethyst varies, but many of the stories involve Dionysus, the Greek god of wine, grapes, and drunkenness. In one version, Dionysus becomes enamored with a mortal woman named Amethystos, who was, to put it mildly, not into it. She prayed to her preferred god, Artemis, to help keep her chaste, and in response Artemis turned her into a statue of clear quartz. Dionysus either poured, spilled, or cried wine onto it, staining it purple. So in 2021, when archaeologists unearthed an amethyst ring from the former site of — what else? — the largest known winery of the Byzantine era, they speculated that its former owner could have been trying to ward off the worst effects of drinking. The team, which had been excavating a site in modern day Yavne, Israel, said that it’s impossible to know for sure.

 

5. Garnets Were Named for Pomegranates

While it’s not quite as interesting as “not drunk,” the name “garnet” also has a somewhat decadent origin. In the 13th century, a German theologian named the gem from the Latin word granatus, which means “grain” or “seed,” in this case referring to pomegranate seeds. He wasn’t wrong: A small, oval garnet could absolutely be mistaken for a snack in the right context.

 

6. Not All Gemstones Are Stones

While most things we consider “gemstones” are minerals, in practice the distinction has less to do with chemistry and more to do with aesthetics. Calcareous concretions (pearl-like growths from certain mollusks) and pearls are the only gems to grow within living creatures. Precious coral comes from the hardened skeleton of dead coral polyps. Jet is fossilized wood. Amber is fossilized tree resin, and is one of the earliest gemstones to be carved for jewelry. All of these make fine, eye-catching stones, even if they’re missing the crystalline glint of an emerald.

 

7. The First Lab-Grown Diamonds Appeared in the 1950s

Lab-grown diamonds have grown in popularity as a more ethical and less expensive alternative to mined diamonds. These diamonds are often called “synthetic diamonds,” even though their chemical makeup is exactly the same. After more than a century of people trying to figure out how to DIY diamonds, scientists at the General Electric Research Laboratory were the first to announce their success in 1954 — although it took them a second to figure out they did it. After they left their high-pressure equipment on overnight, a blob popped out, but it didn’t look like a diamond. They began to suspect otherwise when the material broke high-end polishing equipment, something only a diamond could do. X-ray tests confirmed their suspicions. It later turned out that Union Carbide and the Swedish company ASEA got there just slightly earlier, in 1952 and 1953, but kept their findings secret. These small, rough diamonds were great for industrial applications, but they weren’t ready to shine just yet. Higher-quality diamonds appeared in the 1970s, although they were easy to tell apart from natural diamonds under a microscope, and hard to scale. The technology slowly improved, and in the 1990s, diamond industry titan De Beers (who played a pivotal role in our idea of the diamond engagement ring in the mid-20th century) got concerned enough to develop detection machines. Today, most “synthetic” diamonds are made with a lower-pressure process called chemical vapor deposition, which uses heated gas in a vacuum chamber at extremely low pressures — very different from the high-pressure environment in which diamonds grow inside the Earth.

 

Source: Precious Facts About Gemstones  |  Gemstone Facts

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Fact of the Day - PLACES THAT INSPIRED NOVELS

Did you know.... that for years, C. S. Lewis had been having a recurring dream about a fawn wearing a red scarf and so, when war broke out and cities were being evacuated, he decided to put pen to paper and use this friendly fawn as one of his key characters in what would be known for years to come as ‘The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe’. (brilliantbookandlifeclub | October 2017)

 

Fascinating Locations That Inspired Bestselling Novels

by Interesting Facts

If you’ve ever immersed yourself in an entirely different world while reading a book, you’re not alone. Stories that take place in intriguing locations are often the ones readers enjoy the most — in such books, the setting becomes almost as important as the characters themselves. Writers often draw inspiration for these stories from their real-life surroundings. Here are six fascinating locations that inspired some of the world’s best-known novels.

 

1. Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire, England: "Harry Potter and The Lord of the Rings"

Two of the world’s most famous book series share a connection: England’s fantastical Forest of Dean. Here, you’ll encounter winding paths, deep green foliage, looming moss-covered branches, and an air of hidden secrets within the trees. J.K. Rowling (Harry Potter) grew up in Gloucestershire and spent time in the forest, which serves as the inspiration for the series’ Forbidden Forest. There are also traces of her childhood cottage home here (which the author secretly purchased in 2011), such as in the tiny closet under the stairs that served as Harry’s bedroom. J.R.R. Tolkien (The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit) also spent time in the Forest of Dean as a child. He was inspired by the forest’s labyrinth of caves and geological formations called scowles, created by erosion in the limestone soil under the woods. Middle Earth, the elaborate setting for his books, contains several mystical forests such as Mirkwood, Lothlórien, Fangorn, and the Old Forest — all influenced by the Forest of Dean’s unusual features. A popular area of the forest to visit is Puzzlewood, where you’ll find mazes, a café, a playground, farm animals, picnic tables, and a gift shop. Puzzlewood’s other claim to fame is as a film set — Star Wars: The Force Awakens, The Secret Garden, Dr. Who, Merlin, and Jack the Giant Slayer are just a few of the television shows and movies that have been shot here.

 

2. The Stanley Hotel, Estes Park, Colorado: "The Shining"

If you’ve read Stephen King’s horror thriller (or seen the movie adaptation starring Jack Nicholson), you’ll undoubtedly remember the hotel where most of The Shining takes place. Its long spooky hallways, eerily empty bar, and isolated location set the scene for the chilling tale. Estes Park lies on the edge of Rocky Mountain National Park, and due to the snowy, mountainous location, much of the park and town shut down for the winter. In 1974, King was living in nearby Boulder and working on a novel titled Darkshine, but reportedly wasn’t happy with its setting. For a change of scenery and inspiration, he and his wife headed to Estes Park and spent one night in The Stanley Hotel, a 142-room Colonial Revival-style resort built in 1909. No other guests were in the hotel because the hotel was closing for the winter the following day. The couple dined alone in the large dining room with chairs on all the other tables as pre-recorded orchestral music played in the background. When his wife retired to Room 217, King wandered the empty corridors and visited the hotel bar, where the bartender served him drinks. King reported having a disturbing dream that night about a firehose chasing his terrified young son down the hotel corridors. The nightmare, combined with the hotel’s eerie desolation, was the inspiration King was looking for, and Darkshine became The Shining, which takes place at the fictitious Overlook Hotel. The Stanley Hotel, which overlooks the majestic Rocky Mountains and Estes Lake, has since been restored to some of its former grandeur. Room 217 is the hotel’s most requested room, and the hotel added a hedge maze to mimic the one in the movie. The hotel has a reputation for being haunted, and its rumored paranormal activities are often featured on TV shows and online.

 

3. Ngong Hills, Kenya: "Out of Africa"

Danish author Karen Blixen wrote Out of Africa under the pseudonym Isak Dinesen, chronicling her time living on a coffee plantation from 1913 to 1931 at the base of Ngong Hills in Kenya (when it was known as British East Africa). Blixen arrived in Africa in 1913 to marry her second cousin, Swedish Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke. But the marriage eventually fell apart, and Blixen, who had fallen in love with Africa and its people, took over his plantation. During this time, an English big-game hunter named Denys Finch Hatton became Blixen’s long-term romantic companion. The plantation eventually failed due to falling coffee prices, droughts, and an unsuitable elevation, and Blixen was forced to sell the land and return to Europe. But she never stopped longing for Africa and wrote her memoir detailing the breathtaking wildlife and vast savannahs around Ngong Hills. In 1985, Meryl Streep and Robert Redford starred in a film adaptation of Out of Africa, directed by Sydney Pollack. The film was nominated for 11 Oscars and won seven, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Cinematography. (Streep received a Best Actress nomination.) Several scenes featured Streep and Redford against the stunning backdrop of the Kenyan landscape. Blixen’s plantation home, near Nairobi, has been converted to the Karen Blixen Museum. The fertile green Ngong Hills that Blixen wrote so favorably about lie just a few miles northwest of the museum and are a popular hiking spot.

 

4. Great Neck, New York: "The Great Gatsby"

F. Scott Fitzgerald’s masterpiece, The Great Gatsby, primarily takes place during the Roaring Twenties in West Egg and East Egg, fictitious towns on Long Island’s north shore. Both communities housed wealthy families who lived in lavish mansions, but with one significant difference — “old money” families who had been wealthy for generations lived in East Egg. Across a small bay, West Egg’s inhabitants were considered “new money.” Jay Gatsby, the main character, lived in West Egg and often threw elaborate parties. He pined for his love Daisy, who lived across the bay and married another man. The two communities are based on real-life Sands Point (East Egg) and Great Neck (West Egg), separated by tiny Manhasset Bay. Fitzgerald and his wife rented a home in Great Neck from 1922 to 1924. They befriended some of its newer inhabitants, who had recently earned their wealth as famous writers, actors, and comedians. At the time, “old money” families such as the Vanderbilts and the Guggenheims owned estates in Sands Point. Fitzgerald hosted and attended parties in both communities and often sat on the porch drinking in the evenings and watching the happenings across the bay in Sands Point, according to Ruth Prigozy, executive director of the F. Scott Fitzgerald Society. He started working on The Great Gatsby while living in the shorefront home, which still stands in Great Neck. (It sold for about $3 million in 2016.) Two of the Guggenheim mansions, Falaise and Hempstead House, still stand in Sands Point and are part of the Sands Point Preserve Conservancy.

