Quick Store Trip

It only takes 90 minutes to reach the most inconvenient convenience store in China. The store opened in 2018 and is perched on the side of a steep cliff 394 feet above the ground. The two square meter shop replenishes climbers beverages and snacks which are brought up by the staff in backpacks which makes a person wonder how many people work in the shop? and how many shifts are they open? The shop is in the same area as the "Brave Men's Bridge" China's first glass bottomed bridge. Another spot I won't be visiting any time soon! 

 

Once Upon an Amusement Park

Escalators are common in many buildings today but they actually started life as an amusement park ride, for two weeks in the fall of 1896 around 75,000 people stepped on the inclined elevator at Coney Island's Old Iron Pier. The device was initially created by Jesse Reno for use in the New York City Subway and lacked steps at that time. Reno wasn't the first to have the idea of moving stairs, in 1859 Nathan Ames got a patent for his "revolving stairs" but never actually tried to build it. Thirty years after that another man patented a similar item but again it was never built so Reno got his patent in 1892 and installed 4 in a New York City department store. Along came another inventor who coined the term escalator and eventually teamed up with Otis of elevator fame who absorbed both men's patents and installed 350 escalators worldwide by 1920. 

Overtaxed?

 There are some strange taxes around the world, like Italy's shadow tax but Rome's ancient urine tax must be close to the top of the strange tax list. At least they weren't taxing people who needed to pee that would have been both awkward and unhealthy. They were taxing the people who collected the urine to use commercially. Urine had many applications in those days, both cleaning clothes and dying clothes, fertilizing crops, toothpaste and other cleaning purposes and removing flesh from hides when tanning leather. If only we could introduce a urine tax today we could be paid for our sewer use instead of paying to have sewer service, okay, probably not but a girl can dream. 

Going to the Dogs

 The third annual Dog Photographer Awards have concluded with 12 winners and 48 finalists in four categories, portrait and landscape, action, studio and dogs and people. This year's prizes 2000 Euros, photo equipment, an engraved trophy, fine art prints and the annual Dog Photography Awards book. Below is a very limited selection of the photos. 

When Forking Was Evil

 Today no one thinks twice about using a fork to eat a meal but that wasn't always true. In the Middle Ages European Christians considered eating with a fork to be sinful, according to some clergymen of the time God had already supplied ten natural forks in the form of fingers so using a fork was offending to the Lord and his divine gifts including the food itself. Before forks became common eating utensils in the 17th century they were used mainly for cooking and only rarely seen at a dinner table. Now combine the thought of eating with your hands with not having regular baths or clean clothes to get a clear picture of those times. 

 

Sleep Signs

 Road signs vary from country to country as do the rules of the road though these stone road signs in India are pretty humorous for any government issue signs. 

Adopt a Turkey

 Crazy as it may sound November is Adopt a Turkey Month, the idea is to save a turkey from becoming dinner and also to prevent some of the cruel practices common to turkey farms though unless you opt for a tofu turkey there will be an animal death involved at some point. 

11/1 Cinnamon Day 

11/2 Stout Day 

11/3 Cliche Day 

11/4 World Chili Day 

11/5 Zero Tasking Day 

11/6 National Nachos Day 

11/7 International Merlot Day 

11/8 Abet and Aid Punsters Day 

11/9 World Freedom Day 

11/10 Sesame Street Day 

11/11 Origami Day 

11/12 National French Dip Day 

11/13 World Kindness Day 

11/14 National Pickle Day 

11/15 America Recycles Day 

11/16 Use Less Stuff Day 

11/17 Homemade Bread Day 

11/18 National Apple Cider Day 

11/19 Have a Bad Day Day 

11/20 National Peanut Butter Fudge Day 

11/21 World Hello Day 

11/22 Humane Society Day 

11/23 Wolfenoot 

11/24 D. B. Cooper Day 

11/25 International Hat Day 

11/26 World Olive Tree Day 

11/27 Slinky Day 

11/28 Red Planet Day 

11/29 Catterntide 

11/30 National Personal Space Day