by
Leah Baltus and Jeremy Topping
- Les Miserables has been performed in 38 countries and 213 cities and translated into 21 different languages. It has played on Broadway for 16 consecutive years and is set to close May 18, 2003.
- In 1942 the War Production Board mandated that civilian clothing use fewer resources, thereby dedicating more cloth and metals to the war effort. This gave rise to shorter skirts and the advent of shocking two-piece bathing suits, which Mr. Marcus of Nieman-Marcus called “patriotic chic.”
- John D. Rockefeller commissioned Diego Rivera to create a mural for the lobby of his new Radio City building in 1933. The massive fresco, Man at the Crossroads, was never seen by the public, however, because Rockefeller had it destroyed when Rivera refused to paint over the depicted face of Lenin.
- The Chicago World’s Fair, also in 1933, showcased the Kraft Mayonnaise Kitchen and the miracle whipping machine that ultimately led to the creation of Miracle Whip. Today Kraft uses genetically modified soy in its domestic products and 99 percent of all American households have Kraft food products on their shelves.
- Five days after our founding fathers signed the Declaration of Independence, a New York City statue of George III was melted to make thousands of lead balls for Continental Army muskets.
- Shi’ite fundamentalists revolted against Shah Reza during the Iranian Revolution of 1979 chanting, “Death to the Great Satan.” Satan, previously known as Lucifer, was similarly ousted from power for revolting against God.
- The plough was invented roughly 12,000 years ago, sparking the Neolithic Revolution that turned hunting-and-gathering societies into agrarian societies. The ancient Greeks subsequently said the gods had placed Bootes, inventor of the plough, in the sky. While John Deere didn’t invent the first cast-steel plough until 1837, the gods have yet to place him in the sky.
- The boomerang originated as a hunting stick among an aboriginal tribe in Australia. In 1958 Qantas, an Australian airline, became the first to provide “round-the-world” air service.
- Anoto, a Swedish tech company, insists digital pens are the next big thing. They are the size of sausages, use special paper and allow you to transfer your writing to a computer or cell phone. You will be the judge.
- It must be addressed: In 1968, in India, John Lennon wrote the Beatles’ anthem Revolution, which was optioned 20 years later by Nike for $7 million.
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