 

5. Hannibal, Missouri: "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer"

Who can forget the lively Adventures of Tom Sawyer in Mark Twain’s famous novel? The book is set during the 1840s in the fictitious town of St. Petersburg, Missouri, along the mighty Mississippi River. Twain, whose real name was Samuel Clemens, grew up in Hannibal, and St. Petersburg is based on his boyhood hometown. He worked as a riverboat pilot on the Mississippi (among other jobs) before becoming a writer. Many of his boyhood antics made it into the novels, and several of the characters are based on people Twain knew. In the book, Tom and his girlfriend Becky get lost inside a cave for several days, and later cave scenes involve villains and buried treasure. The real-life town of Hannibal has created several tourist attractions in honor of its most famous former resident. You can tour caves in the Mark Twain Cave Complex, take a cruise on the Mark Twain Riverboat, and visit his childhood house, which has been restored and converted to the Mark Twain Boyhood Home & Museum. You can even “paint” a replica of the whitewashed fence from one of the book’s most famous scenes in one of the museum’s interactive exhibits.

 

6. Whitby, England: "Dracula"

Gothic horror’s most famous villain, Count Dracula, lived in Transylvania, part of modern-day Romania. However, Bram Stoker, the Irish author who created him, never set foot in Romania. In the novel, Dracula traveled from spooky Transylvania to Whitby, England — a seaside Victorian-era vacation destination — aboard the Russian ship Demeter. By the time the ship arrived in Whitby during a turbulent storm, the entire crew was missing, and the corpse of the captain was lashed to the ship’s steering wheel. Observers noted a large, black dog-shaped animal leaping from the ship’s deck to shore and running up the 199 steps to the Whitby church — the shapeshifting Dracula had arrived in England. Stoker’s inspiration for Dracula began in Whitby during a four-week summer vacation in 1890. Stoker had already been working on a gothic tale about a character named Count Wampyr, set in Styria, Austria, when he discovered a book in the Whitby public library that mentioned a sadistic 15th-century prince named Vlad Tepes, who served as the inspiration for the world’s best-known vampire. Stoker found additional inspiration in his surroundings. Looming over the town are the ruins of Whitby Abbey, an imposing Gothic church dating back to the 13th century. Perched on a cliff below is St. Mary’s ancient parish church, which can be reached by a 199-step stone staircase. The church’s adjacent cemetery contains many crumbling tombstones. As Stoker walked the abbey, church grounds, and among the graves, he noted names and dates that later showed up in the novel. Stoker also would have likely learned about an 1885 shipwreck of the Russian vessel Dmitry that was carrying a cargo of silver sand to Whitby, inspiring Dracula’s journey in the novel. Whitby is still a popular seaside tourist destination and has embraced its Dracula connection. You can tour the abbey ruins and participate in various activities and tours that follow the novel's events.

 

 

Source: Remarkable Places That Inspired Great Novels  |  Locations That Inspired Novels

[DarkRavie]

Fact of the Day - REAL STORY MOVIES

Did you know... those green symbols trailing down in "The Matrix" aren’t complicated algorithms. A production designer scanned symbols from his wife’s sushi cookbooks, then manipulated them to create the iconic “code.” (Marissa Laliberte | Reader's Digest |  Mar 30, 2018)

 

Movies You Won’t Believe Are Based on True Stories

by Interesting Facts

The Notebook

Countless movies are based on real events, and most of them are quick to let you know it. Whether the plot is ripped from the headlines or merely adapted, taking inspiration from real-world happenings can confer a sense of legitimacy — the implication being that even if creative license was taken (and it almost certainly was), the filmmakers are performing a kind of public service by bringing these stories to the big screen. Not all of these movies advertise their pedigree, however, and there’s a good chance you didn’t realize these four movies were based on real events.

 

1. A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)

Freddy Krueger isn’t real and there have been zero confirmed cases of teenagers being murdered in their dreams (thankfully!), but that doesn’t mean that Wes Craven’s landmark slasher series wasn’t inspired by a real story. Years before dreaming up Elm Street, the horror maestro became fascinated by a series of newspaper articles about refugees from Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam who were afflicted with nightmares so disturbing that they forced themselves to stay awake — and, in some cases, died upon finally falling asleep.

“It was a series of articles in the L.A. Times; three small articles about men from South East Asia, who were from immigrant families and had died in the middle of nightmares — and the paper never correlated them, never said, 'Hey, we've had another story like this,’” Craven explained in a 2008 interview. Other research has shown that the phenomenon primarily affected Laotian male refugees from the Hmong ethnic group, an ethnicity that fought alongside the U.S. in the Vietnam war and was subsequently persecuted in Laos after the war ended. Many later suffered traumatic resettlements in the U.S. In the newspaper articles, there were no reports of a man wearing a striped red-and-green sweater — but the core of the idea was the same.

 

2. Goodfellas (1990)

Whether or not the mobsters in Martin Scorsese’s crime classic are actually good fellas is debatable, but one thing is certain: They were at least based on real fellas. Adapted from Nicholas Pileggi’s book Wiseguy: Life in a Mafia Family, Goodfellas envisions mafiosa-turned-informant Henry Hill as a made man whose life of crime represents a fulfillment of his childhood dream — there’s a reason the movie’s first line is, “as far back as I can remember, I always wanted to be a gangster.” The fact that Scorsese had already directed revered crime pictures such as Mean Streets and Taxi Driver made him reluctant to make another, but coming across Wiseguy was more than enough to change his mind. “I just read your book. I’ve been looking for it for years,” Scorsese told Pileggi over the phone when pitching the idea of adapting it. “Well, I’ve been waiting for this call all my life!” Pileggi replied. The rest, as they say, is history.

 

3. Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (2017)

If you believe that truth is stranger than fiction, you won’t be surprised to learn that Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri’s inventive premise was borne of more than writer-director Martin McDonagh’s imagination. The Oscar-winning drama stars Frances McDormand as a grieving mother who, months after the rape and murder of her daughter, takes matters into her own hands by calling out law enforcement’s lack of progress on the case with a series of accusatory billboards. McDonagh revealed how the idea came to him in an interview conducted shortly after the film’s release: “Twenty years ago I was on a bus going through the southern states of America, and somewhere along the line, I saw a couple of billboards in a field that were very similar to the billboards that we see in the start of our story,” he told Deadline in 2018. “They were raging and painful and tragic, and calling out the cops.” McDonagh received an Academy Award nomination for his screenplay, and a number of protest groups have since used similar billboards to make their voices heard.

 

4. The Exorcist (1973)

Plenty of people consider The Exorcist the scariest movie ever made, and the fact that it’s based on a true story only adds to the terror. The actual practice of exorcism is highly controversial, so when writer William Peter Blatty based his 1971 novel on a particularly disturbing episode he’d first heard about in college, it was perhaps surprising that it was so well received. Blatty adapted the story of a 14-year-old boy whose family had believed he was possessed by a demon. A number of Jesuit priests performed the exorcism in 1949, which one account claims was witnessed by at least 48 people. “The little boy would go into a seizure and get quite violent,” one of the priests recalled, even going so far as to break that priest’s nose, and he had words like “hell” etched into his skin. Skeptics doubt that the teenager was ever actually possessed, of course, and the boy reportedly went on to lead “a rather ordinary life.” Blatty wrote the script for William Friedkin’s hugely successful adaptation of his novel, and the author-turned-screenwriter won an Academy Award.

 

Source: True Movie Trivia Facts  |  Facts About Movies Based on True Stories

[DarkRavie]

Fact of the Day - OLD-FASHIONED JOBS

"Hacker" We wish we could tell you that hackers (computer hackers, that is) no longer exist, but unfortunately, these working men were more handy with trees than HPs. Hackers were known as woodcutters and were axed, yet again, due to technological advancements.

Did you know... that it seems like every day another job is taken over by technology, and these outdated occupations are no exception. Some of these may have gotten the boot because they are just downright ridiculous, but we'll let you decide. Take a stroll down memory lane and see if any of these strange, obsolete professions ring a bell. (KARA LADD | Jul 25, 2017)

 

Old-Fashioned Jobs That No Longer Exist

by Interesting Facts

Gone is the soda jerk and milkman. The telegraphists and the bowling alley pinsetters are relics of the past. The haberdasher, town crier, and lowly VCR repairman have all gone the way of the lamplighter. And that’s just during the 20th century! Due to advances in technology and the evolution of society, many occupations that were once considered essential no longer exist in today’s job market. Here’s a look at common professions that have disappeared over the past few centuries.

 

1. Night Soil Men

In the 19th century, most cities did not have municipal sewer systems. Instead, people relied on outhouses and privies. These, however, were not bottomless pits — they had to be routinely emptied. The person responsible for this unpleasant task was the night soil man. Named because he usually worked under the cover of darkness, the night soil man emptied privies with long-handled buckets and loaded them onto carts, taking the fertilizer to local farms. (But, more often, dumped into the nearest waterway.)

