Mullet Over
I do not know what a Gotthard is
By James K. White | September 16, 2009
During the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, thousands of people from Ireland immigrated to Jamaica. Many language experts believe the characteristic “lilt” of Jamaican English is a result of Irish influence.
While you are in Alabama, it is considered a felony to train a bear to wrestle – also, your bear will be confiscated.
Obviously some folks enjoy working with orchids. There are at least 100,000 distinct hybrid orchids all existing as a result of human assisted cross-pollination.
In 1187 word reached Europe that Saladin had recaptured the Holy Lands. Barbarossa (Red Beard) of Germany assembled an army of approximately 150,000 and began the Third Crusade to recapture the region. His army won two major battles, but on June 10, 1190 Barbarossa drowned as he attempted to cross a river while wearing heavy armor. His death effectively ended the Third Crusade.
In 1959 Volvo (of Sweden) became the first manufactured car to feature a three point seat belt.
Lithium is the world’s lightest metal. The atomic #3 element is also used in numerous battery applications. Currently Chile leads all nations in lithium production, but a desert area in Bolivia has the largest known lithium deposits. Developer$ are negotiating.
Plants using photosynthesis emit tons of oxygen on this planet. Fungi such as mushrooms and toadstools emit carbon dioxide.
There are exactly 1,320 feet in a quarter mile. As you read this column, there exists a building in Dubai that is measured to stand 2,320 feet tall. The building is not finished. When the top tower is added, the final height should be 2,684 feet. 2,640 feet is equivalent to one-half mile.
Vatican City boasts a total of 824 citizens and is recognized as the least populous sovereign state on earth.
I saw on TV (so I know it is true) that each gold brick stored at Fort Knox weighs almost exactly 40 pounds.
The Himalaya Mountains in Asia make up this planet’s highest mountain range, but the range with the greatest length would be the one containing the Andes Mountains of South America. Not terribly far from the Andes flows the magnificent Amazon River. The Amazon has seven tributaries that exceed 1,000 miles in length.
In Switzerland workers are busy constructing the Alp Transit Gotthard railway. I do not know what a Gotthard is, but I am told that the railway will include the world’s single longest tunnel (35.4 miles).
Well, be careful crossing rivers if you happen to be wearing armor and do have a pleasant week.
James White is a retired mathematics teacher who enjoys sharing fascinating trivia. He can be reached at jkwhite46 @gmail.com.
More laughs
A man goes to see the Rabbi. 'Rabbi, something terrible is happening and I have to talk to you about it.'
The Rabbi asked, 'What's wrong?'
The man replied, 'My wife is poisoning me.'
The Rabbi, very surprised by this, asks, 'How can that be?'
The man then pleads, 'I'm telling you, I'm certain she's poisoning me, what should I do?'
The Rabbi then offers, 'Tell you what. Let me talk to her, I'll see what I can find out and I'll let you know.'
A week later the Rabbi calls the man and says, 'Well, I spoke to your wife. I spoke to her on the phone for three hours. You want my advice?
'The man said yes and the Rabbi replied, 'Take the poison.'
John was on his deathbed and gasped pitifully. 'Give me one last request, dear,' he said.
'Of course, John,' his wife said softly.
'Six months after I die,' he said, 'I want you to marry Bob.'
'But I thought you hated Bob,' she said.
With his last breath John said, 'I do!’
A man goes to a shrink and says, 'Doctor, my wife is unfaithful to me. Every evening, she goes to Larry's bar and picks up men. In fact, she goes with anybody who asks her! I'm going crazy. What do you think I should do?'
'Relax,' says the Doctor, 'take a deep breath and calm down. Now, tell me, exactly where is Larry's bar?
Smith climbs to the top of Mt. Sinai to get close enough to talk to God. Looking up, he asks the Lord … 'God, what does a million years mean to you?'
The Lord replies, 'A minute.'
Smith asks, 'And what does a million dollars mean to you?'
The Lord replies, 'A penny.'
Smith asks, 'Can I have a penny?' The Lord replies, 'In a minute.'