A place to show my work
“We all die. The goal isn’t to live forever, the goal is to create something that will.” -Chuck Palahniuk
In March 2024, the eight-foot-long wooden panel that famously safeguarded Kate Winslet’s character Rose in the 1997 film Titanic was sold at auction for an impressive $718,750.
“We all die. The goal isn’t to live forever, the goal is to create something that will.” Chuck Palahniuk
Around 1781, during his time as minister to France, Benjamin Franklin put pen to paper to tackle a rather unusual topic. Not liberty, diplomacy, or trade relations — but flatulence. “It is widely recognized,” the esteemed statesman and polymath noted, “that the digestion of our everyday food produces a significant amount of gas in the intestines of humans.” And it only gets more interesting from there.
“Imagine your life is perfect in every respect; what would it look like?” – Brian Tracy
There have been only two father-son pairs to serve as U.S. president: John Adams and John Quincy Adams and George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush.
“While one person hesitates because he feels inferior, the other is busy making mistakes and becoming superior.” Henry Link
The Great Smoky Mountains are home to one of the few synchronous firefly species in North America, which can be observed for a few weeks in May or June. The males emit flashing patterns in sync as part of their mating display, creating a pulsing, synchronized spectacle that illuminates the forest.
“Optimism is the one quality more associated with success and happiness than any other.”- Brian Tracy
Marilyn Monroe, born on June 1, 1926, had a profound fascination with the work of Sigmund Freud. During the filming of The Prince and the Showgirl in London in 1956, she met Anna Freud, Sigmund Freud’s daughter and a noted psychoanalyst. It is reported that Monroe and Anna engaged in intensive daily therapy sessions throughout the week, delving deeply into psychological exploration.
“Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving.”― Albert Einstein
It said Nostradamus actually predicted his own death. “Tomorrow at sunrise. I shall no longer be here, he uttered in 1566.” Nailed it.
“Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
William Shakespeare is traditionally believed to have been born on April 23, 1564, and to have died on the same date in 1616. He may have succumbed to the “birthday effect,” a phenomenon where the risk of death appears to increase on one’s birthday. Suggested explanations include heightened reckless behavior and misadventures due to excessive drinking.
“Live in the sunshine, swim the sea, drink the wild air.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
Bison have inhabited California’s Catalina Island since the 1920s, initially introduced in 1924 for an unknown Hollywood film. Over the years, the bison population thrived to such an extent that they have since been placed on birth control to manage their numbers.
“Real integrity is doing the right thing, knowing that nobody’s going to know whether you did it or not.”― Oprah Winfrey
Based on nearly 58 million middle names listed in Social Security Death Index from birth years 1900 through 2015, Marie, Ann and Elizabeth are the three most popular moon names for baby girls. For boys, it’s Joseph, James, and Lee.
“You make a choice: continue living your life feeling muddled in this abyss of self-misunderstanding, or you find your identity independent of it. You draw your own box.”— Duchess Meghan
Actor Joe Pesci — best known for Raging Bull, Goodfellas, and My Cousin Vinny — actually began his career chasing music stardom. In 1968 he released an album titled Little Joe Sure Can Sing!, featuring covers of songs by the Beatles and the Bee Gees. Three decades later, in 1998, he returned to music with Vincent LaGuardia Gambini Sings Just for You, performing in character from My Cousin Vinny. The album even includes a rap track.
“If you are working on something that you really care about, you don’t have to be pushed. The vision pulls you.” – Steve Jobs
Australian law tightly protects the word “Anzac” and the traditional form of Anzac biscuits. Under the Protection of Word “Anzac” Regulations 1921, any commercial use of the word requires permission from the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA). If a business sells something called an Anzac biscuit but substantially changes the recipe or shape, or misuses the name (e.g., calling them “Anzac cookies”), they can face serious penalties.
“Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Wishing is not enough; we must do.” – Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe
Katherine Johnson, one of NASA’s ” human computers,” was rejected the first time she applied to work there. Her calculations ultimately help send John Glenn into orbit and send the first astronauts to the moon.
“Every closed door isn’t locked ,and even if it is…YOU just might have the key! Search within to unlock a world of possibilities!”― Sanjo Jendayi
Moose have been observed with up to ninety thousand ticks on them. If each tick drinks around a milliliter of blood, that adds up to twenty-four gallons of blood sucked.
“Our greatest glory is not in never failing, but in rising up every time we fail.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
During the mating process, some species of male anglerfish will bite into the belly of a larger female and merge his blood and skin with hers, essentially becoming the definition of a toxic relationship. Females can even carry up to eight mates. All attracted to different parts of the body so anglerfish aren’t exactly monogamous, either.
“Doing the best at this moment puts you in the best place for the next moment.” ― Oprah Winfrey
After they met on the set of Batman (1989), Kim Basinger and Prince had a serious relationship and recorded a five-track album together called the Scandalous Sex Suite.