 

2. Herb Strewers

Before the invention of the flush toilet in the 18th century, cities often smelled less than desirable. But if you were wealthy enough in the 17th century, you could hire an herb strewer to keep the aroma fresh. King George III, for instance, employed a herb strewer named Mary Rayner, a woman who spent more than 40 years scattering flowers, herbs, and other natural fragrances throughout the royal residence to make it smell welcoming; popular plants included lavender, roses, chamomile, sweet yarrow, basil, marjoram, and violets.

 

3. Aircraft Listeners

The first practical demonstration of using radar for aircraft detection occurred in the 1930s. By then, airplanes had already been taking flight for more than three decades. Consequently, during times of war, soldiers had to deploy clever methods to find enemy aircraft. During World War I, aircraft listeners used war tubas, which, according to CNN, were “essentially large horns connected to a stethoscope.” Other aircraft listeners used acoustic mirrors, large concrete dishes that amplified sound coming from above.

 

4. Knocker-Uppers

Before the advent of the alarm clock, industrial-era workers who needed help waking up in time for work would hire knocker-uppers. These hardy souls would rise in the early hours of the day and patrol the streets with sticks, tapping on their clients’ bedroom windows each morning. Some knocker-uppers, like Mary Smith, were not fans of the stick method: She roused the local sleepyheads by shooting peas at their window panes.

 

5. Linkboys

In William Shakespeare’s Henry IV, Falstaff says, “Thou hast saved me a thousand marks in links and torches, walking with thee in the night betwixt tavern and tavern.” Turns out, that’s a pretty accurate description of a linkboy. Typically a young, low-class male, linkboys escorted pedestrians through dark city streets with a torch. The job eventually became obsolete after cities installed streetlamps. (Incidentally, the phrase “can’t hold a candle to...”  was likely a reference to linkboys; anybody who couldn’t “hold a candle” better than a low-class linkboy was viewed as extremely inferior.)

 

6. Linotype Operators

Starting in the late 19th century, lines in newspapers and magazines were often created with a linotype machine. The linotype machine was revolutionary for its time. Before the machine, each letter of an article was individually set by hand into a mold for print. The linotype machine eliminated this process by having operators type each line with a special 90-key keyboard, creating a “line o’ type” set in lead, and then that stamp was used to print the text. This technology was used for almost 100 years, eventually tapering off in the ‘60s and ‘70s.

 

7. Water Carriers

Water carriers still exist, but they’re an endangered profession. These vital workers have been around for millennia, trudging water from rivers and wells to people’s homes. Some used buckets hanging from a yoke or leather sacks, while others lugged large tankards over their shoulders. And while the water carrier was mostly replaced by modern plumbing, some places still commemorate the once-vital profession. In Hamburg, Germany, a water-carrier named Hans Hummel is celebrated as the local mascot, with more than 100 statues of his likeness sprinkled throughout the city.

 

 

Source: Odd Obsolete Jobs  |  Facts About Defunct Jobs

 

[DarkRavie]

Fact of the Day -  WEIRD FOOD TASTES

Did you know... that what do you commonly know about taste buds? It tells us how certain food tastes – salty, sweet, sour, and bitter. Do you agree? Now, this indicates that really, you do not know much about taste buds. Here are some facts to surprise you. (Kyrene Family Dentistry | March 16, 2015)

 

Why Cilantro Tastes Like Soap, And Other Weird Food Phenomena Revealed

by Interesting Facts

We savor food in many forms, from succulent meats and crumbly cheeses to creamy spreads and crispy crusts. Food nourishes, satisfies, and, most importantly, gives us life. But not everything is gravy when it comes to culinary consumption, as some of what we eat (and drink) comes packed with surprises. A few foods fuel bizarre reactions from the moment we take a bite, while others combine with outside forces to turn our dining experiences sour. Here are seven such food-fueled oddities that can flummox the senses.

 

1. Why Does Cilantro Taste Like Soap?

To be clear, many gourmands enjoy topping their fish, salads, and soups with a smattering of this herb. However, others feel like they’re biting into a bar of Ivory Spring. The reason appears to be a matter of genetics. One 2012 study showed that people equipped with certain olfactory receptor genes are more prone to detecting cilantro's aldehydes, compounds also commonly found in household cleaning agents and perfumes. While the percentage of the population that suffers from this fate tops out at about 20%, the resulting taste is apparently awful enough to spark passionate responses of the sort found on Facebook's I Hate Cilantro page, which has more than 26,000 likes.

 

2. Why Does Orange Juice Taste Terrible After I Brush My Teeth?

Most of us have endured this unpleasant situation at least once. The culprit is a toothpaste ingredient called sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), which produces the foam that builds during vigorous brushing. Unfortunately, SLS also temporarily blocks the tongue's sweet receptors, while simultaneously destroying the compounds in saliva that suppress our bitter receptors. The result is a double-whammy for our sensitive taste buds, which leaves us to taste only the unsavory citric acid from what would otherwise be a refreshing drink.

 

3. Why Does Spinach Make My Mouth and Teeth Feel Strange?

While experts ranging from celebrity chef Jamie Oliver to Popeye the Sailor Man have praised the nutritional benefits of spinach, few warn about the "chalky'' feel that can come with munching on these leafy greens. The effect, known as "spinach tooth," comes from the oxalic acid and calcium present in the vegetable; ground together in our mouths, they produce easily detectable crystals of calcium oxalate. These crystals are potentially problematic to some people, as they dissolve poorly in water and may cause the formation of kidney stones. The rest of us can simply boil, steam, or apply lemon juice to spinach to offset the unpleasant mouthful that accompanies our daily supplies of iron, fiber, and vitamin C.

 

4. Why Does Asparagus Make My Urine Smell Bad?

Not to be outdone by its fellow healthy side dish, asparagus comes with the unfortunate side effect of producing strong-smelling urine. This comes from the asparagusic acid present solely in this particular vegetable, which breaks down into sulfur byproducts upon digestion and surfaces in urine as soon as 15 minutes after eating. Not everyone is genetically capable of detecting this odor. One study published in 2016 found that roughly 60% of participants reported nothing funky in the bathroom after ingesting asparagus. Regardless, for the people who do experience the aroma, it’s perfectly natural.

 

5. Why Do Salty Foods Cause Swelling?

Even the most disciplined among us occasionally give in to the temptation to down a bag of salty snacks, for which we may be punished with noticeably swollen fingers, toes, or lips. Officially known as edema, this puffiness stems from the uptick of sodium and our body's response of pumping more water into the bloodstream, which results in fluid-bloated tissue. Edema can also be a sign of more serious health problems, but those who simply enjoy a few too many fries during a weekend lunch with friends can beat back the swelling by drinking lots of water, ingesting high-potassium foods, and sweating it out in the gym.

 

6. Why Do Pine Nuts Taste Like Metal?

Sometimes sprinkled on salads and almost certainly found in pesto-flavored dishes, pine nuts have drawn attention in recent years for producing a metallic aftertaste that can linger for up to two weeks. After reports of "pine nut syndrome" or "pine mouth" first surfaced in Belgium early in the new millennium, investigators followed the trail to the Far East, with seeds of the Chinese white pine (Pinus armandii) fingered as the likely source of this unusual but harmless affliction. It's still unclear as to what exactly causes the metallic taste, although one professor at the University of Idaho suggested that the seeds stimulate a hormone that increases the production of bitter-tasting bile.

 

7. Why Do Citrus and Sunshine Cause a Rash?

This one isn't the result of consuming a particular food, but an oft-unforeseen outcome of the food's residue lingering on hands and arms. Citrus fruits such as lemons and limes contain chemicals called furanocoumarins, which can produce poison ivy-like effects of discoloration, inflammation, and blistering when exposed to the sun’s ultraviolet rays. Technically called phytophotodermatitis, the condition is also known as “bartender dermatitis” for the unfortunate souls who experience it after preparing citrus-infused drinks in outdoor locales. And while prevention isn't as simple as wiping off errant juice with a towel — a more thorough soap-and-water scrubbing is required — the good news is that these rashes are usually treatable with cold compresses and topical creams.

 

 

Source: What You Should Know About Your Taste Buds  |  Facts About the Aftertaste of Some Foods

Edited May 24, 2022 by DarkRavie

[DarkRavie]

Fact of the Day - T.V. THEME SONGS

 

Did you know... that those T.V. theme songs that are so catchy they get in your head for days and refuse to leave. But how did they come to be in the first place? (Stacy | June 10, 2009)

 

The Stories Behind 7 Memorable TV Theme Songs

by Interesting Facts

It’s been said that we live in a golden age of television due to the plethora of high-quality programs available on cable and streaming services. While that may be true, and recent programs such as Game of Thrones and Stranger Things deserve credit for delivering engaging opening-credit sequences, it’s clear to most TV fans that the heyday of the catchy, finger-snapping theme song passed well before anybody knew what a streaming service was. Here’s a look back at seven memorable theme songs that were every bit as beloved as the shows they represented.

