There exists a sports stadium (Milton Correa) in Brazil constructed so that the midfield line for soccer games is drawn precisely along Earth’s equator. One result is that during various periods of games, each vying team is assigned with defending one hemisphere of our planet. The dividing stripe is located at 0 degrees latitude and the surrounding neighborhood is nicknamed Marco Zero.
The Erie Canal is said to have been named after the Erie (not to be confused with the Eerie) Indians which occupied Great Lakes Regions in the 1600’s. The ethnic group spoke Iroquois. Construction of that canal was a tremendous engineering feat for that era. It was also a huge financial success. Digging began in 1818 and was completed two years ahead of schedule in 1825. Erie Canal connected various lesser waterways and significantly linked the Hudson River with the Atlantic Ocean. Costs for transporting goods and people over the 363 mile distance were cut by 90% when “Clinton’s Big Ditch” opened for business.
Voyager-One is a space probe launched in 1977. This search vehicle was initially focused on exploring regions of Saturn and Jupiter while gathering a lode of peripheral space data. Aboard Voyager-One is a 12 inch gold plated copper disc that is sort of an LP recording of some life activities on earth. Should someone or something out there ever capture and examine that disc: greetings in 55 languages, a message from Jimmy Carter and a version of Chuck Berry’s Johnny B. Goode would be available for examinations. In 2008 Voyager-One drifted out of our solar system and is headed for who-knows-where right now.
Fingerprints are unique to each individual. So are toe prints, lip prints, tongue prints and the Prince of Wales.
On Americans roads and streets, vehicles predictably make many more right turns than left turns.
You might have trouble recalling that lethologica is the inability to remember a word.
I have seen numerous references citing the “fact” that Napoleon Bonaparte was frightened (even horrified) by cats. This folk myth arose decades subsequent to the famous emperor’s death. The tale is not based on any reliable historical reference. Perhaps Nappy the Great was misidentified as one of his nephews (who became Napoleon III). Napoleon III so intensely disliked cats that he may have irrationally feared felines.
It is not unusual for an adult elephant (Asian or African) to consume in excess of 50 gallons of water in one day. Well, bonne consummation – and have a great week.
James White is a retired mathematics teacher who enjoys sharing fascinating trivia. He can be reached at [email protected].
