They Died Laughing
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Aside from dying in your sleep, dying of laughter might seem like the perfect way to go. And although it sounds like the stuff of fiction, on rare occasions it has been known to happen in real life.
The Greek soothsayer, Calchas, was said to have died of laughter during the Trojan wars. When planting grapevines he was supposedly told by another soothsayer that he would never get to drink the wine he produced from his grapes. Once the wine was eventually made and ready to drink, Calchas invited the soothsayer along. After the soothsayer repeated his prophecy Calchas began a fit of laughter that resulted in him choking to death!
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Golden lilies, idyllic bound feet of women and girls, were the erotic hallmarks of feminine China for one thousand years. Yet, to practice the custom meant enduring the excruciating pain of mutilation and even the threat of death should the binding be improperly applied. The following offerings relate facts and trivia about the fascinating and controversial ancient custom of foot binding.
I have to admit that even looking at photos of the diamond kind of gave me the creeps, but at least I know never to touch it. Luckily I was never big on jewelry, but then I have to wonder what drew me to research this article in the first place??
The I Ching, also called the Book of Changes, originated during an important time in Chinese history – the overthrow of the Shang dynasty by the Chou dynasty, which also collapsed. It was a time of much social unrest and confusion. The wise men and women of the time made up stories that they fashioned into an oracle to help the people deal with all the changes.
The world population is said to be over 6.5 billion. But where do all those billions of people live? Here are some interesting facts about where we dwell on this big globe of ours.
Russian nesting dolls, more accurately termed matryoshka, are not the old Russian relics we think they are despite being one of the most recognizable features of Russian folk art. Roughly a century old, the art of the matryoshka has become a universal symbol of Russia and these beautifully created nesting dolls are beloved by collectors and toy enthusiasts around the world. The following article provides facts and trivia about Russian matryoshka.
Green is one of the most abundant colors in nature — with almost all the vegetation on this earth being green.
o The name garnet is derived from the Latin word granatus, meaning grain. It has been speculated that this is due to small alluvial crystals being found wich closely resembled pomegranate seeds or grain.
From classical to Blues, high Baroque to modern Rock and Roll, the following collection of music trivia and facts is a delight for any music-lover.
The world of the Japanese Geisha is mysterious as it is glamorous. Recent books like Arthur Golden’s Memoirs of a Geisha are returning this pleasure girl to a popularity she has not enjoyed since World War II. The following article chronicles the history of this illustrious group of women.
Kabuki is a form of traditional Japanese theatre, most commonly known for the stylization of its drama, and for the complex makeup that is worn by its actors. A derivative of the verb ˜kabuku,’ which can be translated as meaning either œto learn or œto be out of the ordinary, kabuki can be loosely translated to mean either œavant-garde or œbizarre theatre. Regardless of how out of the ordinary kabuki may be, people still flock to watch the shows, year after year.
Apollo 11: The USA set out to put men on the moon during the decade of the 60s – the goal was just reached in time, with the first manned lunar landing on July 20 1969. The astronauts who first walked on the moon were Neil Armstrong (the `first foot’) and Buzz Aldrin. Third man Michael Collins remained in command of the lunar module.
I thought that I knew everything there was to know about coughs. But after a little research, it seems that I had a lot to learn and some of what I found is just plain bizarre!
I had lunch a few weeks ago in a 50s’ style diner and on the table was a miniature jukebox. My son and I started chatting about what he referred to as the “old days” and asked me what I remembered about jukeboxes. Well, seeing that they were around a long time before I came along¦ that wasn’t very much. But it did make me curious.
Hate your job? Thinking now is the time for a new career? Or maybe you’re actively seeking employment. The search for a job that will pay the bills can be frustrating- but imagine having one of these job titles!
From the wheel to the rocket and all the remarkable inventions in between, the following text lists some highlights from the world of inventions. Although not discussed chronologically, these facts are loosely organized by type.