 

1. "Gilligan's Island"

Just sit right back and you’ll hear a tale of how this beloved theme song came to life. Needing to sell the idea that his deserted-island comedy could start each week with an expositional theme song — a relatively new concept in the 1960s — Gilligan’s Island creator Sherwood Schwartz performed a song that he had penned on the fly, “The Ballad of Gilligan’s Isle,” to a room of CBS executives. The song was well-received, and  according to Jon Burlingame's book TV's Biggest Hits, Schwartz then teamed with George Wyle, who wrote the holiday song "It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year,” to reshape the music into what he called a "sea chantey." The now-familiar singalong was modified after season one to include mention of the Professor (Russell Johnson) and Mary Ann (Dawn Wells), who had previously been lumped together as "the rest." Schwartz later reprised his exposition-packed theme song formula to similar results with The Brady Bunch.

 

2. "The Addams Family"

Occasionally, gold springs forth from penny-pinching roots. Upon learning that Charles Addams' cartoons about a spooky family were being adapted for television, and that producers were planning to skimp on the music budget, composer Vic Mizzy reportedly offered to write its theme song for free. Per TV's Biggest Hits, his cost-cutting solution was to bang out a ghoulish-sounding tune, “The Addams Family Theme,” on the harpsichord, with his "creepy and kooky" lyrics overdubbed to give the effect of a chorus. Mizzy was also prominently involved in the title-sequence choreography, which famously features the cast snapping in unison. Amazingly, the song nearly was left out of the 1991 big-screen remake of The Addams Family, before producer Scott Rudin wisely changed course to heed the expectations of the fan base.

 

3. "Batman"

Composer Neal Hefti worked with such luminaries as Frank Sinatra and Count Basie, but his greatest musical challenge may have been when he was asked to score ABC's campy adaptation of the DC Comics superhero Batman. Hefti eventually found the proper tone for his “Batman Theme” by way of a 12-bar blues progression with driving bass and percussion, rounding out the sound with a group of vocalists (not horns, as has been rumored) belting out "Batman!" in unison. Rewarded with a Grammy for his struggles, Hefti also gleefully took credit for his lyrical efforts, mentioning how one chorus member commemorated the recording with the notation: "Word and Music by Neal Hefti."

 

4. "The Mary Tyler Moore Show"

Already known for writing the rock classic "I Fought the Law," Sonny Curtis delivered his greatest contribution to the world of TV soundtracks after learning of CBS' plans to develop a series for Mary Tyler Moore of The Dick Van Dyke Show fame. Working off a treatment that provided few details of a woman striking out on her own at a big-city news station, Curtis took about two hours to write a song that immediately impressed the producers. Per Burlingame, "Love Is All Around" was then rounded out by former big-band arranger Pat Williams, although its status as an ode to female empowerment wasn't yet complete. That would come after the lyrical changes to the season two opener, which included the tweaking of the line "you might just make it after all" to the more emphatic "you're gonna make it after all."

 

5. "The Jeffersons"

Ja’Net DuBois had already compiled an impressive list of credits, including roles on Broadway and the sitcom Good Times, when she confessed to producer Norman Lear that she yearned for more creative opportunities. Lear offered her the chance to write the theme song to his upcoming spinoff of All in the Family, and DuBois promptly teamed with '60s hitmaker Jeff Barry to pen a song that reflected her attempts to rise from humble beginnings. The result was "Movin' on Up," the opener for The Jeffersons, which featured DuBois' powerhouse vocals about claiming "a piece of the pie" above the singing and clapping of a 35-member choir.

 

6. "Cheers"

In 1982, Gary Portnoy and Judy Hart Angelo learned that their song "People Like Us" had interested the producers of a new sitcom about a group of Boston barflies. Unfortunately, "People Like Us" was already attached to their musical, Preppies, so Portnoy and Angelo hammered out a few alternate selections on piano — all of which failed to impress their would-be clients. The duo eventually hit upon a wistful tune that gave way to a rousing chorus about finding sanctuary amid like-minded souls, and following a rewrite to make the lyrics more universal, Portnoy was given the honors to record the number before Cheers hit the airwaves in September. Preppies soon closed production on Broadway, but "Where Everybody Knows Your Name" took flight as the endearing theme of this primetime favorite.

 

7. "Friends"

The marriage of one of TV's most popular theme songs to a ratings juggernaut was truly a team effort. Starting with composer Michael Skloff and lyricist Allee Willis, the song about six New York City companions was passed to the pop-rock duo The Rembrandts, who put their spin on the material while giving way for the show's producers to contribute the (four, not five) handclaps. An assist also goes to Nashville radio program director Charlie Quinn, who looped the 40-second theme into a three-minute song that boosted listener demand. "I'll Be There for You" became a Top 20 hit for The Rembrandts, and at a time when other sitcoms like Seinfeld were seemingly hastening the demise of an elaborate title sequence, the Friends theme proved that audiences remained receptive to a well-crafted opening number.

 

 

Source: Stories Behind 10 T.V. Theme Songs  |  Facts About What's Behind Your Favorites T.V. Theme Songs

 

[DarkRavie]

Fact of the Day - STATE NICKNAMES

Alaska "The Last Frontier"

Did you know.... that Oklahoma's "The Sooner State." Montana is "The Peace Garden State." Utah is "The Beehive State." Ever wonder why? We've got the stories behind every state's nickname. (Lauren Cahn | Updated: Jul. 28, 2021)

 

State Nicknames Explained

by Interesting Facts

Every U.S. state has a nickname, whether or not the state legislature has made it official. Many need no explanation at all, with names inspired by a state’s abundant wildlife or most abundant exports. Louisiana’s Pelican State moniker, for example, refers to the big birds that catch fish along the state’s meandering coastline, while Georgia is called The Peach State for its famous bounty of sweet summer fruit. As for Massachusetts and Rhode Island, no one wonders why they’re referred to as The Bay State and The Ocean State, respectively. Other state nicknames are a little more curious, however. Here are some explanations and inspirations behind some of our country’s more unusual state nicknames.

 

1. Colorado, The Centennial State

Colorado joined the union as a state in 1876 — exactly 100 years after the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Thus, Colorado became known as the Centennial State. Unofficially, the state is often referred to as “Colorful Colorado” for its unspoiled mountain backdrops and colorful vistas. In fact, the state’s department of transportation famously erects "Welcome to Colorful Colorado" signs along many of the state’s highways.

 

2. Iowa, The Hawkeye State

Iowa’s nickname is in honor of a Native American leader and warrior of the Sauk tribe. A veteran of the War of 1812 and the Black Hawk War, Chief Black Hawk’s personal memoir was the first Native American autobiography published in America. He died in 1838 in Davis County, Iowa, where a local newspaper publisher renamed his paper The Hawk-Eye and Iowa Patriot in his honor. The Hawkeye State nickname was made official in 1838, before Iowa even became a state.

 

3. Connecticut, The Constitution State

In 1959, Connecticut’s general assembly declared a state nickname — The Constitution State. The reason behind the moniker: a series of government documents adopted by the Connecticut Colony council entitled the Fundamental Orders of 1638-39 that were actually the first written rules of government used in the United States. The orders may very well be the first written constitution in American history, and it’s certainly safe to say they laid the groundwork for the United States Constitution. So, even though the nickname only became official in the 1950s, Connecticut earned it!

 

4. Ohio, The Buckeye State

Ohio’s Buckeye State nickname stems from the buckeye trees that proliferate within the state’s natural spaces, specifically broad grasslands and low hills. These trees famously bear nuts that Native Americans and early settlers likened to the eyes of male deer — or bucks. The buckeye is even the official state tree, designated by Ohio legislature in 1953. That said, the moniker is more than this native tree — Ohioans have been referring to themselves as Buckeyes at least since the presidential election of 1840, when Ohio resident William Henry Harrison ascended to the Oval Office. The politician’s supporters used buckeye wood to fashion carved campaign souvenirs in support of Harrison (who only served 31 days in office before succumbing to pneumonia.)

 

5. Indiana, The Hoosier State

Per the Indiana State Library, The Hoosier State nickname comes from a poem called “The Hoosier’s Nest.” Published in The Indianapolis Journal in 1833, the poem inspired Indianians to adopt the nickname — possibly starting at a Jackson Day dinner in Indianapolis that same year and becoming widely used to describe state residents by the 1930s. Why Hoosier? The state’s historical bureau points to one Samuel Hoosier as the source. A contractor, Hoosier preferred Indiana laborers for his various projects. Of course, the moniker grew even more popular after a movie of the same name was released in 1986. Set in the 1950s, the Oscar-nominated film tells the story of a high school basketball team participating in an Indiana state championship.

 

6. Maryland, The Old Line State

According to state government officials in Maryland, historians believe the Old Line State nickname came directly from General George Washington in tribute to the colony’s Line Regiment troops, who bravely served under him in the Revolutionary War. The Old Line term — which Marylanders adopted and still use widely — was common in Washington’s writings. But Maryland is sometimes referred to as the Free State as well. That unofficial moniker refers to the state’s abolition of slavery in its constitution back in 1864.

