Today is Halloween! Impress your friends with these scary and/or disturbing fun facts.
Real cadavers were used as props in various scenes in the movie Poltergeist.
There was a practice that occasionally occurred up until the 1880s where Buddhist monks would cause their own death while mummifying themselves. It involved 1,000 of eating only nuts and seeds while doing rigorous exercise to rid their body of all fat, then eating only bark and roots for 1,000 and drinking poisonous tea, which caused rapid loss of bodily fluids and made their body too poisonous to be eaten by bugs. They would then lock themselves in a tomb and not move from the lotus position. If all went well, after 1,000 days, the tomb would be opened to see if the mummification process was successful. Somewhere between 16 and 24 of such mummified bodies have been found.
The Jonestown Massacre, when the Peoples Temple Agricultural Project, started in Indianapolis in the mid-1950s and moved to Guyana, knowingly drank Flavor Aid that contained Valium, Chloral hydrate, cyanide, and Phenergan as a revolutionary suicide, was, until 9/11, the greatest loss of American civilian life in a non-natural disaster. This is where the phrse "Drinking the Kool-Aid" comes from.
While filming the aversion therapy scene in A Clockwork Orange (when the eyes are held open by clamps), Michael McDowell's cornea was scratched, rendering him temporarily blind.
If a person eats only rabbit, they will die of malnutrition. Rabbit is too lean to provide enough nutrients, and also contains high levels of amino acices, ammonia, and urea which the human kidney cannot process enough of to sustain on rabbit alone.
When an airplane carrying a Uruguayan rugby team crashed in the Andes, killing 16 of the 45 passengers right away, the survivors fed on the dead passengers who has been preserved in the snow to survive the 72 days until they were rescued. Though a hard decision for all, rugby players embraced it with the saying "Rugby players eat their dead".
During the Salem Witch Trials 19 people were found guilty and executed. 6 were found guilty but pardoned, usually for being pregnant. 5 pled guilty but were pardoned. 1 person would not enter a plea and was pressed to death. Common methods of executing witches was hanging, drowning, and burning.
A serial killer, by definition, is some one who has killed three or more people over a period of more than a month with down time between the killings. There is usually some psychological gratification associated with the killing.
There are on average 51 deaths in the United States due to lightning strikes.
What is your Halloween costume?
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Today is...the Anniversary of The War of the Worlds
Today in 1938, Orson Welles and his Mercury Players produced a radio drama based on H.G. Wells’s War of the Worlds that started a near panic when some listeners believed the Martian invasion of New Jersey was actually taking place.
The War of the Worlds is a novel by H.G. Wells about Earth being invaded by Martians. It is presented as a factual account, with the narrator being a journalist. In 1938, Orson Welles created an episode of Mercury Theatre on the Air based on the novel that was set in 1939. It was presented as a series of news bulletins and was presented without commercial breaks. Though the degree to which panic ensued is in question, there is no doubt that some people who heard only part of the broadcast believed that it was real.
There is thought to be only two copies of the script around anymore, one of which was sold at auction in 1988 for $143,000. After the broadcast, police seized all copies of the script as evidence, according to Howard Koch, the co-author of the radio play. There was a question at the time about if there was some criminal implications of the broadcast. The second surviving script, Welles' directorial copy, was sold at auction in 1994 and was bought by Steven Spielberg for $32,200.
What causes you to panic?
The War of the Worlds is a novel by H.G. Wells about Earth being invaded by Martians. It is presented as a factual account, with the narrator being a journalist. In 1938, Orson Welles created an episode of Mercury Theatre on the Air based on the novel that was set in 1939. It was presented as a series of news bulletins and was presented without commercial breaks. Though the degree to which panic ensued is in question, there is no doubt that some people who heard only part of the broadcast believed that it was real.
There is thought to be only two copies of the script around anymore, one of which was sold at auction in 1988 for $143,000. After the broadcast, police seized all copies of the script as evidence, according to Howard Koch, the co-author of the radio play. There was a question at the time about if there was some criminal implications of the broadcast. The second surviving script, Welles' directorial copy, was sold at auction in 1994 and was bought by Steven Spielberg for $32,200.
What causes you to panic?
Monday, October 29, 2012
Today is...National Cat Day
Today is National Cat Day.
The word "cat" can be traced back to the Afroasiatic and Late Egyptian caute, the feminine form of caus, which means wildcat.
In Early Modern English, the word kitten was interchangeable with the word catling to mean a baby cat. Catling is a now-obsolete word.
A group of cats is referred to as a clowder or a glaring.
A male cat is a tom if unneutered and a gib if neutered. A female cat is a molly.
