Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
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* It was famed Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius who made the following sage observation: “Everything we hear is an opinion, not a fact. Everything we see is a perspective, not the truth.” * The United States isn’t the only country that has an accolade to recognize excellence in the film industry. Here the awards are known as the Oscars, but other nations have their own names: In Canada they’re known as Genies, in France they’re Cesars, in Russia they’re called Nikas, in Mexico they’re Golden Ariels, in Spain they’re known as Goyas, and in t...
* It was French poet, journalist and novelist Anatole France who made the following sage observation: “The law, in its majestic equality, forbids the rich as well as the poor to sleep under bridges, to beg in the streets, and to steal bread.” * If you’re planning a trip to North Carolina in June, try to make it to the small town of Spivey’s Corner for the annual Hollerin’ Contest. If you’d like to participate but are worried about straining your vocal cords, you can always enter the conch-blowing contest instead of one of the ones that involv...
* It was English theologian Edwin Abbott Abbott who made the following sage observation: “Men are divided in opinion as to the facts. And even granting the facts, they explain them in different ways.” * You may be surprised to learn that hot and cold running water has been around for thousands of years. Members of the upper class in ancient Egypt used copper tubing to pipe it into their homes. * If you take a close look at New Hampshire’s Constitution Bill of Rights, you’ll find “the right of revolution” enshrined therein. * GPS is a powerful...
* It was Danish scholar and critic Georg Brandes who made the following sage observation: “Poor is the power of the lead that becomes bullets compared to the power of the hot metal that becomes types.” * You doubtless know who Thomas Edison was — the American inventor of such things as the light bulb, the phonograph and the motion-picture camera. You never learned that he was blind, though, did you? Of course you didn’t — he wasn’t blind. However, even though he could see, historians say that when he was reading, he preferred Braille to...
* It was English novelist Eric Arthur Blair — better known by his pen name, George Orwell — who made the following sage observation: “During times of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act.” * While his wife, Abigail, was ill, President John Adams stayed with her for seven months at their home in Boston — that’s the longest any president has been away from the capital. * Are you a cacographer? You may not be, but if you spend any time at all online you’ve certainly run across a few. A cacographer is someone who can’t qu...
STRANGE BUT TRUE * It was the multitalented Pierre Beaumarchais — born in the 18th century, he was a revolutionary in both France and America as well as a watchmaker, diplomat, musician, spy, inventor, publisher and arms dealer — who made the following sage observation: “It is not necessary to understand things in order to argue about them.” * Sharks burp. Yep, even underwater. Evidently, it’s how they regulate the depth at which they swim. * You’ve almost certainly heard people refer to the school they attended as their alma mater, but...
STRANGE BUT TRUE * It was 19th-century French novelist and poet Victor Hugo who made the following sage observation: “Men hate those to whom they have to lie.” * If you’re planning to visit the Hawaiian island of Kauai, you might want to trek up to Mount Waialeale. If you do, though, be sure to take an umbrella, as that mountain holds the distinction of receiving more rainfall than any other place on Earth, with an average of about 40 feet — yes, feet — of rain annually. * According to the National Chicken Council’s annual Chicken Wing Report...
STRANGE BUT TRUE * It was Italian novelist, philosopher and university professor Umberto Eco who made the following sage observation: “Fear prophets and those prepared to die for the truth, for as a rule they make many others die with them, often before them, at times instead of them.” * The average (presumably non-bearded) man will shave at least 20,000 times over the course of his lifetime. * Although it is a dog, the dhole, which is native to Asia, doesn’t bark; to communicate with other members of its pack, it whistles. Evidently, that...
STRANGE BUT TRUE * It was noted educator and civil-rights activist W.E.B. DuBois who made the following sage observation: “The theory of democratic government is not that the will of the people is always right, but rather that normal human beings of average intelligence will, if given a chance, learn the right and best course by bitter experience.” * Those who make the finest wigs from human hair typically avoid buying hair from Americans. Evidently, hair grown in the United States is more likely to have damage caused by hairspray, hai...
STRANGE BUT TRUE * It was British author P.L. Travers, best known for her series of books about Mary Poppins, who made the following sage observation: “A writer is, after all, only half his book. The other half is the reader, and from the reader the writer learns.” * You’ve probably been to a restaurant with a dessert called Death by Chocolate, but the real-life event is less appetizing. After falling into a vat of boiling chocolate in New Jersey, a man died before his co-workers were able to pull him out. * Colgate toothpaste is good for m...
* It was Margaret Chase Smith, the first woman to serve in both houses of the U.S. Congress, who made the following sage observation: “Those of us who shout the loudest about Americanism in making character assassinations are all too frequently those who, by our own words and acts, ignore some of the basic principles of Americanism: The right to criticize; The right to hold unpopular beliefs; The right to protest; The right of independent thought.” * According to historians, British Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill slept on silk sheets and...
STRANGE BUT TRUE * The unknown soul who made the following sage observation must have been a keen observer of events: “A politician can appear to have his nose to the grindstone while straddling a fence and keeping both ears to the ground.” * In the 17th century, a Frenchman opened a coffee shop in London and sold chocolate, newly imported from the Americas, for 10 to 15 shillings a pound. That may not sound like much until you learn that at the time, the going price of a pound gold was 20 to 30 shillings. * Are you interested in pogonotrophy?...
* It was German-born theoretical physicist Albert Einstein who made the following sage observation: “The hardest thing to understand is why we can understand anything at all.” * If you’re planning a trip to South Africa, you might want to keep in mind that there are 11 official languages there. * It is customary in India for those who celebrate Christmas to decorate a banana or mango tree — evergreens being in rather short supply in most parts of south Asia. * Those who study such things say that a normal cat has 230 bones in its body, but it d...
