Category Archives: R vs History

The Greatest Show on Earth

by in R Outlook, R vs History | 4 Comments

Today, in 1881, PT Barnum and James Bailey combined their shows, creating a mega-production, the Circus. After their deaths their circus was absorbed by the Ringling Brothers (1906), resulting in the circus of today.

Circus seems to represent a crazed gaiety, a colorful amalgam of the exotic, the dangerous, and the beautiful.

This circus will have its final performances in May of this year; its time has apparently passed. It was an institution, and had a great deal to recommend it, for “Children of All Ages”.

 

Looking Up!

by in R Mindset, R vs History, Uncategorized | 1 Comment

Back in 1655, Christiaan Huygens discovered Titan, the largest of Saturn’s 53 moons. Surprising that he could find it up there, really.

These questions work best if one has given up on the Flat Earth Theory, which We Rhinos have not done entirely. (see 1-26-2015)

The tulips signify that Mr. Huygens was Dutch, which maybe you knew already.

the Simple Explanation

by in R Mindset, R vs History, Rhino Nifty | 1 Comment

M. Joseph Liouville, b. 1809, was the pioneer of  Transcendental Numbers (a real number, but not a root of an algebraic equation with rational roots.) Oddly enough, Rhinos get this idea pretty well, assuming it means numbers that can’t be counted. In our case, that takes care of all of them, except 1, 2, and 3.

We’re glad M. Liouville cleared that up.

National Fragrance Day

by in R vs History, Rhino Nifty | 3 Comments

Rhinos are all Scent Oriented, so it should come as no surprise that We trailblazed Perfume Development, back with the Assyrians, Much Years BC. You take some Castor Oil, and then toss fruits and flowers and herbs in there. Voila! (That is a translation from the ancient Assyrian.)

Scentography and its History. Your Inner Rhino marches on.

Also, if you are sluggish, you can drink it. It’ll cure what ails you.

Deal with it…

by in R vs History, Rhino Nifty | 1 Comment

In 44 BC, Julius Caesar was assassinated by a discontented batch of Romans. You doubtless knew all that. He’d been warned, but he knew better. Who’s sorry now?

What is less well known is that the King of Diamonds is traditionally meant to represent Mr. Caesar, depending on the traditions you like. Your Inner Rhino lives to tip you off to these tidbits. You’re welcome.

Rhinos have lots of traditions, but We don’t rigidly observe them, just now and then, when We remember. 50 million years of traditions is a lot to recall, trust Us.

Small Needle/ Enormous Haystack

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Today in 1781 William Herschel and his sister Caroline discovered the planet Uranus, using his telescope. This revelation was astonishing, since it had been a long time since anybody had found a planet. They also saw two of Uranus’ moons (of twenty-seven).

In case you forgot, Uranus is about 1.8 Billion miles away, which is like 720 thousand times around the Earth.

Very Big Deal it was, and remains, as discoveries go.

Long Odds

by in R Philosophy, R vs History, Rhino Nifty | 2 Comments

Pythagoras is best known for the Pythagorean Theory, which has to do with triangles, and so, mathematics and geometry. Rhinos know nothing about all that.

What We do know is that nobody knows when Pythagoras’ was born.  We chose today, though there is every chance We are mistaken. Even so, We can wish him well, if not Happy Birthday.

Your Inner Rhino looks on the bright side whenever possible.