Trivia Of The Day August 25

Beethoven used to pour cold water over his head to stimulate his brain before sitting down to compose.

The Hyperion, a 380 ft redwood tree was discovered in Redwood National Park on August 25, 2006 by Chris Atkins and Michael Taylor, and is thought to be the world's tallest living organism.

Brazil is the longest country in the world, and spans approximately 2800 miles (4,400 kms) from north to south via land.

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Happy Birthday August 25

Ivan The Terrible was born August 25, 1530 to Vasili III and his second wife, Elena Glinskaya at Kolomenskoye, a royal estate situated several miles to the southeast of Moscow. At his birth a holy man prophesied Ivan would be an evil son whose nation would fall prey to terror and tears. As a child Ivan took a grim pleasure in throwing live animals to their deaths. He ordered his first murder at 13 and had a man’s tongue cut out at 15 for swearing.

The actor Sean Connery was born in Fountainbridge, Edinburgh, Scotland on August 25, 1930. At the age of nine, Connery supported his impoverished family with a milk run in his hometown of Edinburgh. On his round the Scottish youngster delivered to Fettes School, which according to Ian Fleming, was the same school, which James Bond attended following his expulsion from Eton. Sean Connery made his Bond debut in 1962 in Dr No.

For more August 25 anniversaries, including the formation of the oldest surviving regiment in the British Army, The Great Moon Hoax article, and the first person to swim the English channel, check out OnThatDay

Today Is August 25

Today is the anniversary of Galileo demonstrating his first telescope.

Galileo showing the Doge of Venice how to use the telescope (fresco by Giuseppe Bertini)

While in Venice, Galileo Galilei learned in 1609 of the recent invention of the telescope, commonly known as a "spyglass," which had been developed for military applications. After returning to Padua, he developed an improved version, the first one powerful enough to be used for astronomical observation. He went back to Venice and demonstrated his eight-power telescope to Venetian lawmakers on August 25, 1609.

Galileo first used his telescope to observe Jupiter's in January 1610. His observations over the following six days caused a revolution in astronomy: a planet with smaller planets orbiting it did not conform to the principles of Aristotelian cosmology, which held that all heavenly bodies should circle the Earth.

Galileo Galilei became the first astronomer to observe the planet Neptune in December 1612. It appears Galileo mistook Neptune for a fixed star when it appeared close—in conjunction—to Jupiter in the night sky.

Galileo's Dialogue On Two Chief World Systems was dedicated to his patron, Ferdinando II de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany, who received the first printed copy on February 22, 1632. The book updated Copernicus' theories about the Earth going around the Sun. 

The following year, The Inquisition summoned Galileo to Rome where he was cross-examined and threatened with torture. The Roman Catholic Church argued "The doctrine that the Earth is neither the center of the Universe, nor immovable, but moves, even with a daily rotation is absurd and both philosophically and theologically false and the least an error of faith."

Galileo recanted under pressure from the Holy Office and was sentenced to house arrest for his last years. After his revocation Galileo was heard to mutter under his breath “Eppur si moove” (“But still it moves”).

On This Day August 25

In 1835, a typhoid epidemic hit the town of New Salem. One of the victims was Abraham Lincoln's first sweetheart, tall, auburn haired Ann Rutledge, who died at the age of 22 on August 25, 1835.  Her death plunged plunged Lincoln into a severe depression and for many years afterwards, he was on the edge of despair.

Ann Rutledge by George S Stuart

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Trivia of the Day August 24

The extra air in potato chip bags that we whine about, really serves a purpose. It's Nitrogen and it preserves the freshness of the chips, prevents combustion, and creates sufficient cushioning during the shipping process.

Despite its impressive size, the buzzard is not a major predator, preferring a diet of carrion and earthworms.

Buzzard

Ten books on a shelf can be arranged in 3,628,800 different ways.

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Happy Birthday August 24

William Wilberforce was born in Hull, Yorkshire on August 24, 1759 to wealthy merchant Robert Wilberforce and Elizabeth. The young Wilberforce had developed an interest in politics and at the age of 21, whilst still a student, he was elected MP for Kingston Upon Hull. Wilberforce became interested in humanitarian affairs and saw that God was calling him to be a figurehead of the anti-slavery movement. He made his first major speech on abolition in the House of Commons in 1789.

William Wilberforce by Karl Anton Hickel, c. 1794

For more August 24 anniversaries, including The Visigoths pillage of Rome, the marriage of King John of England to Isabella of Angoulême, and the patenting of the stove-top waffle iron, check out OnThatDay

Today Is August 24

Today is the anniversary of the invention of potato chips (crisps in British and Irish English).

A part Native Indian chef George Crum invented potato crisps (potato chips) by accident on August 24, 1853 thanks to a fussy customer. Industrialist Commodore Cornelius Vanderbilt came to the Moon Lake House Hotel in Saratoga Springs, New York, and ordered “thinner than normal French fried potatoes.” He kept sending them back to Crum, protesting that they were too thick. Finally, out of spite the chef sliced the potatoes paper-thin, so that he wouldn’t be able to eat them with a fork then, fried them to a crisp in oil, and splashed salt on them. Vanderbilt loved them. These "potato crunches” as Crum called them became a regular feature of the hotel’s menu.

Crum called his crisps “potato crunches” but they became known as “Saratoga chips”.

The Brits have a claim to have got there first. William Kitchiner’s 1817 book, The Cook’s Oracle, contains a recipe for “potatoes fried in slices”.

New England-based Tri-Sum Potato Chips, originally established in 1908 as the Leominster Potato Chip Company, in Leominster, Massachusetts, claims to be America’s first potato chip manufacturer.

Potato crisps were introduced to England in 1913. A Mr. Carter discovered them in France and he set up a company, Carter’s Crisps to manufacture the snack.