Trivia and other useless but interesting items

Ever had a lease cancelled? The US lease in Cuba with a prior Cuban government in about 1902 is interesting trivia unless your involved of course. Happily we aren't so General Chat trivia



Does Cuba Have a Right To Terminate the U.S. Lease of Guantanamo Bay? – dwkcommentaries

Will they ever agree :)

"Moreover, “the lease has had clearly stated conditions by which it can be ended.” The original 1903 lease was for “the time required for the purposes of [U.S.] coaling and naval stations.” And the 1934 treaty, reconfirming the lease, provided that it could be terminated by U.S. abandonment of Guantanamo Bay or by mutual agreement. (Book at 108, 215, 233.)
In addition, on two occasions after the Cuban Revolution, the U.S. has considered terminating the lease. One was in U.S. internal discussions about ways to resolve the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962, but that idea was rejected internally and not publicly disclosed. (Book at 109-12.) The second was the idea’s incorporation in section 201 of the Helms-Burton (Libertad) Act of 1996 requiring the U.S. in order to provide assistance to a hoped-for free and independent Cuba to “be prepared to enter into negotiations . . . to return the [U.S.] Naval Base at Guantanamo to Cuba or to renegotiate the present agreement under mutually agreeable terms.” (Book at 112-14, 249-50.)"

The Southern Darwin's frog is not found near Darwin nor even in Australia, but in Chile and Argentina where it was discovered by Charles Darwin.

Darwin's frog - Wikipedia

Charles Darwin did most of his key fieldwork in South America and nearby islands during the voyage of the HMS Beagle (1831-36), where he was employed as a naturalist. Previously best known in academic circles for his geological publications, he became known to the public at large following publication of his journal of the voyage. Analysing and making sense of the animals, fish, fossils, and plants collected during the voyage over the next few years led to his formulation of the theory of evolution by natural selection, and in 1858 he received a letter from Alfred Wallace proposing essentially the same theory, leading to the two presenting it to the Linnean Society in a joint paper and publishing it in 1859 in a book.

.....and we have to thank Charles for the use of his name with the Darwin Awards.

police seized some 100 kilograms of bulbs worth several thousand euros. Police later posted on X describing the haul as Green Gold."

Germany: Police sniff out illicit wild garlic operation – DW – 02/04/2025

Now we all know Gold is a yellowish colour of course

I have a lot a wild growing mint, garlic chives and more. The Germans have a bit more apparently

Attachment 192577

I thought the garlic article was going to blame the Mafia, as I heard they do a roaring trade in fake olive oil, even substituting it with engine oil IIRC.

You probably do not want to look up the studies on what is actually in EU olive oil

"A woman in Japan has been arrested for allegedly squashing a bun at a convenience store and leaving without buying the packet of bread.Authorities in the southern city of Fukuoka confirmed to the BBC that the 40-year-old had been arrested on Monday for "criminal damage".
The woman, who said she was unemployed, claimed she "only checked the firmness of [the bun] by pressing lightly with my hand", according to police.
The woman had allegedly touched a bag of four black sesame and cream cheese buns. While the bag's wrapper was intact, police said one of the buns was damaged after she pressed it with her right thumb, and the entire bag could not be sold." Japan: Woman arrested for squashing bun in Lawson shop

WHY can the sods here pick up hundreds of bits of fruit and vegetables and put them back again?

Honestly watched several people pick up and put back hundreds of cherries, Beans, apples and ..........[bighmmm] I'd love to see more Japanese police here [thumbsupbig][bigrolf][bigrolf][bigrolf][bigrolf]

Huckleberry Finn was published one hundred and fourty years ago. Samuel Clements published the novel, challenging the accepted norms of the late 19th century US, under the pen name of Mark Twain on 19th. February 1885. Anyone remember it, the initial publishing, not the book.[wink11]

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by V8Ian

Huckleberry Finn was published one hundred and fourty years ago. Samuel Clements published the novel, challenging the accepted norms of the late 19th century US, under the pen name of Mark Twain in 19th. February 1885. Anyone remember it, the initial publishing, not the book.[wink11]

---

Sorry, don't think I was around then!