Notes from the Brooklyn Polygnostic Institute

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mikelibrarian

Lost in the stacks.
#2,642
#2,642
Fun Fact

Benjamin Franklin had an idea that hot air balloons could be used as a refrigerator.

May be verified in the article
How Benjamin Franklin Invented A Weight Loss Program, Using Balloons by
Robert Krulwich

https://www.npr.org/sections/krulwi...anklin-do-with-a-bunch-of-balloons-everything

I first heard it on the No Such Thing as a Fish Podcast, but they said FRanklin had a balloon refrigerator rather than had the idea for one, so I checked it and found the NPR article
 
M

mikelibrarian

Lost in the stacks.
#2,644
#2,644
Fun Fact

According to Netflix, Napoleon Dynamite is the toughest movie for an algorithmto predict if someone one enjoy it.

May be verified in The No Such Thing as a Fish Podcast Episode 227
 
M

mikelibrarian

Lost in the stacks.
#2,648
#2,648
Fun Fact

H. G. Wells' father was one of the best cricket players of all time. One of his most memorable games was against Jane Austen's grand-nephew. He owned an unsuccessful sports and crockery store.

May be verified in The No Such Thing as a Fish Podcast #386
 
M

mikelibrarian

Lost in the stacks.
#2,650
#2,650
Fun Fact

The Ancient Greeks used pebbles as toilet paper.

May be verified in The No Such Thing as a Fish Podcast #217

calculus is Latin for little pebble, so calculus has been a pain in the ass for millennia
 
M

mikelibrarian

Lost in the stacks.
#2,652
#2,652
Fun Fact

Ancient Greeks put slogans and insults on their sling bullets, including the names of opposing generals.

May be verified in The No Such Thing as a Fish Podcast #217

I wonder if this is the origin of the phrase bullet with one's name on it. I also wonder if this is a variant explanation for curse stones.
 
M

mikelibrarian

Lost in the stacks.
#2,653
#2,653
Fun Fact

According to a pre-2016 report Donald Trump's staff could tell when he was angry because he would wear a red hat.

May be verified in The No Such Thing as a Fish Podcast I don't remember which episode, but it was pre-2016 and pre-MAGA hat.
 
M

mikelibrarian

Lost in the stacks.
#2,657
#2,657
Fun Fact

Denny O'Neil as influenced in his comic book writing by the "new journalists" Wolfe. Mailer, Jimmy Breslin, Pete Hamill, Gene Marine and Hunter S. Thompson, who combined fiction techniques with reporting.

May be verified in The Bronze Age of DC Comics by Paul Levitz pg.71
 
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mikelibrarian

Lost in the stacks.
#2,658
#2,658
Fun Fact

Hermann Rorschach thought that his ink blot test wouldn't work on adolescents, especially fourteen year olds because they were all psychopaths.

May be verified in The No Such Thing as a Fish Podcast #250
 
M

mikelibrarian

Lost in the stacks.
#2,660
#2,660
Fun Fact

Roman gladiators would anoint themselves with marshmallows because they had anti-inflammatory properties and made it harder for opponents to maintain a grip on them.

May be verified in The No Such Thing as a Fish Podcast #210
 
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