OT: Interesting Facts (history, geography, science, etc.)

[8893]

Archibald Leach, Bernard Schwartz and Lucille LeSueur have never been in my mother’s kitchen

Best "Cheers" episode ever.

 

[pepband99]

This may be relatively common knowledge, but I just learned it yesterday: the actor who plays Saul Berenson in Homeland was Inigo Montoya in Princess Bride.

I had a similar embarassing miss - Pedro Cerano (Major League) and "the Allstate guy"

 

[CONN78SEJ]

this year seems like the final act for the ash tree here in Connecticut. you can easily see their death everywhere 'To put its damage in perspective, the number of chestnuts killed by the chestnut blight was around 3.5 billion chestnut trees while there are 3.5 billion ash trees in Ohio alone. Dutch elm disease killed only 200 million elm trees while EAB threatens 7.5 billion ash trees in the United States. The insect threatens the entire North American genus Fraxinus. Since its accidental introduction into the United States and Canada in the 1990s, and its subsequent detection in 2002, it has spread to eleven states and adjacent parts of Canada. It has killed at least 50 million ash trees so far and threatens to kill most of the ash trees throughout North America.

The White Ash die off in Connecticut is easy to see throughout the state, the pale green blotches on the bark and the few healthy leaves on the tree. It’s also a medium sized tree on average and is not a good lumber tree as it rots quickly when exposed to soil and water. It is however, being hard and dense, good for baseball bats and tool handles. Woodworkers though call it a “poor cousin” to oak or maple. As to your American Chestnut numbers, it was over 4 billion during the 1920’s, and remember if you consider the massive size of just one mature American Chestnut before the blight, 4 billion towering American Chestnut trees made billions and billions of board feet of rot resistant beams and lumber, that is still being reclaimed today in old barns and the demolition of old homes. Also, let’s not forget all those chestnuts. Lol. The chestnut blight was a terrible economic and ecological disaster, the White Ash die off, while serious, pales in comparison. The article below written by Mr Bruce Carley is sad, and demonstrates what valuable resource the American Chestnut was, and how it’s demise caused the extinction of many species of insects and birds that lived in it’s branches.

New Hope For the American Chestnut

Article: New Hope For The American Chestnut

www.appalachianwoods.com

 

[temery]

There is a moderately large one up in Maine. Here’s a picture of it. It’s a tragedy that succeeding generations of Americans missed out on living amongst these behemoths.



View attachment 68563





View attachment 68564

'Why would they cut the notch that high?

 

[CONN78SEJ]

'Why would they cut the notch that high?

I guess because their wives wanted a good view of the lake. Lol

 

[temery]

I guess because their wives wanted a good view of the lake. Lol

I did not know this, but did just remember seeing it in one the lumberjack competition.

What is a springboard logging?
Springboards were an innovation that allowed loggers to more easily fell trees with a flared base, such as firs. Notches were cut into the tree above the base; the logger then wedged in the springboard, on which he stood to chop and saw the tree down

 

[temery]

The man who invented the flush mechanism for a toilet was names John Crapper. He also invented the floating ballcock, so he had that going for him also.

 

[M.S.G.]

This may be relatively common knowledge, but I just learned it yesterday: the actor who plays Saul Berenson in Homeland was Inigo Montoya in Princess Bride.

I think I realized it halfway through S1, mind was truly blown, I couldn't look at him as Saul anymore!

 

[Rico444]

I had a similar embarassing miss - Pedro Cerano (Major League) and "the Allstate guy"

View attachment 68566

"The Allstate Guy?" You show some respect for President David Palmer.

 

[QDOG5]

If your interested in a good book concerning trees and forests The Overstory by Richard Powers is an excellent read.
On an unrelated note, the same actress (Sarah Holcomb) played the mayor's daughter in Animal House and Maggie O'Hooligan in Caddy Shack.

 

[HuskyHawk]

 

[Yardigan]

Mandy Patinkin and Melinda Dillon have never appeared in the same movie.

