Image Map

Meh - Bits of Minorly Bizarre Facts

Friday, November 22, 2013

I've been feeling meh about everything. Maybe worse than meh. To be honest, I'm sooo not excited about writing this entry right now, but I try not to leave the blog for more than a week, no matter how I'm feeling. It's gray outside, I feel run down and sick and everyone around me is cranky too. I'm also in full hibernation mode. The other day, I slept all night, then took a "nap" at 2pm. That lasted 11 hours. It was legit a nap too, because I went back to bed "for real" a few hours later. It's 7pm right now and I just woke up. I slept all last night too! It wasn't even like I suffered from insomnia last night. I just really like to be all snuggled in bed and not doing anything. Plus, this might be emotional, bi-polar Suzy, but I keep crying at the drop of a hat. I cried in the mall food court the other day and on the bus. I look really pulled together! Woot!

But let's focus on the positive. I finally went out and took some pics at the thrift shop for Treasure Tuesday (well not so much AT the shop - it was swarming with employees and customers for the holidays, but at least I got out, bought some things and have some material for upcoming Tuesdays) so I can cross that off my list! Also, Modcloth has been going crazy with the sales. I don't know if that makes me happy or sad. They had a "find Winston" promotion, where a coupon code was your reward, Stylish Surprises and an early Black Friday sale! In the course of just over a week! Having no money personally, I had to have my parents sponsor me for early Christmas gifts (also purchased my mom's Christmas gift in the Black Friday sale) and I'm really hoping they don't mind too much! I'm hoping the next sale can wait to drop after I get paid.

The book I'm pulling my facts from this week is called "100 People Who Made History - Meet the People Who Shaped the Modern World" by Ben Gilliland (with Philip Parker as a consultant.) I got it from the library and I'm almost certain it's a children's book, but I learned quite a bit from it and it's perfect for pulling random facts.

100 People Who Made History, Meet the People Who Shaped the Modern World, Ben Gilliland, Philip Parker, book, facts, random trivia, cover, children's, non-fiction, DK Publishing, history, historical, outside jacket

The book is really cute and has a lot of pictures (so it makes for a quick read.) It is also really good to put a face to people you might have only heard about. Look at these lovely page lay-outs!

100 People Who Made History, Meet the People Who Shaped the Modern World, Ben Gilliland, Philip Parker, book, facts, random trivia, children's, non-fiction, DK Publishing, history, historical, inside, pages, look, medical marvels, Edward Jenner, Joseph Lister, Wilhelm Roentgen, Louis Pasteur, Alexander Fleming, advances, science
100 People Who Made History, Meet the People Who Shaped the Modern World, Ben Gilliland, Philip Parker, book, facts, random trivia, children's, non-fiction, DK Publishing, history, historical, inside pages, look, preview, Tim Berners Lee, Mark Zuckerberg, internet, Facebook, inventions
100 People Who Made History, Meet the People Who Shaped the Modern World, Ben Gilliland, Philip Parker, book, facts, random trivia, children's, non-fiction, DK Publishing, history, historical, inside pages, look, preview, Joan of Arc, saint, religion, martyr, France, rebellion, war


Things I Learned From This Book

Nelson Mandela's great grandfather, Ngubengcuka ruled as king of the South African tribe called the Thembu people.
LEGO were not the first block toys. Wood block toys were invented in 1840. Interlocking blocks came next in the 1860s. In 1882, Friedrich Richter invented his wooden Anchor Blocks and in 1908, BRIO launched their line of interconnecting wooden trains. LEGO the company was founded in 1934, but the toy as we know it today came along in 1958.

LEGO, toys, kids, children, building blocks, plastic, retro poster, advertisement, city, kids playing, 1960s, 60s, 1970s, 70s, vintage



Thomas Edison was almost completely deaf by the time he was 12.
The Greek philosopher Democritus (460-370 BCE) suggested that everything was made up of atoms which means "indivisible" in Greek.
Suffragette colors were purple (for dignity), white (for purity) and green (for hope.)

suffragette poster, illustration, magazine, pamphlet, drawing, cartoon, vote for women, voting rights for women, suffragist movement, history, historical, turn of the century

Charles Darwin wanted to be a doctor, but hated the sight of blood. He instead decided to study Natural Theology, which is the study of how God designed life on Earth. But we know how that turned out for him.
Queen Victoria's 42 grandchildren occupied the thrones of most of Europe, earning her the title, "the grandmother of Europe."


*Note - several of these facts were pulled verbatim from the book, as it was already written as a "factoid," and didn't give much information to re-write it. Of course, I could have wiki'd, things to get more information, but I already alluded to how lazy I am today. Also, I wouldn't have exactly been learning these facts from the book. So credit goes to Ben Gilliland for some of these facts.

It Happened Today

In 1963, US president John F. Kennedy is assassinated.

John F Kennedy, JFK, US president, Dallas, Jackie Kennedy pink dress, assassination, parade, limo, JFK last photos before he died, death, dying, murdered, murder

In 1718, famous pirate, Blackbeard is killed in battle.
In keeping with the morbid subject, some other famous deaths today are of the literary sort - both C.S. Lewis and Jack London died today.

CS Lewis, Jack London, The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe book cover, first edition, Call of the Wild book cover, vintage book covers



















In 1954, the American Humane Society is founded.
In 1858, Denver Colorado is founded.
In 1995, Toy Story is released and is the first movie made using entirely computer animation.
Today is Jamie Lee Curtis, Mark Ruffalo, David Pelletier (any figure skating fans here???) Scarlett Johansson and Karen O of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs' birthday. I shall leave you with one of my favourite Yeah Yeah Yeahs songs as a send off. Talk soon!



Follow on Bloglovin

No comments :

Post a Comment