Who invented the brassiere?

who invented the brassiere

New York socialite Mary Phelps Jacobs patented the first brassiere in 1914. She had devised it for her own use as an alternative to the corset, which showed under her sheer gown. The first bra was made from ribbon and handkerchiefs.

Who was the last emperor of China?

who was the last emperor of china

Henry Pu-yi, from 1908 to 1912, was the last emperor of China. From 1934 to 1945, he was emperor of the Japanese puppet state of Manchukuo in Manchuria. He died in 1967 in the People’s Republic of China.

What did the swastika stand for before Hitler used it?

what did the swastika stand for before hitler used it

Before it became the Nazi symbol of Aryan superiority, the swastika had several meanings, all positive. In Sanskrit, the word swastika means “conducive to well-being.” The Aryans of India believed swastikas represented the sun’s motion across the sky, a symbol of its goodness and regenerative power. The Greeks and Persians believed it represented prosperity and … Read more

Who won the Tet Offensive in the Vietnam War?

who won the tet offensive in the vietnam war

The Tet Offensive was a general attack in January 1968 by North Vietnamese forces against South Vietnamese cities. Militarily, North Vietnam lost since they suffered heavy losses and failed to hold any city. But strategically North Vietnam delivered a severe blow to the U.S. by showing that the war was far from over and undermining … Read more

Where do Pygmies live?

where do pygmies live

The name Pygmy is used by anthropologists to describe any human group whose males are less than 4 feet, 11 inches in average height. The best-known Pygmy groups are those of tropical Africa, but they also include some of the Bushmen of the Kalahari Desert and the Asian Pygmies known as the Negritos.

What is the most famous auto-destructive work of art?

what is the most famous auto destructive work of art

The most famous auto-destructive work of art was probably Swiss sculptor Jean Tinguely’s Homage to New York, which blew itself up at the Museum of Modern Art in 1960. The work was meant to satirize modern technological civilization. Constructed of an old piano and other junk, the piece failed to operate as planned and caused … Read more

Who is credited with inventing the miniskirt?

who is credited with inventing the miniskirt

Mary Quant, co-owner (with her husband Alexander Plunket Greene) of the boutique Bazaar in Chelsea, London, is credited with inventing the miniskirt. Quant, “the mother of the miniskirt,” premiered the new fashion item at Bazaar in 1965.

How did Edgar Allan Poe die?

how did edgar allan poe die

In October 1849, the forty-year-old writer Edgar Allan Poe was found lying unconscious near a polling place in Baltimore. According to some reports, he had been fed liquor and dragged to various polling places to vote repeatedly. He was taken to a hospital where he remained semicomatose for three days. On October 7, 1849, at … Read more

Was the Smithsonian Institution named after an American?

was the smithsonian institution named after an american

No, the Smithsonian Institution wasn’t named after an American. Founded in 1846, it was named for British chemist James Smithson (1765-1829), who bequeathed his fortune to build the U.S. institution. It is now the world’s largest museum complex, containing 14 museums and the National Zoo.

Can people still meet under the Biltmore clock in New York City?

can people still meet under the biltmore clock in new york city

Yes, but the Biltmore clock is now part of the 78-story atrium of the Bank of America Plaza at 335 Madison Avenue. It once hung over the entrance to the lavish Palm Court salon in the famed Biltmore Hotel, between Madison and Vanderbilt Avenues and Forty-third and Forty-fourth Streets. The bronze clock is the only … Read more

What did the “N” in SNCC stand for?

what did the n in sncc stand for

The “N” in SNCC stood for “nonviolent” when the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee was founded in April 1960 by sit-in veterans who wanted to step up the pace of nonviolent direct action for equal rights. As the 1960s wore on, SNCC leaders became frustrated with white repression of the civil rights movement and began to … Read more

What is Newton’s law of gravity?

what is newtons law of gravity

Actually called Newton’s law of gravitation, it describes the degree to which one body of matter attracts another. That attraction is in direct proportion to the product of the bodies’ masses, and in inverse proportion to the square of the distance between them. This law can be expressed in a formula first set forth in … Read more

When did Kim Philby become a Soviet spy?

when did kim philby become a soviet spy

Kim Philby was recruited by the Russians in the early 1930s. He entered the British Secret Service in 1939 and remained a double agent until 1962, when he escaped to the Soviet Union. His orders, he said, were to penetrate British Intelligence and “it did not matter how long I took to do the job.” … Read more

How did the expression to Make a Bed originate?

how did the expression to make a bed originate

In the evening, citizens of the Roman Empire constructed their beds by placing straw into a cloth sack. The straw had to be emptied every night to dry; therefore, the beds had to be remade every night. This practice continued until the fifteenth century, in some countries, even later.

Who played the following villains on “Batman” (1966-68)?

who played the following villains on batman 1966 68

The bad guys on the TV series “Batman” (1966-68) were: Penguin—Burgess Meredith Catwoman—Julie Newmar, Eartha Kitt, and Lee Merlwether Joker—Cesar Romero Riddler—Frank Gorshin and John Astin King Tut—Victor Buono Egghead—Vincent Price The Archer—Van Johnson Lola Lasagne—Ethel Merman Lord Marmaduke Ffogg—Rudy Vallee The Siren—Joan Collins Chandel—Liberace Louie the Lilac—Milton Berle

In what daytime soap operas did the following movie stars once act:

in what daytime soap operas did the following movie stars once act

The stars and daytime soap operas: Tom Berenger—”One Life to Live” (ABC, 1968–), playing Tim Siegel Ellen Burstyn—”The Doctors” (NBC, 1963-82), playing Dr. Kate Bartok Robert DeNiro—”Search for Tomorrow” (CBS, NBC, 1951-87) Dustin Hoffman—”Search for Tomorrow” Raul Julia—”Love of Life” (CBS, 1951-80), playing Miguel Garcia Bette Midler—”The Edge of Night” (CBS, ABC, 195684) Susan Sarandon—”A … Read more

How long did the Pony Express last?

how long did the pony express last

The system of mail delivery by horse-and-rider relays lasted only 18 months, from April 1860 to October 1861. It connected Saint Joseph, Missouri, with Sacramento, California, a distance of 1,800 miles. The completion of the transcontinental telegraph system brought the Pony Express to an end.