And neither of them has ever been in my kitchen

 

[ClifSpliffy]

The White Ash die off in Connecticut is easy to see throughout the state, the pale green blotches on the bark and the few healthy leaves on the tree. It’s also a medium sized tree on average and is not a good lumber tree as it rots quickly when exposed to soil and water. It is however, being hard and dense, good for baseball bats and tool handles. Woodworkers though call it a “poor cousin” to oak or maple. As to your American Chestnut numbers, it was over 4 billion during the 1920’s, and remember if you consider the massive size of just one mature American Chestnut before the blight, 4 billion towering American Chestnut trees made billions and billions of board feet of rot resistant beams and lumber, that is still being reclaimed today in old barns and the demolition of old homes. Also, let’s not forget all those chestnuts. Lol. The chestnut blight was a terrible economic and ecological disaster, the White Ash die off, while serious, pales in comparison. The article below written by Mr Bruce Carley is sad, and demonstrates what valuable resource the American Chestnut was, and how it’s demise caused the extinction of many species of insects and birds that lived in it’s branches.

New Hope For the American Chestnut

Article: New Hope For The American Chestnut

www.appalachianwoods.com

while i agree with the overall purpose of that article, some of the arguments within are flat out wrong. to wit;
'this tree was truly the emperor of the eastern forests,'
'It also was our most economically important tree,'
'the most highly esteemed of all native lumbers.'
no. rather than words to defend my opinion, i'll leave this logo for the storrs agricultural school, which when began, found our forests full of chestnut trees, giving them the full range of choices to pick from.

that would be the mighty white oak. nothing seems to bother it, and it makes a great boat, or floor, or many other things, and today in the timber markets, has mostly blown past the value of cherry. i guess folks have 'soured' on that cherry kitchen cabinet mania. and oh, when the first real act of our revolution happened (the ct river/hartford area loggers tellin the king's tree police to pizz off in the 1600s), the predominant log in the harvest at hand was oak. mebbe i have that quote wrong. prolly moar like 'pizz off ye! take ur tax thoughts and shove 'em up ur ye ole arse.' lol.

 

[CL82]

'Why would they cut the notch that high?

It's normal height. That is just a family of pixies. They used to live in Chestnut trees, which is why you don't see many of them anymore.

 

[Get a Job]

It's normal height. That is just a family of pixies. They used to live in Chestnut trees, which is why you don't see many of them anymore.

So I guess those trees weren't so big after all, then.

 

[AZHuskiePop]

The forrests in Connecticut are 10 times thicker than when I grew up .
Im not sure what trees are dominating
but I call it the wild East. It’s become a wildlife preserve I saw 3 bear on my last visit. skunks squirrels,rabbits, chipmunks, and maybe an occasional raccoon or possum were the most I ever saw.
Sorry to hear about Ash as it was used to make baseball bats.
One of my HS teammates actually made his own bat on a lathe in wood shop. Great bat I’m not sure it was legal though . I was impressed as I was not allowed to touch any power tools.

 

[Palatine]

The reason there are grape vines on the Connecticut Crest is that grapes were considered a luxury in 17th century England yet they grew wild in the colony. Sort of a fruit version of the streets being paved with gold.

I have always maintained the University of Connecticut logo should have had a grape vine rather than a leaf in the center of it logo. It would keep state imagery front and center and pay homage to the central role wine plays with the UConn student body.

 

[CL82]

The reason there are grape vines on the Connecticut Crest is that grapes were considered a luxury in 17th century England yet they grew wild in the colony. Sort of a fruit version of the streets being paved with gold.

I always that was a nod to the state motto: "Qui Transtulit Sustinet" or "he who is transplanted is sustained."

 

[ClifSpliffy]

'skunks squirrels, rabbits, chipmunks, and maybe an occasional raccoon or possum were the most I ever saw.'
absolutely correct.
the reason for the change?
we got a little carried away with the truth that mother earth can, eventually, shake off anything we do, so when our rivers started to catch fire, we decided to pass clean air and water laws, ddt and such. the result was that by the 1990s, these changes triggered an explosion in our fauna populations.
once upon a time, 'three bears' was just a restaurant in westport. now, it's what you might find swimming in ur pool.