If you’ve always wanted to know how many hairs are removed from a man’s face by shaving, you’re in luck! Can you believe the prehistoric man shaved too? This article is filled of shaving facts, that may be useless but at least you’ll know.
King: Alfred the Great ( 849-901) – “I desire to leave to the men that come after me a remembrance of me in good works.”
“Ashes to ashes, dust to dust. If the coyotes don’t get you, the worms must.” -Anonymous
America, meet your currency! There’s more to what’s in your wallet than meets the eye. Here for your amazement (or amusement!) are ten surprising facts about the Ten Dollar Bill.
Every American should know basic flag etiquette: the rules for displaying and honoring our nation’s most visible symbol. Even if you don’t serve in the military or have a flag pole outside your house, you should know these guidelines.
1. The Bay of Biscay is bordered by France and Spain.
Gold may have been the first metal to be used by humans, probably in ceremony and for decoration.
Women have loved diamonds for centuries, diamonds have been dubbed a girl’s best friend and for good reason. Here are some facts about diamonds that will likely make a diamond more appealing to you for any occasion!
It’s an uncertain world. No one knows from this day to the next what will happen or what to expect. Life itself is a gamble, and we play the odds everyday, irregardless of who those odds favor. However, we still want to know if the odds are in favor or against a certain event, such as winning the lottery. In fact, it’s about three times more likely for you to be killed while driving to the store to buy the lotto ticket than it is to win the actual jackpot. You also have a higher chance of being struck and killed by lightning than you do of becoming multi-millionaire.
Cultures from around the world and throughout time have their own marriage customs and traditions that often govern ceremonies and celebrations. The following text offers a variety of facts and trivia about marriage rituals from different parts of the world.
Neil Armstong’s first step on the moon was with his left foot.
Fashion in eighteenth century England demanded that a wig augment a woman’s natural hair. A wig could be three to four feet tall, and a single wig was sometimes worn continuously on outdoor occasions for months at a time. Weather conditions made it necessary to wear large flexible bonnets made of pleated taffeta as a protective covering on the wig. Being decorated with everything from fabric, feathers, flowers and pearls to animals and plants and even naval ships and boosted by hair pads, this coiffure was often kept together with pomade made of apples, floral oils, and lard. This made them an attraction for pests, especially mice. The wigs were fitted with caps of gilt wire to keep off mice and powdered regularly to prevent other infestation. These wigs went out of fashion when taxes on hair powder became too high to be sustained.
Earl Silas Tupper was born on a farm in Berlin, New Hampshire in 1907. From youth, Tupper was an entrepreneur. He started a landscaping business after school that did very well until the Great Depression forced him into bankruptcy. At that time, he went to work for the Dupont Chemical Company.
The period between 1837 and 1901 is notable as one of the most progressive eras in history. Queen Victoria’s reign was so influential that her name is stamped across the era to denote everything from fashion to furniture. The following offerings relate specifically to the jewelry of the Victorian era providing interesting facts and trivia about Victorian jewels.
Recently the word pandemic has been in the news. What is a pandemic? How many have there been in the world’s history? Let’s learn some hard facts about pandemics.
Cupolas are decorative spherical roofs that look like upside down cups, usually topping circular, square, or multi-angular buildings. In some cases, cupolas form the entire roof of a tower or spire, but they usually function as ornamental additions. They are popular nowadays in Greek revival architecture in certain parts of states like Virgina, Kentucky, New York and Pennsylvania. Here they function almost like little attic rooms, in circular, rectangular, square, or octagonal shapes.
* Women have been showing their athletic ability on ice for over 4000 years.
The world is full of odd facts that most of us just crave to know, if knowledge is power then be careful because your brain just might overload on some of these!
The Japanese writing system is very complex. In a most basic manner, it can be broken down into three separate facets: Hiragana, Kanji, and Katakana. Before the fourth century, the Japanese language did not exist. Then, the Japanese began to incorporate bits of the Chinese script and developed a hybrid.