“The Eiffel Tower as a Colossal Lightning Conductor,” photograph taken June 3, 1902, by M.G. Loppé. Published in the Bulletin de la Société Astronomique de France, May 1905.
Author: Greg Ross
We’ve Seen This
There are two similar chapters in the King James Bible.
They are 2 Kings chapter 19 and Isaiah chapter 37.
The first 14 verses of each chapter are identical, word for word.
Prince Randian
Like Carl Herman Unthan, Prince Randian (1871-1934) achieved more without limbs than most of us do with them.
Born in British Guiana, Randian was discovered by P.T. Barnum in 1889, and he toured American sideshows in the 1930s as the Living Torso, “the human caterpillar who crawls on his belly like a reptile.”
In reality Randian could shave, write, paint, and roll cigarettes unaided. He spoke English, German, French, and Hindi and was reportedly a skilled carpenter, joking that he would someday build his own house.
He married and fathered four children and ultimately lived to age 63, touring American carnivals and museums for 45 years.
Good Company
Oprah Winfrey is the world’s only black billionaire.
Ode to a Divorcee
Woman, thou worst of all Church-plagues, farewel;
Bad at the best, but at the worst a Hell;
Thou truss of wormwood, bitter Teaz of Life,
Thou Nursery of humane cares a wife.
Thou Apple-Eating Trayt’riss who began
The Wrath of Heav’n, and Miseries of Man,
And hast with never-failing diligence,
Improv’d the Curse to humane Race e’er since.
Farewel Church-juggle that enslav’d my Life,
But bless that Pow’r that rid me of my Wife.
And now the Laws once more have set me free,
If Woman can again prevail with me,
My Flesh and Bones shall make my Wedding-Feast,
And none shall be Invited as my Guest,
T’ attend my Bride, but th’ Devil and a Priest.
— From The Pleasures of a Single Life, or, The Miseries of Matrimony, 1709
I Think That I Shall Never See …
Inspiration can strike anywhere. Born in 1884, “arborsculptor” Axel Erlandson made living trees into works of art for more than 40 years, eventually even opening a “Tree Circus” in 1947 in California’s Santa Clara Valley.
Bad PR
In 1974, Pope Paul VI elevated Archbishop Jaime Lachica Sin of the Philippines to the College of Cardinals.
That made him Cardinal Sin.
Black Gold
Barrels per day of oil consumption, as of 2003:
- United States: 20,033,504
- Japan: 5,578,386
- China: 5,550,000
- Germany: 2,677,443
- Russia: 2,675,000
- India: 2,320,000
- Canada: 2,193,263
- South Korea: 2,168,128
- Brazil: 2,100,000
- France: 2,059,843
- Mexico: 2,015,232
- Italy: 1,874,380
- Saudi Arabia: 1,775,000
- United Kingdom: 1,722,419
- Spain: 1,544,260
- Iran: 1,425,000
- Indonesia: 1,155,000
Social Studies
“Who are the Japanese? The inhabitants of Japan, an empire of Eastern Asia, composed of several large islands. They are so similar in feature, and in many of their customs and ceremonies, to the Chinese, as to be regarded by some, as the same race of men. The Japanese language is so very peculiar, that it is rarely understood by the people of other nations. Their religion is idolatrous; their government a monarchy, controlled by the priesthood. The people are very ingenious, and the arts and sciences are held in great esteem by them. In all respects, Japan is an important and interesting empire.”
— From A Catechism of Familiar Things; Their History, and the Events Which Led to Their Discovery, 1881
Pencils Down
Bill Gates scored 1590 on his SATs.