Though cats have gone through a domestication process, cats have not made any major changes in behavior. The form and behavior of domestic cats is very similar to that of a wildcat and a domestic cat is capable of surviving in the wild.
In ancient Egypt cats were sacred animals. The goddess Bastet was often depicted in cat form.
During the Age of Discovery, early 15th century through the 17th century, cats were carried on ships to control rodents on board and as good-luck charms.
In Great Britain, Ireland, and Japan black cats are considered good luck. In other societies, black cats are considered a bad omen and are thought to be familiars of witches.
Do you have cat? If so, what kind and what is its name?
The word "cat" can be traced back to the Afroasiatic and Late Egyptian caute, the feminine form of caus, which means wildcat.
In Early Modern English, the word kitten was interchangeable with the word catling to mean a baby cat. Catling is a now-obsolete word.
A group of cats is referred to as a clowder or a glaring.
A male cat is a tom if unneutered and a gib if neutered. A female cat is a molly.
Though cats have gone through a domestication process, cats have not made any major changes in behavior. The form and behavior of domestic cats is very similar to that of a wildcat and a domestic cat is capable of surviving in the wild.
In ancient Egypt cats were sacred animals. The goddess Bastet was often depicted in cat form.
During the Age of Discovery, early 15th century through the 17th century, cats were carried on ships to control rodents on board and as good-luck charms.
In Great Britain, Ireland, and Japan black cats are considered good luck. In other societies, black cats are considered a bad omen and are thought to be familiars of witches.
Do you have cat? If so, what kind and what is its name?
Saturday, October 27, 2012
Today is...Make a Difference Day
Today is Make a Difference Day.
Make a Difference Day celebrates neighbors helping neighbors.
It was created in 1992 to challenge every American to commit one day to the service of others.
To find out more: http://www.usaweekend.com/section/mdday
You can add your project to the list here: http://daytabank.handsonnetwork.org/
How are you making a difference?
Make a Difference Day celebrates neighbors helping neighbors.
It was created in 1992 to challenge every American to commit one day to the service of others.
To find out more: http://www.usaweekend.com/section/mdday
You can add your project to the list here: http://daytabank.handsonnetwork.org/
How are you making a difference?
Friday, October 26, 2012
Today is...the anniversary of the Erie Canal opening
In 1825, the Erie Canal was opened.
The Erie Canal runs 363 miles from Albany, NY on the Hudson River to Buffalo, NY at Lake Erie.
The Erie Canal contains 36 locks encompassing a elevation difference of 565 feet.
It was under construction from 1817 to 1825 and officially opened on October 26, 1825.
Improvements on the canal began in 1834, which included the first enlargement, widening it from 40 ft to 70 ft and deepening it from 4 ft to 7.
In 1918 a large part of the canal was replaced by the New York State Barge Canal.
Though parts of the old canal have been filled and used to create roads, a 36 mile stretch is preserved by New York State as the Old Erie Canal State Historic Park.
What is your favorite means of transportation?
The Erie Canal runs 363 miles from Albany, NY on the Hudson River to Buffalo, NY at Lake Erie.
The Erie Canal contains 36 locks encompassing a elevation difference of 565 feet.
It was under construction from 1817 to 1825 and officially opened on October 26, 1825.
Improvements on the canal began in 1834, which included the first enlargement, widening it from 40 ft to 70 ft and deepening it from 4 ft to 7.
In 1918 a large part of the canal was replaced by the New York State Barge Canal.
Though parts of the old canal have been filled and used to create roads, a 36 mile stretch is preserved by New York State as the Old Erie Canal State Historic Park.
What is your favorite means of transportation?
Thursday, October 25, 2012
Today is...the Birth Anniversary of Pablo Picasso
Today is the birth anniversary of Pablo Picasso. If he were alive he would be 131.
Pablo Picasso, born October 25, 1881, was a Spanish artist, though he lived most of his adult life in France.
Picasso is generally said to be the inventor of Cubism, though Georges Braque painted what some critics argue to be the first cubist piece.
The first exhibition by Cubists was at the Salon des Independants in Paris in 1911.
Picasso married ballerina Olga Kohkhlova in 1918. In 1927, he started an affair with Marie-Therese Walter; he was 45 and she was 17. He stayed married to Kohkhlova until her death in 1955 so he would not have to give her half his wealth in a divorce
Walter was a model for many of Picasso's works and always hoped that Picasso would marry her, though he never did. After Kohkhlova's death, Picasso married Jacqueline Roque who was a muse and model for him. They were married until his death. Picasso also maintained numerous mistresses besides his wife and Walter.
