2:47 AM
Friday, March 10, 2017
Thursday, March 9, 2017
Wednesday, March 8, 2017
Tuesday, March 7, 2017
Sunday, March 5, 2017
Saturday, March 4, 2017
Friday, March 3, 2017
Thursday, March 2, 2017
Wednesday, February 22, 2017
11:57 AM
Mill Ends Park
Mill Ends Park
Located in downtown Portland, Oregon, in the
median strip of a parkway is Mill Ends Park. This park, according to the
Guinness Book of World Records as of 1971, is the smallest park in the world
measuring only 452-square inches – that’s only 2 foot across!
The space where Mill Ends Park sits was to
become the site for a light pole. The park was created when the light pole
failed to appear and local Irish columnist Dick Fagan sat staring at the vacant
space from his second-story office window. Deciding to take action, Fagan
planted flowers in the vacant space, naming it ‘Mill Ends’ after his column in
the Oregon Journal. Some contextual info, ‘mill ends’ are the odd, unusable
pieces of wood left over at a mill. On St. Patrick’s Day in 1948, the park was
officially dedicated to the town of Portland.
In 1969, Fagan sadly died due to cancer, but
since then the park has still been cared for by many of Portland’s townsfolk
and continues to thrive.
Before
and after Fagan’s death, many different things have been placed in the park.
These have included a small swimming pool for butterflies complete with a
diving board, a fragment of the Oregon Journal building where Fagan worked, a
horseshoe and even a little leprechaun leaning happily against his pot of gold
in 2001! In 2006 the park was temporarily relocated due to roadworks on the
parkway, but it was moved back to its original location with a festive
celebration that featured Royal Rosarians, bagpipers, and Fagan’s own family
including his widow Katherine.
To this day the legends of the leprechauns
still live on within the Fagan family. One of Dick’s sons, Pat Fagan, is known
to have enjoyed sharing the experience of the park with his own son, and it
quoted as saying “it’s still the largest leprechaun colony west of Ireland!”
Tuesday, February 21, 2017
2:02 PM
Interesting facts about life
Interesting facts about life
1. Bob Marley’s last words to his son before he died were “Money can’t buy life.
2.
A broken clock is
right two times every day.
4.
A mole can dig a
tunnel that is 300 feet long in only one night.
5.
Guinness Book of
Records holds the record for being the book most often stolen from Public
Libraries.
6.
About 150 people per
year are killed by coconuts.
7.
Avocados are
poisonous to birds.
8.
If you try to
suppress a sneeze, you can rupture a blood vessel in your head or neck and die.
9.
More people are
allergic to cow’s milk than any other food.
10. Coconut water can be used as blood plasma.
11. Gorillas burp when they are happy
12. In New York, it is illegal to sell a haunted
house without telling the buyer.
13. A man from England changed his name to Tim Pppppppppprice to make it difficult for telemarketers to pronounce it.
14. In Japan, crooked teeth are considered cute and
attractive.
15. A Swedish woman lost her wedding ring, and found
it 16 years later- growing on a carrot in her garden.
Monday, February 20, 2017
2:36 AM
The 10 Strangest Phobias You Could Have
The 10 Strangest Phobias You Could Have
We’re
all afraid of something. Some of us however, whether due to a traumatic
experience or just bad luck, have fears that could be classified as being a bit
more irrational. These are the 10 strangest phobias you could have.
Phagophobia
This
one could truly be hard to live with. Phagophobia is the fear of swallowing and
in some cases it can actually lead to weight loss and malnutrition.
Chronophobia
Chronophobia
is the fear of time passing. Not surprisingly it is often found mostly in
prison inmates or the elderly but it can also occur in people who experience a
lot of stress and anxiety.
Decidophobia
While
some of you may just be indecisive and apathetic, there are people out there
who are genuinely terrified of making decisions, they are known as
decidophobes.
Hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia
The
longest town name in the world belongs to
Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch in the United Kingdom and if you have hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia you
might want to steer clear of that place.Because you are afraid of long words.
Neophobia
Neophobia is classified as the fear of new things and
in its milder form consists of an unwillingness to part with old habits.
Coulrophobia
Generally
found in children, coulrophobia is the fear of clowns. Some phobias are just so
sad.
Haphephobia
Whatever
you do just make sure you don’t get too close to anyone with haphephobia…it’s
the fear of being touched.