 

[Palatine]

I always that was a nod to the state motto: "Qui Transtulit Sustinet" or "he who is transplanted is sustained."

That would only make sense if the original settlers transplanted grape vines which I do not believe they did.

The three grapes vines are said to represent either the original three Hartford towns of Windsor, Hartford and Wethersfield. Or alternately, the original three large towns or Hartford, New Haven and Old Saybrook.

Fun Fact. The Connecticut River is the largest river in America that does not have a city at its mouth.

 

[Mr. Hand]

That would only make sense if the original settlers transplanted grape vines which I do not believe they did.

The three grapes vines are said to represent either the original three Hartford towns of Windsor, Hartford and Wethersfield. Or alternately, the original three large towns or Hartford, New Haven and Old Saybrook.

Fun Fact. The Connecticut River is the largest river in America that does not have a city at its mouth.

I'll bet you're fun at parties.

 

[Get a Job]

The reason there are grape vines on the Connecticut Crest is that grapes were considered a luxury in 17th century England yet they grew wild in the colony. Sort of a fruit version of the streets being paved with gold.

I have always maintained the University of Connecticut logo should have had a grape vine rather than a leaf in the center of it logo. It would keep state imagery front and center and pay homage to the central role wine plays with the UConn student body.

I don't know when you went to school, but I can attest that, between 2003 and 2010, wine did not play a central role among the UConn student body.

 

[ClifSpliffy]

an interesting question on history is 'are there still self-identified Romans among us?' (not people living there.)
Rome (in chronological order, 'the Roman Kingdom, the Roman Republic, the Roman Empire,' around 2800 years since begun) is a big deal, just ask any 'soviet,' whatever that was.

'An interesting story recounted by Peter Charanis (a famous Byzantinist who was born in the island of Lemnos in 1908) highlights this:

When the island [Lemnos] was occupied by the Greek navy [in 1912], Greek soldiers were sent to the villages and stationed themselves in the public squares. Some of us children ran to see what these Greek soldiers, these Hellenes looked like. ‘‘What are you looking at?’’ one of them asked. ‘‘At Hellenes,’’ we replied. ‘‘Are you not Hellenes yourselves?’’ he retorted. ‘‘No, we are Romans."

 

[Palatine]

I don't know when you went to school, but I can attest that, between 2003 and 2010, wine did not play a central role among the UConn student body.

You missed all the good parties.

 

[CL82]

That would only make sense if the original settlers transplanted grape vines which I do not believe they did.

The three grapes vines are said to represent either the original three Hartford towns of Windsor, Hartford and Wethersfield. Or alternately, the original three large towns or Hartford, New Haven and Old Saybrook.

Fun Fact. The Connecticut River is the largest river in America that does not have a city at its mouth.

When colonists explored the new territories, the red and white grapes they found “gathered from thick vines edging the woods of every colony” were quickly fermented and turned into alcohol. The 1639 grape vine seal of the Saybrook settlement was chosen for the shield of the Connecticut Colony in 1665 as a symbol of good luck, felicity, peace, and acknowledgement of the state’s most plentiful fruit.

Link

 

[BPT2Storrs]

You missed all the good parties.

Franzia. Nothing like a box of wine.

 

[TXHuskyFan]

Franzia. Nothing like a box of wine.

 

[temery]

an interesting question on history is 'are there still self-identified Romans among us?' (not people living there.)
Rome (in chronological order, 'the Roman Kingdom, the Roman Republic, the Roman Empire,' around 2800 years since begun) is a big deal, just ask any 'soviet,' whatever that was.

'An interesting story recounted by Peter Charanis (a famous Byzantinist who was born in the island of Lemnos in 1908) highlights this:

You seriously need to do a better job to hide the crazy.

 

[ClifSpliffy]

'Charanis also spent some time at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in Greece, and upon his return to the United States joined the Rutgers faculty in 1938, becoming Voorhees Professor of History in 1963. At that time, Byzantine Studies was still at its infancy in the United States. Charanis persuaded the history department to begin a course in Byzantine Studies, which eventually became one of the most popular courses at Rutgers.'

 

[CL82]

You seriously need to do a better job to hide the crazy.

Why? No one else here does.