Man in the Moon
Many know of Li Po, the 8th century Chinese poet who is supposed to have drowned while reaching from his boat for the reflection of the moon. However, a later Chinese poet and philosopher Cho Ha (c1150-c1200) went farther, actually claiming to live on the moon. He maintained that each day he travelled to the moon, where he wrote down his thoughts before voyaging back at dusk to dine with his three cats. Constantly irritated when he was disbelieved, Cho Ha went to the extent of having his tomb sculpted years before his death: it read 'Proud Citizen of Yunnan Province and The Moon'. Cho Ha is still remembered in China for some of his intense musings, which include:
When the wind blows, the tree moves.
To go up a hill, a man must walk upwards.
A cat who smells of fish has recently eaten fish.
Thursday 31 May 2007
Bad News for Buddha
Earlier this decade, pharmaceutical giant Gristler Hahn developed a radical medication for dissolving surplus body fat. Clinical tests on the treatment were encouraging but, despite the obvious financial implications, the trials were abandoned. The problem was that the fat drains internally, and uncontrollably, meaning those undergoing treatment need to wear a nappy for up to a month.
Earlier this decade, pharmaceutical giant Gristler Hahn developed a radical medication for dissolving surplus body fat. Clinical tests on the treatment were encouraging but, despite the obvious financial implications, the trials were abandoned. The problem was that the fat drains internally, and uncontrollably, meaning those undergoing treatment need to wear a nappy for up to a month.
Tuesday 15 May 2007
On Song
The record for the longest performance of a single song is held by members of the music discussion forum Black Cat Bone who formed teams to render a version of The Beatles' 'Hey Jude' lasting 14 hours and 8 minutes. The song was chosen in a site poll - other songs considered for the marathon treatment included 'The Boxer', 'Lola' and a hummed version of Lou Reed's Metal Machine Music.
The record for the longest performance of a single song is held by members of the music discussion forum Black Cat Bone who formed teams to render a version of The Beatles' 'Hey Jude' lasting 14 hours and 8 minutes. The song was chosen in a site poll - other songs considered for the marathon treatment included 'The Boxer', 'Lola' and a hummed version of Lou Reed's Metal Machine Music.
Monday 14 May 2007
Wrong Number
Ms Achillea de Souza, a resident of Los Angeles, changed her phone number nearly every day for twelve years between 1990 and 2001. The small print of her contract allowed her to do so (the provider eventually changed its service rules to stop her). During these years, she had over 11,000 different phone numbers, more than belonged to most large businesses in LA! Because of the constant changes, Ms de Souza only actually received around 150 calls. It is estimated that she spent over 1000 hours speaking to call operatives at a cost of up to $5 a minute. Her reasons for doing this remain unclear.
Ms Achillea de Souza, a resident of Los Angeles, changed her phone number nearly every day for twelve years between 1990 and 2001. The small print of her contract allowed her to do so (the provider eventually changed its service rules to stop her). During these years, she had over 11,000 different phone numbers, more than belonged to most large businesses in LA! Because of the constant changes, Ms de Souza only actually received around 150 calls. It is estimated that she spent over 1000 hours speaking to call operatives at a cost of up to $5 a minute. Her reasons for doing this remain unclear.
The Trouble With Dick
Although popular with youngsters in the years after its release in 1930, Jeremy Taylor's novel A Retriever's Adventure is unlikely to ever come back into print. The problem is that the dog central to the story is called Dick, leading to a great number of double entendres which may have been overlooked back then but which are all too obvious now. When the dog goes missing, narrator Howard reports that he 'spent all night in the woods, desperate for just one glimpse of Dick'. Meanwhile, when the dog hero goes to the kennel in the sky, Howard declaims that 'I longed for one more night, my arms filled with dear old Dick writhing and wriggling.'
Although popular with youngsters in the years after its release in 1930, Jeremy Taylor's novel A Retriever's Adventure is unlikely to ever come back into print. The problem is that the dog central to the story is called Dick, leading to a great number of double entendres which may have been overlooked back then but which are all too obvious now. When the dog goes missing, narrator Howard reports that he 'spent all night in the woods, desperate for just one glimpse of Dick'. Meanwhile, when the dog hero goes to the kennel in the sky, Howard declaims that 'I longed for one more night, my arms filled with dear old Dick writhing and wriggling.'
Sunday 6 May 2007
Beatles Show Their Colours
One of the common symptoms of the neurologial condition synaesthesia is that words are seen in terms of colours. Researchers have, for many years, been trying to find if there are correlations between synaesthesiacs - for example, whether most of them think of the colour pink when they think of the word 'eighteen' or 'gamble'.
In a controlled study of 300 synaesthesiacs in the USA, it was decided that social conditioning often overrules the condition, especially in older testees: the participants were likely to think of the word 'bubblegum' as pink because it is pink, rather than for reasons which are not to do with the actual 'item'. Very familiar words become 'numb' - a test showed that the names of the biggest US cities showed little correlation, leading experts to claim, as always expected, that synaesthesia is experienced on an individual basis.
