Mullet Over
Here is one I did not see coming
by James K. White | December 2, 2009
Portland, Oregon has what may be the world’s smallest public park. The park encloses a total of 452 square inches and was designed for snail racing.
Perspectives and views change with time. For instance, in 1923 the U.S. Attorney General declared that it was illegal for women to wear trousers in this country.
An alert scientist noted that a certain species of mosquito normally flutters at 600 vibrations per second if the insect is a male and 400 hertz (not the car rental) if it is a female. Also noted: both genders vibrate at 1200 hertz when an interest in mating is exhibited.
Successful experiments involving the 1200 Hz have lured mosquitoes into traps. Environmentalists are hopeful that similar snares become popular because no toxins are used with this ilk of pest control.
For you stargazers: the left foot of Orion is a huge star named Rigel that is as bright as 47,000 of our suns.
Here is one I did not see coming. A former drummer for the Grateful Dead has been in communication with Smithsonian personnel to translate light waves emitted millions of years ago into music. Holy asteroid, Batman!
One might exercise caution when becoming rowdy in Kennesaw, Georgia. Each “head of household” therein is required by law to own both a firearm and appropriate ammunition.
Perhaps Thomas Young should be a bit more famous. The Englishman had read the Bible through twice by age four and while he was at Cambridge in 1803, Thomas worked out the first light wave theory (darn, I was going to do that). Mr. Young also fluently spoke a dozen languages, expertly played several musical instruments and made significant contributions in deciphering Egyptian hieroglyphics. In contrast it might be mentioned that I was almost 12 before I learned all 22 letters of our alphabet (in order).
Circus Maximus in Rome was remodeled by Julius Caesar to hold an impressive 150,000 spectators. Later emperors expanded the structure to accommodate 250,000 persons.
During most of the 1700’s, the Roman Catholic Church owned more than 60 percent of all the land in Portugal.
Sometimes fame comes too late. Today Mozart is recognized as one of the world’s greatest composers. It is recorded that only one person accompanied Wolfgang Amadeus’ coffin to his final resting place and since the musical genius was placed in an unmarked pauper’s grave, no one knows the exact location of his burial site.
Well, do not damage your eyes staring at Rigel and have a tremendous week.
Airline Announcements?
United Flight Attendant announced, 'People, people we're not picking out furniture here, find a seat and get in it!
On landing, the stewardess said, 'Please be sure to take all of your belongings. If you're going to leave anything, please make sure it's something we'd like to have.
'There may be 50 ways to leave your lover, but there are only four ways out of this airplane'
An airline pilot wrote that on this particular flight he had hammered his ship into the runway really hard. The airline had a policy which required the first officer to stand at the door while the passengers exited, smile, and give them a 'Thanks for flying our airline.’ He said that, in light of his bad landing, he had a hard time looking the passengers in the eye, thinking that someone would have a smart comment. Finally everyone had gotten off except for a little old lady walking with a cane.
She said, 'Sir, do you mind if I ask you a question?
'Why, no, Ma'am,' said the pilot. 'What is it?'
The little old lady said, 'Did we land, or were we shot down?
As the plane landed and was coming to a stop at Ronald Reagan, a lone voice came over the loudspeaker: 'Whoa, big fella, WHOA!’
After a particularly rough landing during thunderstorms in Memphis, a flight attendant on a Northwest flight announced, 'Please take care when opening the overhead compartments because sure as hell everything has shifted after a landing like that.’