Picasso's first work that is accepted as part of his professional career is The First Communion, painted in 1896 when he was 14. His work started out as realism and slowly morphed into the cubist style that is most attributed to him.
Picasso was extremely prolific in his career and produced an estimated 50,000 works including paintings, sculptures, ceramics, drawings, prints, tapestries, and rugs. Most of his paintings were still in his possession at his death as he kept anything that he did not need to sell.
More of Picasso's paintings have been stolen than any other artist, with approximately 550 of his works currently missing.
What is your favorite Picasso painting?
Pablo Picasso, born October 25, 1881, was a Spanish artist, though he lived most of his adult life in France.
Picasso is generally said to be the inventor of Cubism, though Georges Braque painted what some critics argue to be the first cubist piece.
The first exhibition by Cubists was at the Salon des Independants in Paris in 1911.
Picasso married ballerina Olga Kohkhlova in 1918. In 1927, he started an affair with Marie-Therese Walter; he was 45 and she was 17. He stayed married to Kohkhlova until her death in 1955 so he would not have to give her half his wealth in a divorce
Walter was a model for many of Picasso's works and always hoped that Picasso would marry her, though he never did. After Kohkhlova's death, Picasso married Jacqueline Roque who was a muse and model for him. They were married until his death. Picasso also maintained numerous mistresses besides his wife and Walter.
Picasso's first work that is accepted as part of his professional career is The First Communion, painted in 1896 when he was 14. His work started out as realism and slowly morphed into the cubist style that is most attributed to him.
Picasso was extremely prolific in his career and produced an estimated 50,000 works including paintings, sculptures, ceramics, drawings, prints, tapestries, and rugs. Most of his paintings were still in his possession at his death as he kept anything that he did not need to sell.
More of Picasso's paintings have been stolen than any other artist, with approximately 550 of his works currently missing.
What is your favorite Picasso painting?
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Today is...Anniversary of First Barrel Jump over Niagara Falls
Today in 1901, the first successful barrel jump over Niagara Falls was accomplished.
Annie Edson Taylor, a 63-year-old teacher, went over the falls in a barrel as a publicity stunt. She was unharmed except for some bleeding.
Since 1901, 14 people have intentionally gone over the falls; some were unharmed, some were injured, and some died.
The last barrel jump over Niagara Falls was in 1993, the second successful jump for Steve Trotter.
It is illegal to go over the Falls on both the Canadian and American sides of the border. If caught, there is a large fine.
Daredevils also walked tightrope wires over the Niagara Gorge from 1859-1896.
The only woman to cross on tightrope was Maria Spelterini in 1876. She crossed four times over approximately 2 1/2 weeks. She did so once blind-folded and once with her ankles and wrists manacles.
Jean Fancois Gravelet-Blondin crossed on tightrope many times, doing outrageous things while crossing including carrying his manager on his back, on silts, and sitting down part way to cook and eat an omelette.
Niagara Falls, Ontario, contains many other tourist stops including Louis Tussaud's Wax Museum (Louis Tussaud is the great-grandson of Marie Tussaud, the creator of Madame Tussaud's famous was museum in London), Ripley's Believe it or Not museum, five haunted houses and The Niagara Falls Museum.
The Niagara Falls Museum is Canada's oldest museum, opened in 1827 by Thomas Barnett. It includes a skeleton of a 40-ft humpback whale, the trunk of a giant redwood tree, and until 2003 the mummy of Ramses I.
Ramses I was returned to Egypt after Researchers at Emory University determined that the mummy was Ramses I. Before that, Ramses had been missing for 150 years and had been in the Niagara Falls Museum for 140 of those years.
What is the most daring thing you have done?
Annie Edson Taylor, a 63-year-old teacher, went over the falls in a barrel as a publicity stunt. She was unharmed except for some bleeding.
Since 1901, 14 people have intentionally gone over the falls; some were unharmed, some were injured, and some died.
The last barrel jump over Niagara Falls was in 1993, the second successful jump for Steve Trotter.
It is illegal to go over the Falls on both the Canadian and American sides of the border. If caught, there is a large fine.
Daredevils also walked tightrope wires over the Niagara Gorge from 1859-1896.
The only woman to cross on tightrope was Maria Spelterini in 1876. She crossed four times over approximately 2 1/2 weeks. She did so once blind-folded and once with her ankles and wrists manacles.
Jean Fancois Gravelet-Blondin crossed on tightrope many times, doing outrageous things while crossing including carrying his manager on his back, on silts, and sitting down part way to cook and eat an omelette.
Niagara Falls, Ontario, contains many other tourist stops including Louis Tussaud's Wax Museum (Louis Tussaud is the great-grandson of Marie Tussaud, the creator of Madame Tussaud's famous was museum in London), Ripley's Believe it or Not museum, five haunted houses and The Niagara Falls Museum.
