Who Knew? Some Fun Facts

A military kilt takes 7 yards ( 21 feet ) of material to make. They are woven to the measure of the man who will wear it. A flat front, with half inch pleats around the sides and back, with two leather straps to adjust the waist fit. If well looked after, a kilt will last up to fifty years. JimB.
 
Meet The World’s Most Murderous Mammal: The Meerkat

Two meerkats fighting in a desert setting


"Meerkats are not always so cute and cuddly. They may look cute, but the matriarchal meerkat society is deadly."

Remember "Meerkat Manor"?

"If I asked you to name the world’s most murderous mammal, your answer might be the human male, or perhaps a warring alpha chimpanzee, or even a territorial bull elephant seal. The truth is far more feminine – and cute. The meerkat was unmasked in a scientific study as the most homicidal of over 1,000 mammals. One-in-five will be violently dispatched by another meerkat, likely their own mother, sister or auntie, demonstrating how the female of the species really is more deadly than the male."

Meerkat family of adult with three pups sheltering under here in desert environment

"Only the matriarch has the right to reproduce.

These small, social mongooses are charismatic and winning. They’re such manic, comic characters, and their cooperative society is so enthralling. But looks can be deceiving. Behind the slapstick, meerkat society owes more to Stalin than it does to Chaplin.

Infanticide and cannibalism​

Meerkats live in family clans of up to 50. Their society is predicated on ruthless reproductive competition between closely related females who, when pregnant, will readily kill and eat each other’s pups. This baby-eating bonanza is kept in check by the omnipotence of a matriarch with a zero-tolerance policy for breeding subordinates. Her goal is to prevent any of her female relatives reproducing during her reign – and rope them into caring for hers instead. As such, she monopolizes 80% of the breeding, and will use extortion and murder to achieve this end.

Vacancies for dominance don’t come up often. When a matriarch dies, the top job falls to the eldest and heaviest female in the group. From the moment she inherits her status the new alpha’s size increases, her testosterone levels rise, and her hostility towards other females surges – especially those closest in age and size, namely her sisters and later her daughters. The matriarch will competitively eat to retain her bulky authority and any females that get uncomfortably close to her supreme size will be evicted.

Banishment is basically a death sentence in the Kalahari. It follows a barrage of physical abuse, which may also suppress her rival’s reproduction. In the event that another female dares to give birth, the matriarch will kill her pups – often her own grandchildren – and banish the female. If they’re lucky, evictees may be permitted back on one condition: they wet-nurse their murderous mother’s babies.

Suckling is a serious drain, but enslaved females have no choice. It is a form of ‘rent’. This explains the curious altruism of inherently self-motivated individuals. Given their relatedness, helping raise their mother’s offspring means they share DNA. And if a subordinate manages to stay, there’s always the chance she’ll rise up and breed herself. It’s a far cry from their family soap opera image, but meerkat society is in fact a ruthless bitch-eat-bitch world."

Meet the world's most murderous mammal: the meerkat > https://www.discoverwildlife.com/an...the-worlds-most-murderous-mammal-the-meerkat/

WARNING: Vicious meerkat attack. Don't watch it if it will upset you.

 
Bella said:
Meet The World’s Most Murderous Mammal: The Meerkat

Two meerkats fighting in a desert setting


"Meerkats are not always so cute and cuddly. They may look cute, but the matriarchal meerkat society is deadly."

Remember "Meerkat Manor"?

"If I asked you to name the world’s most murderous mammal, your answer might be the human male, or perhaps a warring alpha chimpanzee, or even a territorial bull elephant seal. The truth is far more feminine – and cute. The meerkat was unmasked in a scientific study as the most homicidal of over 1,000 mammals. One-in-five will be violently dispatched by another meerkat, likely their own mother, sister or auntie, demonstrating how the female of the species really is more deadly than the male."

Meerkat family of adult with three pups sheltering under here in desert environment

"Only the matriarch has the right to reproduce.