 

7. Missouri, The Show-Me State

Missouri’s nickname Show Me State dates back to 1899. In a speech at a Philadelphia naval banquet, Missouri Congressman Willard Duncan Vandiver famously stated, “Frothy eloquence neither convinces nor satisfies me. I am from Missouri. You have got to show me.” He was speaking of his personal conservative and sometimes skeptical stance — one he believed reflected the spirit of Missourians who (sometimes stubbornly) subscribe to common sense values. All that said, the nickname is widely used across Missouri today — but only unofficially.

 

8. Montana, The Treasure State

Montana’s nickname — The Treasure State — refers to its rich mineral reserves, including its gold and silver mines. The state motto refers to these treasures as well: It’s “oro y plata,” Spanish for “gold and silver.” Such an abundance of riches has fed a thriving mining industry since the late 19th century (the nickname was coined in 1895). One of Montana’s unofficial nicknames is a bit less glamorous, however. First published in 1922, the “Stubbed-Toe State” moniker relates to many injuries an amateur hiker adventuring through Montana will likely face.

 

9. New Mexico, The Land of Enchantment

The Land of Enchantment nickname refers to New Mexico’s magical and often otherworldly beauty, which ranges from desert dunes and red rock formations to evergreen forests, and includes sites such as the White Sands National Monument, the Rio Grande Gorge, and the Capulin Volcano. The name only became official in 1999, and it derives from a Lilian Whiting book of the same name that espouses the unique beauty of America’s Southwest. Before 1999, New Mexico test-drove other nicknames including the Land of the Heart’s Desire, the Land Without Law, The Science State, and many others.

 

 

Source: How Every State Got Its Nickname  |  Facts About State Nicknames

[DarkRavie]

Fact of the Day - HALLS OF FAME

Did you know... that everyone knows about Cleveland’s Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, and even people who aren’t baseball fans likely remember the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York, from those scenes at the end of A League of Their Own. What you may not know, however, is that there are a lot of other halls of fame throughout the United States, honoring just about every sport, not to mention titans of industry, important inventions, iconic cars, and even the toys we all grew up with. Here are eight halls of fame you probably haven’t heard of. (Trivia Genius | November 2021)

 

Great Halls of Fame Honoring Inventors, Mascots, Cowgirls, and More

by Interesting Facts

The National Toy Hall of Fame is located in the Strong, Rochester’s museum devoted to the history and exploration of play. Here,, kids of all ages (and their young-at-heart chaperones) can create artistic masterpieces on a giant Etch A Sketch, explore a virtual tower of bubbles, and visit an interactive portrait gallery of toys. An indoor tropical garden that’s home to hundreds of butterflies, a family of turtles, and a toucan is another must-see, as are exhibits on American comic book heroes and Sesame Street. The Hall of Fame itself celebrates toys that are widely recognized, long-lived, innovative, and impactful in fostering learning and creativity. Since 1998, dozens of toys have been inducted, including Crayola crayons, Barbie, the Frisbee, Monopoly, Jenga, Legos, and the Magic 8 Ball.

 

1. Hall of Flame Museum of Firefighting, Phoenix, Arizona

Perhaps the country’s most cleverly named hall of fame, Phoenix’s Hall of Flame Museum of Firefighting is a tribute to the heroes who fight fires and keep communities safe. Originally established in 1961 in Wisconsin, the museum houses firefighting equipment from as far back as 1725 across six impressive galleries, a theater, and a restoration shop. In addition to 130 fire trucks and vehicles, the galleries are also home to gear, tools, equipment, extinguishers, art, and artifacts from numerous countries. There are also hands-on exhibits and programs that teach kids about fire safety. Perhaps most notably, the museum houses the National Firefighting Hall of Heroes. The space recognizes U.S. firefighters who have received awards for heroism, as well as those who have died in the line of duty. It also includes a tribute to the firefighters who lost their lives on 9/11, and exhibits detailing the work of women firefighters and volunteer firefighters.

 

2. International Tennis Hall of Fame, Newport, Rhode Island

Housed within the historic Newport Casino — a Shingle-style athletic complex on Newport’s Bellevue Avenue that dates back to 1880 — the International Tennis Hall of Fame overlooks 13 grass tennis courts. These aren't just any courts, though — they hosted the earliest U.S. Open tournaments in the late 19th century and are now open for public play. Inside, the Hall of Fame celebrates more than 250 tennis champions and some of the sport's most iconic matches. You'll also find a vast collection of modern and antique tennis artifacts ranging from art and apparel to equipment and trophies. The oldest bits of ephemera date back to the 12th century, but thoroughly modern exhibits celebrating the game include video highlights of more contemporary masters such as Andy Roddick, Andre Agassi, Pete Sampras, and Billie Jean King.

 

3. National Inventors Hall of Fame, Alexandria, Virginia

Located within the campus of the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the National Inventors Hall of Fame highlights the work of more than 500 inventors, engineers, and scientists who hold patents to significant technologies. There are exhibits about well-known inventors such as Thomas Edison and Steve Jobs, of course, but the real magic is in discovering the less-famous folks behind the stuff we use every day — think ballpoint pens, wrinkle-free cotton, FM radios, and the Band-Aid. Free to visit, the museum includes a digital portrait gallery where you can learn more about the inductees' lives and accomplishments, a variety of displayed artifacts, and interactive kiosks that explain the processes of trademarks and patents. And in an effort to support the next generation of inventors, the facility also offers programming for youths — including a summer camp and partnerships for college students.

 

4. Mascot Hall of Fame, Whiting, Indiana

David Raymond is the original Phillie Phanatic — the fluffy green creature representing the Philadelphia Phillies Major League Baseball team. He's also behind Whiting’s Mascot Hall of Fame, an interactive children’s museum on the shores of Lake Michigan. The facility offers 25,000 square feet of fun for kids of all ages. Shoot T-shirts out of a cannon, build your own mascot, or take the stage in a mascot audition — the space is a whimsical wonderland devoted to the mascots of North American sports. While the museum is relatively new, having opened in 2018, the organization behind it has been honoring mascots since 2005. Each year, mascots are nominated across a series of categories from various sports and leagues. Only those that have existed for 10 years or more — and routinely give groundbreaking, crowd-pleasing, and inspiring performances — are eligible for induction.

 

5. National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame, Fort Worth, Texas

Located in the Will Rogers Memorial Complex in Fort Worth’s Cultural District, alongside the Cattle Raisers Museum and the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History, the National Cowgirl Hall of Fame spans 33,000 square feet, all in tribute to the women of the American West and other female trailblazers. The Hall of Fame, which inducts new honorees each year, spotlights a diverse roster of rodeo champions, ranchers, entertainers, artists, writers, and pioneers — women such as Georgia O’Keefe, Sacagawea, Sandra Day O’Connor, Annie Oakley, and Dale Evans. In addition to the Hall of Fame, visitors can peruse a rare photography collection, rodeo memorabilia, interactive exhibits on ranching and land stewardship, and a study on cowgirls in the media — think dime novels, honky tonk music, and Hollywood Westerns.

 

6. Corvette Hall of Fame, Bowling Green, Kentucky

Not many cars have their very own hall of fame and museum, but the Chevrolet Corvette is one of the most famous vehicles ever produced. Located just across the highway from the only GM factory that produces the sports cars, the National Corvette Museum features a racing simulator; a space highlighting Corvette models from each generation; a tribute to mid-century Americana, car culture, and the Corvette’s earliest days; and an exhibit on the infamous sinkhole that formed in the middle of the museum in 2014. Meanwhile, the Hall of Fame pays tribute to the most influential individuals in the history of the Corvette, from designers and engineers to hobbyists and race car drivers.

 

 

Source: Unique Halls of Fame  |  Facts About Great Halls of Fame

[DarkRavie]

Fact of the Day - MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS

Did you know... that musical instruments are constructed in a broad array of styles and shapes, using many different materials. Early musical instruments were made from “found objects” such as shells and plant parts. As instruments evolved, so did the selection and quality of materials. Virtually every material in nature has been used by at least one culture to make musical instruments. One plays a musical instrument by interacting with it in some way — for example, by plucking the strings on a string instrument, striking the surface of a drum, or blowing into an animal horn. (JustFunFacts | August 2021)

 

Fascinating Facts From the World of Musical Instruments

by Interesting Facts

Who doesn’t love music? Musical instruments touch our everyday lives, whether you’re a musician, an aspiring musician, or just listening to your favorite songs. Each instrument has its own amazing collection of facts and stories, too: Ever wonder about the world’s oldest flute, or how big a tuba can really get? Find out the answer to these questions — and other astounding facts from the world of musical devices, both familiar and unusual — below.

 

1. The Piano Defies Classification

What type of musical instrument is a piano? When a piano is played, each key controls a hammer that strikes a tuned string inside, which puts it in a uniquely complicated category. The sound resonates from strings, making it a stringed instrument like a harp or a guitar — but the action that produces the sound is a strike, putting it in the percussion category, along with other melodic instruments like the xylophone or steel drum. Since it actually doesn’t have to be one or the other, pianos are largely considered to be both a percussion and stringed instrument. Both describe how the piano works. Some consider the piano to be a form of hammered dulcimer, another hammered-string instrument that’s hard to pin down. It’s also a keyboard instrument, which are never just keyboard instruments alone — that would also include the pipe organ (wind), harpsichord (string), glockenspiel (percussion), and synthesizer (electronic).

