Qin Shi Huang (259 B.C. -210 B.C.) was the first Emperor of China. I mention him today because Qin was pronounced “chin” and many historians (not all) claim that China was named after this one man. I never knew China was possibly named after a man, just like Bolivia, only different.
It must interesting to live in or near Loma, Montana. In January of 1972 the temperature climbed from minus 54 degrees Fahrenheit to 49 degrees above zero in one 24 hour period. Loma had a population of 85 in 1972 and everyone in town noticed the 103 degree rise in temperature that January day.
Medical professionals are now saying that mothers have been correct for centuries: Being exposed to cold weather can cause a person to catch a cold. Researchers at Yale University have noted that the cold-causing rhinovirus replicates more readily in cooler environments, including the nasal cavities which is where the virus can establish a foothold for infection. My momma was right again.
I became aware of Sean Connery as he portrayed debonair James Bond in seven fantastic movies. Sean’s jobs prior to his movie stardom included delivering milk in Scotland, being a member of the Royal Navy and digging ditches. In 1953 he entered the Mr. Universe contest and placed third in the tall men’s division. I wonder what happened to the guys who placed first and second.
The famous Boardwalk in Atlantic City, New Jersey was funded and built in 1870. The purpose was to provide a place for visitors to scrape sand from their footwear and not track it into the fancy hotels (and railroad cars). The boardwalk was soon recognized as a tourist attraction. The structure was significantly upgraded in 1880. Various amusements were offered and in 1921, several assorted beauty contests were organized into the Atlantic City Pageant which soon became the Miss America Contest. In WWII American troops trained on the wooden walkway. Over the years many megastars including Marilyn Monroe, Joe DiMaggio and The Beatles visited, frolicked and dined on The Boardwalk.
A traditional food served in Iceland is hakarl (notice similarity to “hara-kiri”). Hakarl is rotted shark meat. The prized dish is prepared by gutting and washing a shark, then burying the carcass in rocky soil or gravel for about 8 weeks. The chef then follows the scent to the burial spot and digs up the cadaver for exposure to the weather elements for another 8 weeks. Natives suggest removing any brown crusts and eating the remains while sipping Brennivin’s (strong liquor). I did not make this up. Well, avoid colds when you can – and have a great week.
James White is a retired mathematics teacher who enjoys sharing fascinating trivia. He can be reached at [email protected].
