.
Quote Of The Day
" I would like to learn, or remember, how to live. "
Annie Dillard
Today's Trivia
First Transatlantic Telephone CableOn this day in 1858, after several unsuccessful attempts, the first telegraph line across the Atlantic Ocean is completed, a feat accomplished largely through the efforts of American merchant Cyrus West Field. The telegraph was first developed by Samuel F. B. Morse, an artist-turned-inventor who conceived of the idea of the electric telegraph in 1832. Several European inventors had proposed such a device, but Morse worked independently and by the mid 1830s had built a working telegraph instrument. In the late 1830s, he perfected Morse Code, a set of signals that could represent language in telegraph messages. In May 1844, Morse inaugurated the world's first commercial telegraph line with the message "What hath God wrought," sent from the U.S. Capitol to a railroad station in Baltimore. Within a decade, more than 20,000 miles of telegraph cable crisscrossed the country. The rapid communication it made possible greatly aided American expansion, making railroad travel safer as it provided a boost to business conducted across the great distances of a growing United States.
First Traffic Light The first traffic light was installed at the intersection of Euclid Avenue and East 105th Street in Cleveland, Ohio. Earlier roads, shared by horses, cars, and streetcars, were chaotic. As accidents and traffic increased it became apparent that some rules of the road were required. The traffic light was only one of several improvements to arrive in this period--the traffic island was introduced in 1907, dividing lines appeared in 1911, and the "No Left Turn" sign debuted in 1916.
Today's Chuckles
Where Did That Golf Ball Go?"Caddy, why didn't you see where that ball went?"
"Well, it doesn't usually go anywhere, Mrs. Smith. You caught me off-guard."
What Do You Charge?A woman phoned her dentist when she received a huge bill.
"I'm shocked!" she complained. "This is three times what you normally charge."
"Yes, I know," said the dentist. "But you yelled so loud, you scared away two other patients."
Quick Quotes
"The toughest thing about success is that you've got to keep on being a success. "
~Irving Berlin
---
"Success is often achieved by those who don't know that failure is inevitable. "
~Choco Chanel
---
"Adventure is worthwhile in itself."
~Amelia Earhart
---
More Chuckles
Famous Last WordsI bet I'll get a world record for this..
What does this button do?
Are you sure the power is off?
The odds of that happening have to be a million to one!
Pull the pin and count to what?
Which wire was I supposed to cut?
I've seen this done on TV.
This doesn't taste right.
Now watch this!