 

2. The World’s Biggest Known Tubas Weigh at Least 100 Pounds

There are at least six extant contenders for the world's largest tuba, depending on which measurement you’re using — and while they were all built as novelties, some are more functional than others. The most recent giant tuba is perhaps the most functional: It’s around 110 pounds and just under 7 feet tall, and yet someone managed to play “Flight of the Bumblebee” on it. Twenty different German instrument makers collaborated to create it in 2010. Giant tubas don’t come around too often: The rest are more than a century old, unless someone is hiding a big brass masterpiece in an attic somewhere. They include the 100-pound, 8-foot-tall Big Carl, a former display piece for the Carl Fisher music store in Manhattan. It has no valves, but can produce some rumbling notes.

In a Harvard University basement, the King Tuba, possibly commissioned by John Philip Sousa, is about 7 feet tall and 100 pounds. It was restored in 2019 and occasionally makes appearances at performances. Like Big Carl, the “gilded monster bass,” a former sign outside the Besson & Co. brass instrument factory, has no functioning valves but can play a few notes. That one lives at the Horniman Museum & Gardens in London, is around 6.5 feet tall, and weighs in at around 110 pounds. A similarly-sized tuba was used by tuba player and humorist Gerard Hoffnung for a 1956 performance and is now apparently in a private collection. Yet another tuba, the Reisen-Kontrabass, is in storage at the Amati instrument factory in the Czech Republic. It’s around 8 feet tall and weighs more than 115 pounds! None of them compares to the size of the earliest known subcontrabass tubas, one by Adolphe Sax and the other by Gustave Besson. Both of them were on display at exhibitions in 19th-century Paris, but neither of them survives today.

 

3. A Classical Album Introduced the World to Synthesizers

The synthesizer was popular in experimental music and sound effects before 1968, but it took a collection of Johann Sebastian Bach music to propel it into the mainstream. Released at the end of that year, the groundbreaking album Switched On Bach, by electronic music pioneer Wendy Carlos, used a Moog synthesizer to show mainstream music fans and executives alike that the technology had more universal applications. “Bach seemed to be an ideal type of music to use,” Carlos explained in an interview. The multi-track recorder allowed her to layer the melodies, she said, and Bach’s music used only one note at a time, which accommodated the limits of the synthesizer back then. “It was the perfect marriage of the right technology, the right techniques,” she noted.

The album features 10 compositions by Bach, and won multiple Grammy Awards in 1970: Classical Album of the Year, Best Classical Performance by an Instrumental Soloist, and Best Engineered Recording, Classical. Its follow-up, The Well-Tempered Synthesizer, was nominated for two. Even if you’re not familiar with Carlos, who has also released albums of original works, you may have heard her music in the chilling scores for A Clockwork Orange and The Shining.

 

4. Leo Fender Didn’t Play Guitar

Fender is one of the most popular guitar and amplifier brands, perhaps best known for its enduring classic the Stratocaster electric guitar. The founder’s interest and expertise, however, was solidly in creation, not performance. Before founding his company and inventing the first mass-produced solid-body electric guitar, Leo Fender was a radio repairman who sometimes tinkered with his musician friends’ instruments. When he started actually creating them, he relied heavily on their feedback during development.

While he briefly played piano and saxophone as a youth, even after decades in the guitar business, he never actually learned how to play the instrument. Legend has it that he couldn’t even tune one. He was too busy tinkering with them: Country music guitarist Bill Carson (who has been dubbed the "test pilot of the Stratocaster") told Reverb that Fender would show up to his gigs to swap out equipment. “Leo would visit the clubs pretty often where I was working, and sometimes he would bring another amplifier in at that time and want me to exchange it for the one that I had,” he recalled. “He’d take the other one, and take it back to the shop sometimes in the middle of the night to work on it. I just never knew anybody that was as involved in what they were doing and [lived] it 24 hours a day.”

 

5. The Oldest Known, Near-Complete Flute is 35,000 Years Old

Flutes were among the earliest musical instruments, and were present in ancient cultures throughout the world. The oldest one that modern archaeologists have discovered so far is 35,000 years old, uncovered in the Hohle Fels Cave near Ulm, Germany. It was created in the middle of the last Ice Age. The flute, which was found in 2008, is made of griffon vulture bone and in excellent condition. Researchers were even able to produce a modern copy of the instrument to figure out how it might have sounded, which you can listen to here.

 

6. Two Massive Organs Are Played By Waves

At least three large-scale, interactive art installations have greeted visitors with music made by the waves and tides — and two of them survive today. The Wave Organ by Peter Richards and George Gonzalez was built in 1986 on a jetty made from material from a demolished cemetery. Twenty-five PVC organ pipes are scattered at varying heights above the water, and make sound when the waves hit them below. The best time to visit is during high tide, when higher waves create more frequent notes. Another example, the Sea Organ in Zadar, Croatia, by Nikola Bašić, was constructed in 2005 on a new jetty for receiving cruise ships. In this case, the tubes run beneath a series of steps descending into the water. Thirty-five polyethylene pipes use the motion of the tide to create tones from hollowed-out squares at the base of the steps along nearly 230 feet of waterfront; the sounds change the farther you travel along the jetty. Similar to the Wave Organ, when the tide is low, the sounds are more subtle, becoming more lively as the tide gets higher. A third, the High Tide Organ by Liam Curtin and John Gooding in Blackpool, England, was torn down in late 2021. Curtin, who said he was doing some repairs himself, called for its demolition, citing neglect — but considering it outlasted its planned lifespan by several years, it had a good run. The metal structure, completed in 2002 as part of a larger sculpture installation along the seafront promenade, was a single, tall steel sculpture that hooks at the top. A series of valves beneath organ pipes were manipulated by the high tide below, with the metal creating a more whistle-like sound than the large-scale plastic installations.

 

Source: Interesting Facts About Musical Instruments  |  Musical Instruments Facts

[DarkRavie]

Fact of the Day - ART MOVEMENTS

Did you know... that the art world has been evolving since the origin of mankind. Artists are adapting and constantly coming up with new art styles. An art movement is a tendency or style in art with a specific common philosophy or goal, followed by a group of artists during a specific period of time, (usually a few months, years or decades) or, at least, with the heyday of the movement defined within a number of years. Art movements were especially important in modern art, when each consecutive movement was considered as a new avant-garde movement such as the recent Pencil Vs Camera concept. There is no rule applied used when grouping art movements.  This article discusses major Western art movements, art styles and art concepts and their influence on today’s life and art world. These facts can be a perfect background for your next conversation or the great art homework help. The images below are taken from Wikipedia and belong to their respective owners. (Ben Heine | June 23, 2021)

 

Notable Art Movements in History

by Interesting Facts

Medieval Art

The art world is constantly evolving. In the past 300 years alone, popular styles and movements have seen paintings get blurrier, colors turn brighter, and eyeballs and noses appearing in places where eyeballs and noses had never been before. There’s an “-ism” for this, another “-ism” for that. It can be hard to keep track of it all. Here’s a brief primer on some of the most significant art movements of the last three centuries — and how they got their names. 

 

1. Ukiyo-e

Translated from Japanese, ukiyo-e literally means “pictures of the floating world.” A nod to the ephemeral nature of normal life, the paintings often depicted cultural touchstones like kabuki actors and sumo wrestlers. The movement’s signature style, which emerged around the 1670s, revolved around woodblock prints that featured thick flat lines and bold colors, like those seen on Katsushika Hokusai’s The Great Wave off Kanagawa. Decades later, ukiyo-e’s daring use of color and shapes would inspire the French impressionists.

 

2. Romanticism

After the Enlightenment brought a flourishing of rational thought and scientific advancements in the 18th century, artists began pondering how progress had diminished humanity’s connection to the transcendent. There had to be more to existence, right? The resulting Romantic era, which began in the late 1700s and continued into the next century, saw philosophers celebrate the “genius” of individual artists, treating painters and musicians as God-like conduits with special powers that could connect humans with the sublime — the awe of the natural world. Paintings often united one’s strong emotions with nature, like John Constable’s “Salisbury Cathedral from the Bishop’s Ground,” and others portrayed nature as violent and terrifying, like in Théodore Gericault’s “The Raft of the Medusa.” Other artists from the romanticism period include Francisco Goya, J.M.W. Turner, and Caspar David Friedrich.

 

3. Impressionism

In 1872, Claude Monet finished his oil-on-canvas “Impression, Sunrise,” depicting the murky coastal seascape of the port of Le Havre, France. Soon, the word “impressionism” was being thrown around to describe the surge of ethereal, blurry paintings by Monet and other French painters such as Camille Pissaro, Paul Cézanne, Edgar Degas, and Édouard Manet. The movement was a revolt against the increasingly stuffy stylings of the French academic establishment, which had spent decades placing a premium on clean lines and photographic realism. Notable works from this movement include “L’Absinthe” by Degas, “Luncheon of the Boating Party” by Pierre-Auguste Renoir, and “Le Déjeuner sur l'herbe” by Manet.