Arachibutyrophobia
Although
you’ve probably heard this one thrown around, the fear of peanut butter
sticking to the roof of your mouth is actually a made up phobia.
Heliophobia
Heliophobia is actually defined as fear of the
sun. Although it sounds harmless, it can actually be quite serious and lead to
vitamin D deficiency as a result of staying indoors.
Somniphobia
Also
known as hypnophobia, this is the abnormal fear of falling asleep. Oftentimes
it can be the result of people feeling as though they are losing control and
nightmares have been known to cause it as well.
Sunday, February 19, 2017
11:57 AM
Strangest Medical Treatments In History
Strangest Medical Treatments In History
While
some of these treatments are still practiced today, they way medical issues
were handled in the past will make you glad you are alive in the 21st century.
Heroine
In
the late 1800s heroine was marketed as a remedy for coughs, colds, and pain.
Soothing Syrup
A remedy known as Mrs. Winslow’s Soothing Syrup became popular in the late 1800s to help children get through the teething process. The main issue with the syrup though was its two main ingredients – morphine and alcohol.
Leeches
Often
used to let out “bad blood”, these days the practice of leeching has made
somewhat of a comeback in the arena of organ reconstruction and microsurgery.
Shark Cartilage
It
was the 1950s when the sharks-don’t-get-cancer-so-lets-all-eat-shark-cartilage
craze took off.
Dog poop
At
one point in time the home remedy for sore throats was album graecum, or dried
dog dung.
Tongue Cutting
Also
known as hemiglossectomy doctors in the 18th and 19th tried to cure stuttering
by cutting of large chunks of their patients tongues. This is actually still
practiced today for treatment of oral cancer.
Powder of Sympathy
Of
all the crazy medicines in the 17th century this one probably took the cake.
Intended as a treatment for sword wounds it was made of earthworms, pig brains,
rust, and mummified corpses all ground into powder.
Dead mouse paste
In
ancient Egypt if you had a toothache then mashed mice mixed with other
ingredients were typically applied to the spot.
Crystal Meth
Apparently
this was Hitler’s medication of choice. His doctor would inject his buttocks
with meth laced vitamins to keep him feeling “fresh, alert, and active”.
Moldy Bread
Used
to disinfect cuts since the days of ancient Egypt there is some merit to this.
As was eventually discovered, certain fungi can actually block disease causing
bacteria.
3:44 AM
Number 1.
Number 1.
First victim of an
automobile accident
Although the car was steam powered and
experimental, in 1869 Mary Ward of the UK became the first recorded car crash
victim ever. But this car could only move several kilometers per hour.
First city
İn 3200 BC Uruk, located in Mesopatamia, is
often considered
the first city. It had nearly 50,000 inhabitants, a thick
wall, and was a center of trade and commerce.
First controversial
video game
The 1976 game Death Race involved running over
as many gremlins as you could. It caused quite a bit of press coverage as
people were afraid that it would lead to reckless driving.
First watch
The first officially produced wearable clock was
the Nuremberg Egg. It was designed by Peter Hemlein of Germany in 1509.
First flashmob
The first flashmob confirmed by the Guinness
Book of World Records took place in New York City in a New York City shop in
2003.
First automatic
weapon
In 1883 Sir Hiram Maxim created the Maxim gun.
The world’s first machine gun would go on to revolutionize warfare and was used
in both World Wars.
First action movie,
fiction film, and American Western
The 1903 film The Great Train Robbery was 10
minutes long and had 14 scenes.
First skyscraper
The Home Insurance Building was erected in
Chicago in 1884 and has been called the “Father of the Modern Skyscraper”. It
was 10 stories high.
First official
fan-made music video
The band Placebo was so impressed by Grégoire
Pinard’s claymation video made to their song “English Summer Rain” that they
decided to make it official.
First road map
Roman Emperor Augustus Caesar commissioned the
first known road maps to be created, not surprisingly because the Romans were
famous for the roads they built. It took nearly twenty years to complete the
first map!
Saturday, February 18, 2017
3:06 PM
The Worst Earthquakes in History
The Worst Earthquakes in History
Nepal Earthquake - A 7.8 magnitude
earthquake struck Nepal in an area between the capital, Kathmandu, and the city
of Pokhara on Saturday April 25, 2015 The devastation claimed the lives of at
least 5,000 people while injuring 10,000 more with authorities warning that
casualty numbers could rise. The devastating quake also destroyed major
monuments such as the Dharahara tower, temples and world heritage sites near
Kathmandu.