What’s the origin of the word hijack?

whats the origin of the word hijack

During Prohibition, the taking of trucks full of illegal liquor became commonplace. When it happened, a gunman would say, “High, Jack,” to indicate how the driver should raise his hands.

What were Gene Autry’s “Ten Commandments of a Cowboy”?

what were gene autrys ten commandments of a cowboy

Gene Autry’s “Ten Commandments of a Cowboy” were: 1. A cowboy never takes unfair advantage, even of an enemy. 2. A cowboy never betrays a trust. 3. A cowboy always tells the truth. 4. A cowboy is kind to small children, to old folks, and to animals. 5. A cowboy is free from racial and … Read more

Why is America not named after Columbus?

why is america not named after columbus

Columbus did not realize he had discovered a new continent that would be named America, but Amerigo Vespucci, who explored the New World between 1497 and 1504, did. German mapmaker Martin Waldseemuller first applied the name to the new continent on a map published in 1507.

When did George Reeves shoot himself?

when did george reeves shoot himself

George Reeves shot himself on June 16, 1959. The police ruled that the former star of “The Adventures of Superman” (1952-57) had committed suicide, though some have suspected murder. He was planning to be married at the time.

Where did the Chisholm Trail run?

where did the chisholm trail run

Named for trader Jesse Chisholm, this nineteenth-century cattle route started south of San Antonio, Texas, passed through Oklahoma, and ended at Abilene, Kansas. In 1871, the trail’s busiest year-700,000 cattle were driven along the route by 5,000 cowboys.

What is a nutria?

what is a nutria

Ratlike in appearance and beaver-like in size, this animal is often referred to as the beaver rat. Nutrias are valuable for many purposes; their pelts are now chiefly used in the making of hats. Their ratlike tails are too thin to be used.

What is the difference between deduction and induction?

what is the difference between deduction and induction

In the process of deduction, you derive conclusions from assumed statements by using the rules of logic, moving from the general to the specific. In induction, you make inferences from experiments or observations to build a general law, moving from the specific to the general.

What are Superman’s superpowers?

what are supermans superpowers

Superman is virtually invulnerable (with Kryptonite being his major weakness; its rays are fatal to him); he is superstrong, superfast, and supersmart; he can fly; he has heat vision, X-ray vision, telescopic vision, and microscopic vision; he has quick-freezing, gale-force breath; he has super sensitive hearing; and he can hold his breath for long periods.

How far can a frog jump?

how far can a frog jump

The world record for a jump by a frog is 33 feet 5.5 inches over the course of three consecutive leaps. It was achieved in May 1977 by a South African sharp-nosed frog called Santjie.

Who was known as the 44-Caliber Killer?

who was known as the 44 caliber killer

It was “Son of Sam” killer David Richard Berkowitz (b. 1953) who was known as the 44-Caliber Killer. From July 1976 to August 1977 he killed six people and wounded seven others with a .44-caliber gun.

What are the United Arab Emirates?

what are the united arab emirates

The United Arab Emirates are a federation of seven Arab states on the Persian Gulf: Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Dubai, Fujairah, Ras al-Khaimah, Sharjah, and Umm al-Qaiwain. Independent since 1971, they should be distinguished from the United Arab Republic, which was formed when Egypt and Syria united in 1958. Syria seceded from the union in 1961, … Read more

Who is known as “the man who ate Democrats”?

who is known as the man who ate democrats

The man who ate Democrats was Alfred Packer (1842-1907). In 1873, he guided a party of 20 men into the San Juan Mountains, continued in heavy snows against advice, and returned alone, saying his companions had abandoned him. Months afterward, search parties discovered the bodies of the missing men, most stripped of flesh. Packer was … Read more

Who was the Tootsie Roll named after?

who was the tootsie roll named after

The Tootsie Roll was named after Clara Hirschfield, the daughter of the candy’s creator. Leo Hirschfield who invented the Tootsie Roll had given her this pet name. He gave the name to the candy as well, which entered the American market in 1896.

What was the first monopoly in the United States?

what was the first monopoly in the united states

The first monopoly in the United States is considered to have been John Jacob Astor’s American Fur Company. The company made him the wealthiest person in the United States. This allowed him to found the Astor Library, one of the cornerstones of the New York Public Library.

How big is a hockey puck?

how big is a hockey puck

Usually made of vulcanized rubber, an ice hockey puck is 3 inches in diameter, 1 inch thick, and weighs 5.5 to 6 ounces.

How much does a B-2 bomber cost?

how much does a b 2 bomber cost

At about $865 million each, the radar-evading “Stealth” strategic B-2 bomber built by Northrop for the U.S. Air Force is considered the most expensive weapons system in American history.

When did Harlem New York become a black neighborhood?

when did harlem new york become a black neighborhood

In the nineteenth century, the district known as Harlem in northern Manhattan was a fashionable white residential district, a favorite site for summer homes. Apartment buildings rose in the boom of the 1880s. After the panic of 1893, however, many buildings became vacant, and property owners began renting to blacks. By World War I, much … Read more