These small, social mongooses are charismatic and winning. They’re such manic, comic characters, and their cooperative society is so enthralling. But looks can be deceiving. Behind the slapstick, meerkat society owes more to Stalin than it does to Chaplin.

Infanticide and cannibalism​

Meerkats live in family clans of up to 50. Their society is predicated on ruthless reproductive competition between closely related females who, when pregnant, will readily kill and eat each other’s pups. This baby-eating bonanza is kept in check by the omnipotence of a matriarch with a zero-tolerance policy for breeding subordinates. Her goal is to prevent any of her female relatives reproducing during her reign – and rope them into caring for hers instead. As such, she monopolizes 80% of the breeding, and will use extortion and murder to achieve this end.

Vacancies for dominance don’t come up often. When a matriarch dies, the top job falls to the eldest and heaviest female in the group. From the moment she inherits her status the new alpha’s size increases, her testosterone levels rise, and her hostility towards other females surges – especially those closest in age and size, namely her sisters and later her daughters. The matriarch will competitively eat to retain her bulky authority and any females that get uncomfortably close to her supreme size will be evicted.

Banishment is basically a death sentence in the Kalahari. It follows a barrage of physical abuse, which may also suppress her rival’s reproduction. In the event that another female dares to give birth, the matriarch will kill her pups – often her own grandchildren – and banish the female. If they’re lucky, evictees may be permitted back on one condition: they wet-nurse their murderous mother’s babies.

Suckling is a serious drain, but enslaved females have no choice. It is a form of ‘rent’. This explains the curious altruism of inherently self-motivated individuals. Given their relatedness, helping raise their mother’s offspring means they share DNA. And if a subordinate manages to stay, there’s always the chance she’ll rise up and breed herself. It’s a far cry from their family soap opera image, but meerkat society is in fact a ruthless bitch-eat-bitch world."

Meet the world's most murderous mammal: the meerkat > https://www.discoverwildlife.com/an...the-worlds-most-murderous-mammal-the-meerkat/

WARNING: Vicious meerkat attack. Don't watch it if it will upset you.

Click to expand...
OMG! I learn something every day.
 
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There Are Uber helicopter tours in Dubai
A unique way to see the city from above. These tours are operated by Uber and allow passengers to book a private helicopter ride. The tour lasts for approximately 12-15 minutes, during which time passengers can take in the stunning views of the city. The tour includes a scenic flight over some of the city’s most famous landmarks, such as the Burj Khalifa, the Palm Jumeirah, and the Dubai Marina.
 
During the American Civil War, an estimated 30,000 Canadian men enlisted ( mostly with the Union Army ) . Many of them were hired by young wealthy Americans who wished to avoid the draft laws. The going rate to hire a replacement was $400 to $800 US dollars. The replacement would get paid when they enlisted, and of course they would also get paid by the US Army, as well. If the replacement died while serving, either from wounds, or disease, their family back in Canada would get a "death benefit " from the young American whose place they were filling.

The phrase " Billy bought the farm " comes from this practice, as the death benefit was enough money to buy a 100 acre farm in Canada, at that time.

During the US involvement in Vietnam, as estimated 40,000 Canadians served in the US military, many of them served in Vietnam. Why ? Some were living in the US with work permits so they were subject to the draft, but a much larger number volunteered and joined, from Canada. The US military altered their military records, to show an American home town. That resulted in a huge number of form 214's from the very small town of Messina, New York, which is the closest US point to Montreal and eastern Ontario. Buffalo New York was a popular US city for enlistments from southern Ontario. One of the Canadians, John Lemon from Toronto was awarded the Medal of Honor, for his bravery in Vietnam. JimB.
 
Every day of the year, a new Canadian flag is hoisted over the Peace Tower, above our Parliament building in Ottawa. The used flags are given to Canadians who have requested one. As of 2023, the wait to get one is about 25 years. Every day of the year, a page is turned in the Book of Remembrance, which is also located in the Peace Tower, in the Chapel.