The Niagara Falls Museum is Canada's oldest museum, opened in 1827 by Thomas Barnett. It includes a skeleton of a 40-ft humpback whale, the trunk of a giant redwood tree, and until 2003 the mummy of Ramses I.
Ramses I was returned to Egypt after Researchers at Emory University determined that the mummy was Ramses I. Before that, Ramses had been missing for 150 years and had been in the Niagara Falls Museum for 140 of those years.
What is the most daring thing you have done?
Don't forget to vote!
For your favorite scary movie
For your favorite scary movie
The Screenwriting Workshop and Heterick Library are sponsoring a Scariest Movie contest.
During the week of October 22-26th, there will be a display of scary movies on the first floor of Heterick, where people will be eligible to vote for their choice of the all-time scariest movie.
Those who cast their ballots will have their names entered into a drawing for the prize of $20.00 that will be announced at the Scary Scene Halloween party sponsored by the Screenwriting Workshop on October 31, 7:15 p.m., Heterick Library room 301.
(You need not be present to win.)
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Today is...The Anniversary of the iPod
Today in 2001, Apple unveiled the iPod.
Apple was founded in 1976 by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak and Ronald Wayne, though Wayne sold his share when Apple was incorporated in 1977.
The first Macintosh computer was released in 1984. There was an ad for it during the 1984 Superbowl that was directed by Ridley Scott.
The first Apple store opened in 2001 in Virginia and California, announcing the iPod on October 23 the same year.
The first iPod was 5GB and held approximately 1,000 songs.
Between 2001 and 2007, over 100 million iPods were sold.
There are currently four types of iPods: Classic, Shuffle, Touch, and Nano. There are 25 base models of iPod, though each model has multiple choices of storage space.
What is your favorite Apple product?
Apple was founded in 1976 by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak and Ronald Wayne, though Wayne sold his share when Apple was incorporated in 1977.
The first Macintosh computer was released in 1984. There was an ad for it during the 1984 Superbowl that was directed by Ridley Scott.
The first Apple store opened in 2001 in Virginia and California, announcing the iPod on October 23 the same year.
The first iPod was 5GB and held approximately 1,000 songs.
Between 2001 and 2007, over 100 million iPods were sold.
There are currently four types of iPods: Classic, Shuffle, Touch, and Nano. There are 25 base models of iPod, though each model has multiple choices of storage space.
What is your favorite Apple product?
Monday, October 22, 2012
Today is...Bela Lugosi's Birthday
Saturday was the birth anniversary of Bela Lugosi.
Bela Lugosi is best known for playing Dracula in the 1931 film of Dracula.
Due to his Hungarian accent, he was often limited in what he could play and ended up often being typecast as the villain.
Bela Lugosi and Boris Karloff often worked together, both being in the horror genre, with Karloff often getting top billing. According to Karloff, Lugosi was initially hesitant toward Karloff, but the two ended up being friendly toward one another. Though there are often reports that Lugosi was resentful of Karloff's success.
Later in life, Lugosi worked only in B movies, and most notably with Ed Wood, who found him living in near-poverty and offered him roles in his movies.
Lugosi's last film was Plan 9 from Outer Space (Why plan 9? Because that is the one that worked!). He had filmed only parts of a yet to be determined film when he died from a heart attack.
Wood's wife's chiropractor has a similar look to Lugosi if the face was ignored and ended up doubling for Lugosi, but with his face obscured by a cape.
Lugosi was buried wearing one of his Dracula capes by request of his wife and son.
Who is your favorite horror film villain?
Bela Lugosi is best known for playing Dracula in the 1931 film of Dracula.
Due to his Hungarian accent, he was often limited in what he could play and ended up often being typecast as the villain.
Bela Lugosi and Boris Karloff often worked together, both being in the horror genre, with Karloff often getting top billing. According to Karloff, Lugosi was initially hesitant toward Karloff, but the two ended up being friendly toward one another. Though there are often reports that Lugosi was resentful of Karloff's success.
Later in life, Lugosi worked only in B movies, and most notably with Ed Wood, who found him living in near-poverty and offered him roles in his movies.
Lugosi's last film was Plan 9 from Outer Space (Why plan 9? Because that is the one that worked!). He had filmed only parts of a yet to be determined film when he died from a heart attack.
Wood's wife's chiropractor has a similar look to Lugosi if the face was ignored and ended up doubling for Lugosi, but with his face obscured by a cape.
Lugosi was buried wearing one of his Dracula capes by request of his wife and son.
Who is your favorite horror film villain?
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