Proud Mancunian based in HK
Joined December 2020
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Anthony retweeted
Looney Tunes’ guide to dictate all interactions between Wile E. Coyote & Road Runner. Developed by Chuck Jones and his team.
See more fascinating historical photos: bit.ly/453YnYN
Anthony retweeted
Carthage (Qart-Hadašt) was an ancient city-state founded by the Phoenicians in the 9th century BC (traditionally 814 BC) in present-day Tunisia.
One of the most important trading and maritime centers in the Mediterranean, Carthage left its mark on history, particularly through its rivalry with Rome and the Punic Wars. While not directly connected to Roman temples in Lebanon, as a Phoenician civilization, it is culturally and historically linked to Lebanon (especially to Phoenician cities like Byblos, Sidon, and Tyre).
It was founded by Phoenician sailors and merchants, colonists from the city of Tyre (Sur) in Lebanon. According to legend, Queen Dido (Elissa) founded Carthage.
In the Phoenician language, "Qart-Hadašt" means "new city."
Thanks to its strategic location, Carthage became a leading power in Mediterranean trade (especially in purple dye, glass, textiles, and metal).
Anthony retweeted
Here’s an awesome video of a bunch of kids from New York City sharing their thoughts on the New York Yankees releasing The Great Bambino, Babe Ruth.
Crazy to think these lads are like 8-12 years old and they probably could kick my ass without breaking a sweat. The year is 1935x.
Anthony retweeted
As a non-native English speaker I must say Marlene’s list is a great showcase of how tricky English can be at times.
Anthony retweeted
Timeless humour!
A 2,000 year-old Roman souvenir pen with a joke inscription roughly equivalent to:
“I went to Rome and all I got you was this cheap pen!" 😂
Dated circa 70 AD, this iron stylus pen was recovered in London during excavations by MOLA. 📷 Juan Jose Fuldain/MOLA
#Archaeology
![The photo shows four images of the same Roman iron stylus (pen) one below the other with knib to the left. This stylus is octagonal in shape, with an inscription dot-punched along its length on four alternate sides. It is 132 mm long, 5 mm thick, and the letters circa 2 mm high. The four lines of inscribed text are highlighted and read:
‘ab urbe v[e]n[i] munus tibi gratum adf(e)ro
acul[eat]um ut habe[a]s memor[ia]m nostra(m)
rogo si fortuna dar[e]t quo possem
largius ut longa via ceu sacculus est (v)acuus’
Translation
‘I have come from the City. I bring you a welcome gift
with a sharp point that you may remember me.
I ask, if fortune allowed, that I might be able (to give)
as generously as the way is long (and) as my purse is empty.’
This inscription is interpreted as an acknowledgment by the giver of the cheapness of the gift.
The pen was used to write on wax-filled wooden writing tablets. Found in London by MOLA during excavations for Bloomberg’s European HQ in 2010–2014.](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/HBrY2ilXUAAQKry.jpg?name=orig)
ALT The photo shows four images of the same Roman iron stylus (pen) one below the other with knib to the left. This stylus is octagonal in shape, with an inscription dot-punched along its length on four alternate sides. It is 132 mm long, 5 mm thick, and the letters circa 2 mm high. The four lines of inscribed text are highlighted and read: ‘ab urbe v[e]n[i] munus tibi gratum adf(e)ro acul[eat]um ut habe[a]s memor[ia]m nostra(m) rogo si fortuna dar[e]t quo possem largius ut longa via ceu sacculus est (v)acuus’ Translation ‘I have come from the City. I bring you a welcome gift with a sharp point that you may remember me. I ask, if fortune allowed, that I might be able (to give) as generously as the way is long (and) as my purse is empty.’ This inscription is interpreted as an acknowledgment by the giver of the cheapness of the gift. The pen was used to write on wax-filled wooden writing tablets. Found in London by MOLA during excavations for Bloomberg’s European HQ in 2010–2014.
Anthony retweeted
• be Soichiro Honda
• born a blacksmith's son, despises school, loves the smell of oil
• 1936: spends his life savings developing a piston ring concept
• pitches it to Toyota; their engineers laugh at him
• out of 50 rings submitted, only 3 pass quality control
• Rejected.
• pawns his wife’s jewelry just to buy food and materials
• goes back to school at age 30 to learn metallurgy, gets bullied by younger students
• sits in the back, refuses to take exams, tells the professor: "A diploma won't feed me."
• finally perfects the manufacturing process, builds a factory
• 1944: US B-29 bombers destroy the factory.
• rebuilds it from the rubble
• 1945: Mikawa earthquake flattens it again.
• realizes the universe is telling him to stop
• sells the wreckage to Toyota, buys a giant tank of alcohol, and does nothing but drink for a year
• wakes up broke, sees his wife struggling to pedal her bicycle to the market
• has a spark of madness: finds a surplus radio generator engine and straps it to her bike
• it makes a "bata-bata" sound; neighbors beg him to make one for them
• founds Honda Motor Co. in a wooden shack
• 1954: company is near bankruptcy, but he announces he will enter the Isle of Man TT (the deadliest race on earth)
• "I pledge my entire heart and soul to win this race."
• goes to Europe, sees German engines are 3x more powerful, returns to Japan to work 18-hour days
• returns to the Isle of Man and dominates the 125cc and 250cc classes
• decides to build cars; Japanese Government (MITI) bans him
• "Japan doesn't need another car company. Stick to motorcycles."
• sends the government a furious letter: "I will do it anyway."
• enters Formula 1 in 1964 just to spite the bureaucrats
• 1973: US passes the Clean Air Act; GM and Ford say the standards are "impossible" to meet
• Honda buys a Chevy Impala, flies it to Japan, installs his CVCC engine heads on it
• flies it back to the US, passes the EPA test with flying colors
• humiliates the biggest car companies on earth with a fraction of their budget
• dies as the "Henry Ford of Japan"
Success represents the 1% of your work which results from the 99% that is called failure.
Anthony retweeted
Areal distortion caused by Mercator projection; comparison showing actual relative size of each country.
Anthony retweeted
Sir Richard Francis Burton spoke 29 languages, translated the Kama Sutra into English, and completed the Hajj pilgrimage.
These accomplishments are the tip of the iceberg for this Victorian era gentleman.
Let’s explore his extraordinary life…🧵