The Book of Remembrance contains the names of every Canadian military member killed during both The Great War and The Second World War, and Korea, and in Afghanistan. The book is hand printed, with illustrated flowers and wreaths on every page, and each name is printed in 18 karat gold leaf , produced in Canada. The book binding is made of Alberta steer hide, which is also engraved with gold. The page marker is a full size Wilkinson sword, specially made for the Book. Every day at 11AM, the page is turned by the Parliamentary Protection service members. JImB.
 
This one is pretty odd. Imagine two towns, one in Quebec, and the other in Vermont, that are seperated by a line painted on the floor of their shared local library ? Yep. Stanstead Quebec and Derby Line, Vermont. The border line as surveyed back in the early 19th century is sometimes out by as much as a mile in it's errant meanderings. Pre 9/11, everybody simply walked back and forth, between the two communities, with little thought about the International Border in their midst.

That all changed. Post 9/11, the US Government went hard on the enforcement of their territorial rights. The Department of Homeland Security installed a large number of CCTV cameras along the streets, and put in concrete planter boxes to stop traffic from crossing, except at the official entry booth. The Canadian side remained pretty much as it always had been, with signs directing visitors to their entry point.

The library that I mentioned was built by the Canadian Wife of a local American businessman. It is an ornate 2 story building that sort of looks like a small castle. It has the library on the main floor, and an elaborate "Opera House " on the second floor. The original idea was that the Opera House entertainment shows would pay for the cost of running the library. Unfortunately the advent of "moving pictures " ruined that idea.

Today, the library still functions, and people from both sides of the border use it. You enter and leave from the side that you live on.

Here is a link to the details of the two towns. https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/the-us-canada-border-runs-through-this-tiny-library

JimB.
 
RadishRose said:
I found my thrill
On Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateaturipukakapikimaungahoronukupokaiwhenuakitanatahu
Hill.
Click to expand...
@Radish,
You must be familiar with....

Lake Chaubunagungamaug, also known as Webster Lake, is a lake in the town of Webster, Massachusetts. It is located near the Connecticut border and has a surface area of 1,442 acres. Since 1921, the lake has also been known by a much longer name having 45 letters comprising fourteen syllables: Lake Chargoggagoggmanchauggagoggchaubunagungamaugg. The lake has become famous beyond Central Massachusetts for having the longest name of any geographic feature in all of the United States.
 
OldFeller said:
@Radish,
You must be familiar with....

Lake Chaubunagungamaug, also known as Webster Lake, is a lake in the town of Webster, Massachusetts. It is located near the Connecticut border and has a surface area of 1,442 acres. Since 1921, the lake has also been known by a much longer name having 45 letters comprising fourteen syllables: Lake Chargoggagoggmanchauggagoggchaubunagungamaugg. The lake has become famous beyond Central Massachusetts for having the longest name of any geographic feature in all of the United States.
Click to expand...
No, I have not ever heard of this lake! What an amazing name. The sounds of "aug" are familiar to me; very common in native American place names here.
(Lake Waramaug, Naugatuck, etc)

My grandson's girlfriend is from MA. I will ask her. Thank you!

iu
 
RadishRose said:
No, I have not ever heard of this lake! What an amazing name. the sounds of "aug" are familiar to me; very common in native American place names here.
(Lake Waramaug, Naugatuck, etc)

My grandsons girlfriend is from MA. I will ask her.
Click to expand...
The lake is just above the CT border.

I spent just over 2 years in CT working for the phone company as a contractor.

My wife and I spent weekends sight seeing and often swimming on lakes in CT. Waramaug was one of my favorite places to go.
 
OldFeller said:
The lake is just above the CT border.

I spent just over 2 years in CT working for the phone company as a contractor.

My wife and I spent weekends sight seeing and often swimming on lakes in CT. Waramaug was one of my favorite places to go.
Click to expand...
I looked at the map... the lake is wayyyy to the easternmost north corner of CT. I'm central and south of Hartford. I've never been to that area.

I'm so happy you and your wife enjoyed Lake Waramaug in CT. I hope you had fun here. The lake I mostly enjoyed was Quassapaug.
 

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