A thread for people who like quirky little stories from the edges of history. They help us remember and can be great fun.
Britian was invaded finally by the Romans in 43 AD by the emporer Claudius, but it was not the first time that invasion had been planned or even attempted. The great Julius Ceaser himself first dipped his toe into the waters with an exploratory sortie in the last years of the first century BC, then Ceaser Augustus planned invasions in 34, 27 and 25 BC all of which were cancelled.
Perhaps the most notable invasion that never happened though was that planned by the ......unprdictable [shall we say], Caligula in 40 AD. He gathered 20,000 men at the English Channel in preparation to invade and then changed his mind and had them collect sea-shells instead. Laugh at him we might but think on; how much better might things have been had not a few more leaders over the course of history taken his example.
Historical oddities.
- peter
- The Gap Into Spam
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Historical oddities.
The truth is a Lion and does not need protection. Once free it will look after itself.
....and the glory of the world becomes less than it was....
'Have we not served you well'
'Of course - you know you have.'
'Then let it end.'
We are the Bloodguard
....and the glory of the world becomes less than it was....
'Have we not served you well'
'Of course - you know you have.'
'Then let it end.'
We are the Bloodguard
- Wosbald
- A Brainwashed Religious Flunkie
- Posts: 6126
- Joined: Sat Feb 07, 2015 1:35 am
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+JMJ+
Ralstonism
And you thought it was just a breakfast cereal.
Ralstonism
And you thought it was just a breakfast cereal.
Ralstonism was a minor social movement in 19th century USA. It claimed about 800,000 followers. Ralstonism was the brainchild of Webster Edgerly (1852 – 1926). In Edgerly's words, "Ralstonism is the grandest movement that man is capable of establishing". …
Edgerly saw his followers as the founding members of a new race, based on Caucasians, and free from "impurities". He advocated the castration of all "anti-racial" (non-Caucasian) males at birth. …
In addition to advice like brushing your teeth, the books recommend things like every young man should engage with a form of probationary marriage with a woman old enough to be his grandmother. Edgerly also created his own language, called the "Adam-Man-Tongue" with a 33-letter alphabet.
The Magnetism Club of America, another Ralstonite organization, was founded to give its members control over the minds of others.
Ralstonites were to follow strict dietary guidelines. For example, watermelons were supposed to be poisonous to Caucasians. Correct diet and proper physical exercise would help readers attain "personal magnetism", which would give them control over the thoughts of others. Much of the physical regime demanded moving in graceful curves and arcs and walking exclusively on the balls of one's feet. Because sudden starts and stops and sharp angular movements caused a "leakage of vital force", Ralstonites were to even pick marbles in continuous circles. There was a proper way to bathe (dry bath), gesture, sit, stand, sleep, talk and have sex. Edgerly claimed a scientific basis for all this.
In 1900 Edgerly joined forces with the founder of Purina Food Company, which took the name Ralston Purina Company (now Nestlé Purina PetCare). It made whole-wheat cereal that Ralstonites were to consume. The food company Edgerly founded evolved into what is now called Ralcorp, and was the original owner of the cereal brands Chex and Cookie Crisp.
- peter
- The Gap Into Spam
- Posts: 11564
- Joined: Tue Aug 25, 2009 10:08 am
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I seem to remember the 'Kellogs' empire has some kind of strange back-story to it as well; what is it about cereal manufacturers?
The truth is a Lion and does not need protection. Once free it will look after itself.
....and the glory of the world becomes less than it was....
'Have we not served you well'
'Of course - you know you have.'
'Then let it end.'
We are the Bloodguard
....and the glory of the world becomes less than it was....
'Have we not served you well'
'Of course - you know you have.'
'Then let it end.'
We are the Bloodguard
- Mighara Sovmadhi
- The Gap Into Spam
- Posts: 1157
- Joined: Mon Feb 23, 2009 6:50 am
- Location: Near where Broken Social Scene is gonna play on October 15th, 2010
- peter
- The Gap Into Spam
- Posts: 11564
- Joined: Tue Aug 25, 2009 10:08 am
- Location: Another time. Another place.
- Been thanked: 6 times
Mary Stokes or some such: I'm not sure I even want to think about what was going on in her head (let alone..... no leave that peter!)
The truth is a Lion and does not need protection. Once free it will look after itself.
....and the glory of the world becomes less than it was....
'Have we not served you well'
'Of course - you know you have.'
'Then let it end.'
We are the Bloodguard
....and the glory of the world becomes less than it was....
'Have we not served you well'
'Of course - you know you have.'
'Then let it end.'
We are the Bloodguard