However, in a controlled test of 225 young synaesthesiacs, in India in the early 2000s, researchers removed those who said they were familiar with the Beatles by name. Asked to tick colours on charts when shown the names of the Fab Four, there were astonishing results from the youngsters (mostly non-English speakers). The names Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr were all selected in the light yellow-light green spectrum, by between 60 and 70% of the testees - an unprecedented correlation. Only John Lennon's name did not coordinate, with a vast range of colours, mainly darker shades, being selected for his name!
One of the common symptoms of the neurologial condition synaesthesia is that words are seen in terms of colours. Researchers have, for many years, been trying to find if there are correlations between synaesthesiacs - for example, whether most of them think of the colour pink when they think of the word 'eighteen' or 'gamble'.
In a controlled study of 300 synaesthesiacs in the USA, it was decided that social conditioning often overrules the condition, especially in older testees: the participants were likely to think of the word 'bubblegum' as pink because it is pink, rather than for reasons which are not to do with the actual 'item'. Very familiar words become 'numb' - a test showed that the names of the biggest US cities showed little correlation, leading experts to claim, as always expected, that synaesthesia is experienced on an individual basis.
However, in a controlled test of 225 young synaesthesiacs, in India in the early 2000s, researchers removed those who said they were familiar with the Beatles by name. Asked to tick colours on charts when shown the names of the Fab Four, there were astonishing results from the youngsters (mostly non-English speakers). The names Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr were all selected in the light yellow-light green spectrum, by between 60 and 70% of the testees - an unprecedented correlation. Only John Lennon's name did not coordinate, with a vast range of colours, mainly darker shades, being selected for his name!
Ear Nails
World records for longest fingernails and toenails are fought out between various contenders, mostly from India. However, though very rare, people occasionally grow similar 'nails' in their earlobes, caused by a surfeit of keratin in the system. 'Earnails' are usually only a couple of centimetres square. However, the record for one probably belongs to Phya Thanom of Bangkok who, in 1980, had a nail growth from his earlobe which measured nine and a half inches!
World records for longest fingernails and toenails are fought out between various contenders, mostly from India. However, though very rare, people occasionally grow similar 'nails' in their earlobes, caused by a surfeit of keratin in the system. 'Earnails' are usually only a couple of centimetres square. However, the record for one probably belongs to Phya Thanom of Bangkok who, in 1980, had a nail growth from his earlobe which measured nine and a half inches!
Friday 4 May 2007
Love Me Tender
Because of the unusual way in which human bruising is measured, it is possible to be bruised on 120% of one's body. Dr Theo Harpur, who set up the measurement system (called the Harpur Scale) in the 1930s assumed there were some parts of the body which do not bruise. He was wrong. In the unlikely event that you are kicked all over by angry camels or fall down a particularly long stretch of scree and are bruised (literally) from tip to toe, you may well find yourself reaching the illogical level of 12 out of 10 on the Harpur scale!
Because of the unusual way in which human bruising is measured, it is possible to be bruised on 120% of one's body. Dr Theo Harpur, who set up the measurement system (called the Harpur Scale) in the 1930s assumed there were some parts of the body which do not bruise. He was wrong. In the unlikely event that you are kicked all over by angry camels or fall down a particularly long stretch of scree and are bruised (literally) from tip to toe, you may well find yourself reaching the illogical level of 12 out of 10 on the Harpur scale!
Thursday 3 May 2007
Crime Cosmos
A study in 2003 found unusual spreads of zodiac signs for well-known crime writers. Given that there were just over 300 writers whose sign was known, there ought to have been around 25 writers per sign - and this was the case for eight signs. However, there were some unusual results - 41 Scorpios and 34 Virgos, and only 12 Taureans and just 9 Capricorns!
A study in 2003 found unusual spreads of zodiac signs for well-known crime writers. Given that there were just over 300 writers whose sign was known, there ought to have been around 25 writers per sign - and this was the case for eight signs. However, there were some unusual results - 41 Scorpios and 34 Virgos, and only 12 Taureans and just 9 Capricorns!
Tuesday 1 May 2007
Rock On
Half of all the UK's rocking chairs are made in the West Country village of Honeybourne. After years of rivalry between two local furniture makers, SA Thomas and Sons and Honeybourne Wood, one of the Thomas sons started a third company. The local council decided to promote the town's furniture businesses as a tourist concern. There are now seven woodwork shops, with rocking chairs still the main seller. When one new business decided on the name 'Off Your Rocker', the slang term was deemed 'unbecoming to the spirit of the village' and the name was duly changed. A rocking chair appears on the village sign.
Half of all the UK's rocking chairs are made in the West Country village of Honeybourne. After years of rivalry between two local furniture makers, SA Thomas and Sons and Honeybourne Wood, one of the Thomas sons started a third company. The local council decided to promote the town's furniture businesses as a tourist concern. There are now seven woodwork shops, with rocking chairs still the main seller. When one new business decided on the name 'Off Your Rocker', the slang term was deemed 'unbecoming to the spirit of the village' and the name was duly changed. A rocking chair appears on the village sign.
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