 

4. Fauvism

A step between impressionism and surrealism, fauvism briefly swept France during the early 20th century. Fauvists exaggerated the colors of their subjects. A warm sunset might be painted a deep maroon, while a dusky street scene could come alive in ultramarine. The colors were bold, bright, and brash, like in "Blackfriars Bridge London" by André Derain. What the paintings lacked in realism, they made up for in their vibrant expression — fauvist works popped with personality. Unsurprisingly, conservative members of the artistic establishment were not fans: They denounced the paintings as the work of “Les Fauves” — that is, wild beasts.

 

5. Cubism

In 1908, the critic Louis Vauxcelles described the work of Parisian painter Georges Braque as “geometric schemas and cubes” — and a movement was born. Cubist painters like Braque were interested in reducing their subjects to basic geometric shapes: A human body became a rectangle; the head, a square; and so on. But this was more than just a return to geometry class. The artists presented their subjects from multiple perspectives and viewpoints — often in the same painting — creating radically distorted forms like those that eventually made Pablo Picasso famous.

 

6. Surrealism

By the time World War I erupted in 1914, Sigmund Freud’s writings on the influence of the subconscious had taken off. So when European artists revolted by the ongoing collapse of society began looking for new ways to express themselves, they found it in the dreamlike void of their subconscious. Surrealists embraced their unconscious minds and tried to stir the hidden interior worlds of their audiences, like in "The Persistence of Memory" by Salvador Dalí. The movement’s name likely came from Guillaume Apollinaire, an artist who wrote in a 1917 letter, “I think in fact it is better to adopt surrealism than supernaturalism.”

 

7. Dada

Nobody is certain where the name for “Dada” originated, which is fitting: The art movement is hard to define. (As one story goes, a German artist slid a knife into a dictionary and landed on the word dada, a French term for a hobby horse.) Dada developed in the early 20th century as a reaction to the horrors of World War I, which many believed had defied all reason, logic, and rationality. To Dadaists, society’s attempt to make things “normal” again was just a ruse. They embraced the wacky, weird, and nonsensical. They revolted against conventions, traditions, and gatekeepers. They were irreverent and irrational — all in an attempt to shock people back into awareness of how the world really was. Notable works from the dada movement include “Bicycle Wheel” by Marcel Duchamp, “Ingres’s Violin” by Man Ray, and “Mechanical Head” by Raoul Hausmann.

 

8. Bauhaus

For centuries, artists were just ordinary people trained in a decorative craft. But Romanticism changed that by successfully elevating artisans to a higher plane. The Industrial Revolution further separated the “artistic world” from the so-called “practical world.” But starting around 1919, the Stattliches Bauhaus — a group of art and design schools in Germany — pushed to return art to its roots by merging it with the means of mass production. The aim of Bauhaus was to unify art with the everyday (think: metalworking, pottery, cabinetmaking), a mission reflected in the school's slogan, “Art into Industry.” Practitioners in the world of architecture achieved great success during this movement. Bauhaus schools closed in 1933 due to political tension in Germany and the rising Nazi party, but the impact of the movement continued to live on. Bauhaus founder and architect Walter Gropius and student-turned-faculty-member Marcel Breuer went on to teach at Harvard Graduate School of Design, mentoring notable architects like I.M. Pei, Edward L. Barnes, and Paul Rudolph.

 

Source: Major Art Movements and Their Influences in the Art World  |  Facts About the Art Movement

[DarkRavie]

Fact of the Day - GRADITATION TRADITIONS

Did you know... that This is a big weekend for college graduations. As you listen to a school administrator read names from a seemingly endless list of graduates, you might have some questions about how this whole tradition got started. Here's the scoop on some of graduation's unique customs, from honorary degrees to throwing your cap. (Ethan Trex | May 4, 2016)

 

The Origins of 7 Graduation Traditions

by Interesting Facts

It’s graduation season: A time when students wear awkwardly pointy hats, wrap themselves in a robe, and listen to esteemed strangers tell them to chase their dreams. Here’s how those traditions came to be (and the reason graduates are always marching to that song).

 

1. Wearing Robes

The first universities in Europe weren’t designed for fresh-faced teens straight out of high school. They were for the clergy-in-training. These medieval students would wear robes or gowns, much like the vestments still worn by priests, monks, and other religious orders today (the hoods often helped keep shaved heads warm). While universities are no longer strictly training grounds for religious folk, these ancient garments have remained part of everyday wear for centuries. In fact, at schools such as Oxford, students must pull out the so-called “academic dress” for regular events like exams and chapel. (And in Portugal, some students still wear capes to class — which may have been part of the inspiration for the Harry Potter uniform.)

 

2. Square Hat

It’s hip to be square: The mortarboard is another anachronism from the university’s medieval holy days. Back in the 11th century, a newly ordained clergyman would receive a round skullcap called a calotte. As the centuries passed and universities grew to include new areas of study, the headwear stuck around. The hat evolved from a small skullcap to a round and puffy beret (called a pileus rotundus) to a square-shaped hat (called a pileus quadratus, which supposedly saved time and fabric). Four centuries later, the ceremonial square cap — first called a mortarboard in the 19th century for its resemblance to the boards masons used for carrying mortar — remains the graduate’s go-to.

 

3. Moving the Tasse

Tassels have been around for millennia, often used as a talisman or a marker of rank. Hundreds of years ago, students at Oxford wore different-colored tassels to denote their social status. The moving of the tassel, however, is a modern tradition. It’s unclear when or why graduates started the practice, but it may be related to “hooding ceremonies,” where a master’s or doctorate student is individually given a hood or stole. (At some universities, the tradition actually called for an entire wardrobe change.) The moving of the tassel may have emerged as a similar practice — a small fashion tweak that symbolizes a graduate’s upgraded status.

 

4. Throwing the Cap

It’s not entirely certain when graduates started throwing their caps in the air, but 1912 is the first well-remembered instance. That year, the graduating class at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis anxiously awaited their commission to become officers. Upon graduation, they would be given an officer’s cap and would no longer need the midshipman hats they had worn during their grueling cadet years. (Previously, graduates had to serve in the fleet for two years before getting their commissions, but the Navy was desperate for junior officers, and relaxed the rules that year.) So when it came time to don their new officer hats, the graduating class threw their old ones into the air in celebration, and a tradition was born.

 

5. Playing “Pomp and Circumstance

Written by Edward Elgar in 1901, the musical piece famously played during every graduation was actually one of five “Pomp and Circumstance Marches” by the British composer. In England, the tune — which is named for a line in Shakespeare’s Othello — became a patriotic staple after being played at the 1902 coronation of Britain’s Edward VII, with lyrics touting the “Land of Hope and Glory.” The tune wouldn’t become a U.S. graduation tradition until 1905, when Elgar received an honorary doctorate at Yale University. Local musicians played the piece as the composer and the graduating class walked out of the ceremony. Other schools soon started using the tune too, and by the 1920s it was a common graduation theme.

 

6. Getting Diploma

For centuries, it was the student’s responsibility to make their own diploma. The document functioned like a passport, a way to prove that he or she had training in a particular set of skills. If a student wanted a certification of their degree, they needed to hire a calligrapher and then pay their university president to sign the document. It’s not entirely clear which school started to give them out first, but graduates of Harvard College didn’t begin receiving diplomas from their alma mater until 1813. Other schools followed the trend soon after.

 

7. The Commencement Speech

Originally, commencement speeches were performed by the students and faculty, not an outside speaker. Students would orate and debate in Greek, Latin, or Hebrew as a way to show off their extensive public speaking training (at one time, it was common for students to be conversant with all three languages). According to a TIME article that quotes Anthony Grafton, a professor at Princeton, the custom “goes with the idea that oratory was one of the central things that students were learning, and one of the central skills of the university.” But as oratory faded from the institutions, outside speakers stepped in to fill the void and provide words of wisdom to new graduates.

 

Source: Stories Behind Graduation Traditions  |  Facts About the History of Graduation Traditions

[DarkRavie]

Fact of the Day - STRATEGIC RESERVES

Raisins

Did you know.... that we’ve all collected something at one time or another, although it’s usually more for novelty’s sake than to ameliorate large-scale humanitarian disasters or to control the market price of, say, souvenir spoons. Other than doomsday preppers, that’s usually the purview of national governments. But while many countries keep stockpiles of the obvious things, like petroleum or gold, you might be surprised to hear what others have been collecting in their federal reserves—and why. (Meg Van Huygen | Oct 15, 2016)

 

Unusual Strategic Reserves Around the World

by Interesting Facts

The concept of a strategic reserve is fairly straightforward: A nation stores vast quantities of a product or natural resource that is crucial to its citizens' well-being in case of an emergency that disrupts the normal flow of such materials to the public. A prime example is the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve, which stores hundreds of millions of barrels of crude oil for release in the event that war or geopolitical maneuvering drives up prices at the pump. A lesser-known but also immensely important example is the Strategic National Stockpile, which houses supplies of vaccines, medical devices, and personal protective equipment in the event of a biological attack or natural disaster. But there are also several reserves that, for all the good intentions involved, may leave people scratching their heads. Here are six from the United States and beyond that fit that description.

