MULLET OVER BY JAMES K. WHITE | NOVEMBER 26, 2014
Spoonoid life forms
In 1790, the United States completed its first national census. Total population was just under 4 million. Philadelphia claimed the largest-city title with 42,000 inhabitants while Virginia was the most populous state with 820,000 residents.
It was on January 8, 1835 the Andrew Jackson administration announced that for the very first (and so far, only) time, our country had totally paid off its national debt. Apparently, later tabulations indicated that on that date the U.S. actually owed about $34,000 in bills that were subsequently submitted. Oh well, maybe next year.
The captivating movie, “The King and I” had a storyline that was supposedly based on facts concerning the King of Siam and a charming head-strong governess who so impressed the king he modified his behavior while strong feelings of adoration (even romance) were implied. The truth may be inferred from a detailed diary (different from dairy) King Mongkut maintained most of his life. In the 5 years Anna Leonowens (her real name) served as governess at court, she is mentioned exactly once – indicating there was very limited contact of any variety between the king and “I.”
Some under-occupied scientists at the Burnet Institute (Melbourne, Australia) recently conducted an investigation into a situation wherein spoons appeared have an aversion to humans. The researchers offered in evidence that 80 percent of the teaspoons at the on-site dining facility mysteriously disappeared over a five month period. One written conclusion suggested the inanimate spoons systematically sneaked away to a welcoming venue occupied by spoonoid life forms. A dissenting conclusion offered that people may have taken the spoons. The debate rages.
Some believe that the region receiving the most rain on this planet is the Amazon Rain Forest. Rain does fall frequently and in large quantities over that saturated expanse – ergo the name Rain Forest. However, Mount Waialeale in Hawaii is the rain champion on Earth. Mount W. consistently receives 42 feet of precipitation annually. Eso es un montón de lluvia. On the other end of the spectrum, a place called Calama in Chile went 400 years with no recorded rainfall. Just to verify that one cannot always predict the weather, Calama received one short-lived torrential rain in 1972. Reports are that many natives were surprised.
In 1952, Albert Einstein was invited to be the President of Israel. He declined. Well, keep an eye on your spoon inventory – and have a pleasant week.
James White is a retired mathematics teacher who enjoys sharing fascinating trivia. He can be reached at [email protected].