Nankaido, Japan- This 8.6 magnitude
earthquake that occurred on September 20, 1498, off the coast of Nankia, Japan
triggered a large tsunami, which cost the lives of between 26,000 and 31,000
people. It caused severe shaking that reached the Boso Peninsula and also
caused a tsunami in the Suruga Bay, which destroyed the building that housed
the statue of the Great Buddha at Kotuku-in.
Izmit, Turkey- This was a
7.9-magnitude earthquake that struck northern Turkey on August 17, 1990, which
lasted for only 3.7 seconds. The city of Izmit was very badly damaged and 959
injured though other sources suggested that the actual figure for fatalities
may be closer to 45,000 with a similar number of injured. Another report from
September 1999 showed that the earthquake had destroyed 120,000
poorly-engineered houses, heavily damaged 50,000 houses; caused 2,000 buildings
to collapse while 4,000 other buildings left severely damaged, and made more
than 300,000 people homeless.
Sicily, Italy- On January 11, 1693,
a powerful earthquake with a magnitude of 7.4, ‘extreme’ had struck the parts
of Sicily, Calabria, and Matta in southern Italy. Considered the most powerful
in Italian history, it destroyed at least 70 towns and cities causing the death
of 60,000 people. It was also followed by a tsunami that hit the Ionian Sea and
the Straits of Messina, wiping out two-thirds of the entire population of
Catania.
Yunagay, Peru- This Great Peruvian
Earthquake was an undersea earthquake that affected the regions of Ancash and
La Libertad. It occurred in May 31, 1970 ad was recorded as the worst
catastrophic natural disaster that hit Peru, which affected over 3 million
people. It has a magnitude of 7.9 to 8.0 on the Richter scale with an intensity
of VIII on the Mercalli scale, which lasted for 45 seconds which led to the
death of 20,000 people. The damages incurred tallied to 74,194 deaths, 25,600
missing, 143,331 injured, and more than a million homeless.
Tabriz, Iran- This took place
near the city of Tabriz, Iran on April 26, 1721, and destroyed prominent
mosques and schools resulting in death casualties of 8,000 to 250,000, though
it was approximated at 80,000 only. Interpreted as an omen of misfortune or a
demonstration of divine wrath, it contributed to the success of the Ottoman
take-over of Tabriz in 1722 and on its economic difficulties, as well as the
destruction of the city’s significant historical monuments.
Shemakha, Azerbaijan- This was a 6.9 magnitude earthquake that occurred in
November 1667 with its epicenter close to the city of Samaxi, Azerbaijan. It
had a maximum felt intensity of ten and caused the death of 80,000 people. It
had a focal depth of 12 kilometers with an estimated damage of over $25
million.
Kashmir, Pakistan- The October 8, 2005
Kashmir, Pakistan was visited by an earthquake with a moment magnitude of
7.6.The disaster had a death toll of 85,000 and more than 69,000 were injured.
İt affected countries in surrounding regions with 14,000 deaths in Jammu and
tremors felt in Taijikistan and western China. It also cost a staggering $5.4
billion in aids from all around the world.
Sichuan, China- The Great Sichuan
Earthquake occurred on May 8, 2008 with a magnitude that measured 8.0 and 7.9.
It was so great that it was felt in nearby countries and as far away as Beijing
and Shanghai where buildings swayed with tremors. Official figures for the
damages include 69,197 deaths with 68,636 in Sichuan province, 374,176 injured
and 18,222 missing. The Chinese government is appropriating 1 trillion Yuan or
$146.5 billion to rebuild areas ravaged by the great quake.
Messina, Italy -This was a
7.1-magnitude earthquake and tsunami that claimed the lives of some 100,000 to
200,000 lives in Messina and Reggio in Sicily and Calabria in southern Italy.
The earthquake, which took place on December 28, 1908, caused the ground to
shake for 30 to 40 seconds and was felt in a 186-mile radius. A 12-meter
tsunami also hit the nearby coasts causing more destruction including the death
of 70,000 residents with 91% of the structures in Messina destroyed.