 

1. Canada’s Global Strategic Maple Syrup Reserve

A rainy-day cache of sweet, sticky maple syrup may seem more like a luxury than a necessity, but it's a big deal to Canada, which produces more than 70% of the world's supply from maple trees grown in the province of Quebec. As such, the Federation of Quebec Maple Syrup Producers (QMSP) founded the Global Strategic Maple Syrup Reserve in 2000 to help regulate the profitable business. Covering an area of 267,000 square feet across three facilities, the reserve has endured poor sugaring seasons and the dastardly theft of some $20 million worth of barrels in 2012. And even when the COVID-19 pandemic forced many families to fulfill their pancake cravings at home, the QMSP promised to keep pace by announcing that it would release more than half of its 100-million-pound reserve in 2022.

 

2. China’s National Pork Stockpile

In 2020, China gobbled up more than double the amount of pork consumed by the entire population of the European Union. The country's love of animal protein originally prompted the formation of a meat reserve in 1979, but it wasn't until 2007, when disease ravaged the country’s pig farms, that China refocused its efforts on the pork stockpile. While officials have been secretive about some of the details, it's believed that up to 200,000 tons of the meat have been stocked away in government and private warehouses, with no individual piece to remain in storage for more than four months. And while that may seem like a lot to get through in one sitting, the 2018 outbreak of the African swine flu, which again wiped out pig communities and sent pork prices surging, served as a reminder of how quickly reserves can dwindle in a country of carnivores.

 

3. U.S. Cheese Stockpile

Some stockpiles have less to do with strategy than with a lack of means to handle a surplus. Such was the case in the early 1980s, after the enactment of a $2 billion dairy subsidy left American farmers drowning in excess milk. The federal government bought the leftovers and turned much of it into cheese for storage purposes, leaving the chunks that were not distributed via "government cheese" handouts to languish in warehouses and caves. While ownership of the stockpile eventually passed into private hands, the government couldn't quite shake its old habits. In 2016, the USDA announced plans to purchase 11 million pounds of cheese to lessen the strain on private facilities. As of April 2021, there remained 1.4 billion pounds of the stuff in storage, with nary a mouse in sight to tackle the problem head-on.

 

4. U.S. Federal Helium Reserve

There are a lot more uses for helium than you might think. Besides filling party balloons, the low-density gas is crucial to the production of fiber-optic cables, computer chips, and MRI magnets, and is also utilized for specialized welding and the deployment of car airbags. The U.S. government recognized its potential even before the development of these technologies, fueling the creation of the Federal Helium Reserve (FHR) in 1925. Located in a facility outside Amarillo, Texas, the FHR eventually reached a peak capacity of 1 billion cubic meters in 1995, accounting for 40% of the world's supply. However, the Helium Stewardship Act of 2013 set in motion the reserve's transfer from federal to private ownership, a development that loomed large when a supply crunch led to skyrocketing prices the following decade.

 

5. U.S. National Raisin Reserve

There are a lot more uses for raisins than you … just kidding, there aren't that many uses for raisins. Yet the federal government deemed them worthy of attention in 1949, when Marketing Order 989 was enacted to deal with the surplus that had accumulated in the years after World War II. The order gave the authority to the Raisin Administrative Committee (RAC) to manage the stockpile and claim a percentage of raisin crops every year, without compensating growers; in theory, this was used to keep market supplies low and boost prices. However, during the 2002 to 2003 growing season, a farmer named Marvin Horne decided to keep his entire crop because (he argued) the law was outdated and absurd. In 2015, the Supreme Court agreed, bringing an end to the era of freebies for the RAC.

 

6. Europe’s Butter Reserve

The European answer to government cheese also got its start with a federal subsidy program, the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) of 1962. Designed to provide a fair standard of living for farmers, the CAP swelled into a monster that engulfed two-thirds of the European Economic Community (EEC) budget, its excesses defined by the existence of an alleged "butter mountain" in secret storage. While there was never anything resembling a mountain, the EEC did purchase a whopping 1.23 million tons of butter in 1986 before scaling back its acquisitions. The mountain was said to be completely gone by 2007, before a new hill rose in its place with the European Union's purchase of 30,000 tons in 2009. And with a widespread butter shortage prompting a serious depletion of the reserve in 2017, there looked to be no end to the cycle of government intervention and geology-tinged butter jokes.

 

 

Source: Strategic Reserves of Unusual Products  |  Facts About Strategic Reserves

[DarkRavie]

Fact of the Day - QUOTES THAT CHANGED HISTORY

Nelson Mandela said: I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal, which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die.

Did you know... that there are some famous and powerful quotes that changed world history. Some of them were so powerful that World Wars took birth as they were uttered. Others quelled storms that threatened to wipe out humanity. Still, others inspired a change of mindset, and kickstart social reform. These words have transformed the lives of millions, and have etched new paths for the future generation. (Simran Khurana | Updated on July 16, 2018)

 

Quotes That Changed History

by Tony Dunnell | May 2022

Words are powerful, capable even of changing the course of history. They can win wars or prevent them. They can impart comforting knowledge in the face of adversity and inspire others to great feats and great discoveries. They can set people free, or at least set them on a path to freedom. Here, we’ve highlighted eight famous quotes that have changed history, from the rousing words of Elizabeth I to an impassioned plea for equality and justice by Nelson Mandela.

 

1. Queen Elizabeth 1

"I know I have the body but of a weak, feeble woman; but I have the heart and stomach of a king, and of a king of England too, and think foul scorn that Parma or Spain, or any prince of Europe, should dare to invade the borders of my realm."
~ ~ ~
In 1588, while awaiting an expected invasion by the Spanish Armada, Queen Elizabeth I addressed her troops gathered at Tilbury, England. Elizabeth, dressed in a white velvet dress and wearing a breastplate, rode among her troops upon a gray horse, cutting an almost mythical figure. While her rousing speech didn’t directly affect the outcome of the failed Armada, the English had a newfound faith in their queen, which would help make the small nation a world power.

 

2. Galileo Galilei

"I hold the sun to be situated motionless in the center of the revolution of the celestial orbs while the earth rotates on its axis and revolves about the sun."
~ ~ ~
Heliocentrism — the idea that the Earth and planets revolve around the sun at the center of the  universe— had been around since the ancient Greeks. But it was Galileo who first provided proof using a telescope. In 1615, he was investigated by the Roman Inquisition of the Catholic Church for his supposedly heretical beliefs, and spent part of his life under house arrest. Today, he is considered the father of observational astronomy, modern physics, and the scientific method.

 

3. Abraham Lincoln

"That from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion — that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain — that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom — and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth."
~ ~ ~
On November 19, 1863 — a little over four months after Union armies defeated the Confederacy at the decisive Battle of Gettysburg during the American Civil War — President Lincoln delivered a short speech in honor of those who died in defense of freedom. The speech was only about 272 words long (the precise wording is disputed), but the Gettysburg Address remains one of the most important speeches in U.S. history and a turning point in the Civil War.

 

4. Emmeline Pankhurst

"I come to ask you to help to win this fight. If we win it, this hardest of all fights, then, to be sure, in the future it is going to be made easier for women all over the world to win their fight when their time comes."
~ ~ ~
When British activist Emmeline Pankhurst traveled to Hartford, Connecticut for an event in November 1913, where she delivered a speech that united suffragists and suffragettes from both nations, bolstering and expanding the fight for women’s voting rights. Her “Freedom or Death” speech is considered one of the most important of her career.

 

5. Winston Churchill

"We shall go on to the end, we shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our Island, whatever the cost may be, we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender."
~ ~ ~
British Prime Minister Winston Churchill delivered this speech in the House of Commons on June 4, 1940, following the Battle of Dunkirk. With the Allies heroically evacuated from Dunkirk, an invasion of Britain by Nazi Germany was a distinct possibility. It was time for Churchill to rally the nation, and that he certainly did.

 

6. John F. Kennedy

"We choose to go to the moon. We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard."
~ ~ ~
President John F. Kennedy’s speech at Rice University in 1962 made NASA’s fledgling Apollo program a national priority. In doing so, he paved the way for one of humankind’s greatest achievements: stepping onto the lunar surface in 1969. The speech had far-reaching consequences, not only for the space race but for space exploration for decades to come.

 

7. Martin Luther King Jr.

"I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal."
~ ~ ~
On August 28, 1963, Martin Luther King Jr. delivered what would become a defining moment of the civil rights movement — and one of the most iconic speeches in U.S. history. King addressed the crowd of some 250,000 civil rights supporters from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, calling for an end to racism in the United States, and civil and economic rights for all citizens.

 

8. Nelson Mandela

"I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons will live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to see realized. But, my lord, if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die."
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Nelson Mandela gave his “I Am Prepared to Die” speech from the dock as a defendant at the Rivonia Trial of 1964, in which he and other leading opponents of apartheid went on trial on charges of sabotage, a crime that carried the death penalty. The three-hour speech is considered one of the great speeches of the 20th century, and a rallying cry for racial justice and democratic ideals. Mandela, however, was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment. He served 27 years of the sentence, and four years after his release in 1990, he was elected the first Black president of South Africa.

 

 

Source: Quotes Completely Changed the History of the World  |  Facts About Quotes That Changed History