The Gentle Sex

The first known serial killer was actually a woman, known as Locusta, a professional poisoner who lived in Rome during the first century A.D.

In 54, she killed the Emperor Claudius with a poisoned dish of mushrooms, and the following year she was convicted of a separate poisoning. Hearing of this, Nero rescued her from execution — so she could poison Britannicus for him.

They made a good partnership, Nero guaranteeing her safety during his lifetime, but when he died the Romans took an awful revenge. According to legend, Locusta was publicly raped by a specially trained giraffe, then torn apart by wild animals. Talk about cruel and unusual.

| Crime · Death · History

The “Censored Eleven”

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:1942_Coal_Black_And_De_Sebben_Dwarfs_Ad.jpg

Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies cartoons withheld from syndication because of racist depictions:

  • Hittin’ the Trail to Hallelujah Land (1931, directed by Rudolph Ising)
  • Sunday Go to Meetin’ Time (1936, directed by Friz Freleng)
  • Clean Pastures (1937, directed by Freleng)
  • Uncle Tom’s Bungalow (1937, directed by Tex Avery)
  • Jungle Jitters (1938, directed by Freleng)
  • The Isle of Pingo Pongo (1938, directed by Avery)
  • All This and Rabbit Stew (1941, directed by Avery)
  • Coal Black and de Sebben Dwarfs (1943, directed by Robert Clampett)
  • Tin Pan Alley Cats (1943, directed by Clampett)
  • Angel Puss (1944, directed by Chuck Jones)
  • Goldilocks and the Jivin’ Bears (1944, directed by Freleng)

None of these has been broadcast since 1968.

| Entertainment · Society

Stature in Hollywood

Tall actors:

  • Raymond Burr, 6 feet 5 inches
  • Tim Robbins, 6 feet 5 inches
  • Vince Vaughn, 6 feet 5 inches
  • John Cleese, 6 feet 4-3/4 inches
  • Jeff Goldblum, 6 feet 4-1/2 inches
  • Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, 6 feet 4-1/2 inches
  • Steven Seagal, 6 feet 4-1/2 inches
  • John Wayne, 6 feet 4-1/2 inches
  • David Hasselhoff, 6 feet 4 inches
  • Tom Selleck, 6 feet 4 inches
  • Donald Sutherland, 6 feet 4 inches
  • Will Ferrell, 6 feet 3-1/2 inches
  • James Stewart, 6 feet 3-1/2 inches
  • Gary Cooper, 6 feet 3 inches
  • Brendan Fraser, 6 feet 3 inches
  • Samuel L. Jackson, 6 feet 3 inches
  • Gregory Peck, 6 feet 3 inches
| Entertainment · Trivia

No Dipping

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Prag_ginger_u_fred_gehry.jpg
Image: Wikimedia Commons

Prague’s “Dancing House” is nicknamed “Fred and Ginger,” for obvious reasons.

Such a controversial design would normally be denied, but former president Václav Havel is a strong supporter of avant-garde architecture … and he owns the building next door.

| Art · Oddities · Society

The Kayaker

A child releases a toy boat in a stream that flows at 3 miles an hour. At that instant, a kayaker 14 miles downstream begins paddling upstream at 7 miles per hour. How long will it take him to reach the toy?

Click for Answer
| Puzzles