STRANGE BUT TRUE * It was 20th-century American professor and noted author Isaac Asimov who made the following sage observation: “A poor idea well-written is more likely to be accepted than a good idea poorly written.” * According to a Scandinavian tradition, Christmas gifts aren’t delivered by Santa Claus or Saint Nicholas — a little gnome called Julenisse puts gifts under the tree. And instead of cookies and milk, children put out a bowl of porridge for him. * It’s commonly believed that misery sometimes can beget genius — the stereotype...
STRANGE BUT TRUE * It was noted American journalist, satirist and cultural critic H.L. Mencken who made the following sage observation: “Whenever ‘A’ attempts by law to impose his moral standards upon ‘B’, ‘A’ is most likely a scoundrel.” * You’re certainly aware that the Middle East has large deposits of petroleum. It makes a kind of sense, then, that one of the first uses early discovers put the substance to was to treat their camels’ mange. * As the holiday season approaches, there are some interesting traditions you might want to keep...
* It was 19th-century Russian playwright and short story writer Anton Chekhov who made the following sage observation: “Love, friendship, respect, do not unite people as much as a common hatred for something.” * If you suffer from galeophobia you’re certainly not alone; Steven Spielberg’s 1975 film “Jaws” may have popularized the fear of sharks, but it certainly didn’t start it. Logically, though, swinophobia makes more sense — pigs kill more people every year than sharks do. * You might be surprised to learn that Harriet Tubman — famous for he...
STRANGE BUT TRUE * It was 20th-century French journalist, poet, aristocrat and aviator Antoine de Saint-Exupery — best known for his novella “The Little Prince” — who made the following sage observation: “A designer knows he has achieved perfection not when there is nothing left to add, but when there is nothing left to take away.” * Eggplants weren’t always the deep purple color we know today; originally, the vegetables were white. The color, paired with the ovoid shape, is how the eggplant got its name. * If you live in Rochester, Ne...
• It was humorist Jerome K. Jerome who made the following sage observation: “It is impossible to enjoy idling thoroughly unless one has plenty of work to do. There is no fun in doing nothing when you have nothing to do. Wasting time is merely an occupation then, and a most exhausting one. Idleness, like kisses, to be sweet must be stolen.” • Though it is unconstitutional and therefore unenforceable, there is a law on the books in Tennessee which prohibits duelists, preachers and atheists from being elected to public office. • According to most...
• It was American humorist and columnist Josh Billings who made the following sage observation: “Reason often makes mistakes, but conscience never does.” • You think there are a lot of lawsuits being heard in the courts these days? Statistics show that half of the suits filed never even make it to court. • In France in the 1700s, capital punishment was not uncommon, and criminals thus condemned were decapitated by the country’s Chief Executioner. This position was hereditary, which posed a problem when, in 1726, the holder of that title, Char...
• It was Albert Einstein who offered the following explanation of relativity: “Put your hand on a hot stove for a minute and it seems like an hour. Sit with a pretty girl for an hour and it seems like a minute. That’s relativity.” • In Singapore, one of the colorful customs is training birds for singing competitions. It’s not always just a hobby, though; for some, it’s a serious — and costly — business. A single well-trained bird might sell for as much as $60,000. • If you’re an oenophile — that’s an aficionado of wine — you probably won’t be s...
STRANGE BUT TRUE • It was inventor Thomas Edison who made the following sage observation: “We don’t know a millionth of 1 percent about anything.” • Those who study such things say that chewing gum will reduce your recall ability by 10 percent. • As ostrich can run just as fast as a racehorse. • In 1972, an extraordinary birth occurred. On July 22 of that year, a woman in Rome gave birth a whopping 15 babies — five boys and 10 girls. The siblings were quindecaplets, though, obviously, that term doesn’t see much use. • You probably know that J....
It was beloved American comedian and film star Groucho Marx who made the following sage observation: “There’s one way to find out if a man is honest — ask him. If he says ‘Yes,’ you know he is a crook.” The ancient Egyptians were known to use crocodile dung as a contraceptive. You may be surprised to learn that when the hit 1950s TV show “I Love Lucy” had its premiere, Lucille Ball was already 40 years old. Talk about sneaky: In order to get a photo of Bing Crosby in his coffin, The National Enquirer tabloid had a reporter dress as a prie...
• It was German-American painter and lithographer Herm Albright who made the following sage observation: “A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort.” • It’s well-known that there were shortages of many items during World War II — and caffeine was one. It was such a problem, in fact, that the chemists at Coca-Cola tried to find a substitute, even experimenting with a derivative of bat guano. The idea was nixed by an executive who was afraid of the public backlash if the trut...
• It was beloved cowboy humorist Will Rogers who made the following sage observation: “Nobody wants to be called common people, especially common people.” • Do you think you could eat 80 pounds of chicken? If you’re like the average American, that’s how much you will consume this year. • You’ve probably heard or even used the term “fly off the handle” to describe someone losing their temper. You probably don’t realize, though, that the handle referred to was originally an axe handle. Sometimes the blade of such a tool would be improperly f...
• It is still not known who made the following sage observation: “Never attribute to malice what can be adequately explained by stupidity.” • If you are an aficionado of the word game Scrabble, you probably know that there are only five words that can be played using a q but no u. In case you’re not in the know, those words are “faqir,” “qaid, “ “qoph, “ “qindar” and “qintar. “ • In 1774, surveyors in Maryland marked off a parcel of land by mistake. The error was immortalized when the town that grew up on that land adopted the name Accident....
