Song in English William Lawrence Sr Omnibit 10-23-19

The first documented song in English was by Caedmon an untutored man who cared for the animals at Whitby Abby in the 7th century shortly after it had been founded by Saint Hilda. Caedmon had left a celebration that featured singing, feasting and harp playing because he lacked skill at music.

He went to sleep with his animals and dreamed a song that night about creation. He remembered every word and told his foreman, who was so impressed he took him to see Hilda. Hilda was so impressed she asked Caedmon to create another which he did the next morning which was also amazing for its profundity.

He was invited to become a monk and Hilda directed her scholars to teach him. Caedmon would turn what he was taught into verse during the night, and so began the history of English music.

Song in English William Lawrence Sr Omnibit 10-23-19
The first documented song in English was by Caedmon

Olga of Kiev William Lawrence Sr Omnibit 10-22-19

Olga of Kiev was the wife of Igor who ruled the city in 945 AD. Igor went to collect tribute from the Drevlians, a tribe of Slavs. The Drevlians thought he asked too much so they killed him, some say by tying his legs to a pair of birch trees bent to the ground then releasing the trees tearing him asunder.

Olga of Kiev William Lawrence Sr Omnibit 10-18-19
Don’t mess with Olga

So Olga becomes Kiev’s ruler and she holds a grudge. Being as how she is a widow, Prince Mal, the Drevlian ruler who killed her husband, proposes to her. She says sure. Come on over.

When Mal and his entourage arrive she has them buried alive.

She sends word to the Drevilians to send their best men to be with their prince. Unaware of where the prince was, the tribe’s leading members come. She has them burned to death in a bath house.

She then wars on the Drevlians finally reaching their capital, Iskorosten, where her husband was slain. She says she will end the siege if the residents give her three pigeons and three sparrows from each house. The Drevelians figure they are getting a good deal and agree.

She has her army attach a piece of sulphur bound with small pieces of cloth to each bird. At nightfall, she tells her troops to set the pieces aflame and release the birds.

The birds flew back to their nests and the city burned down.

Olga is considered a saint by the Russian Orthodox Church. She appears to have mellowed a bit after her hissy fit with the Drevlians and was actually a pretty good ruler.

Olga of Kiev William Lawrence Sr Omnibit 10-18-19

Robert William Lawrence Sr Omnibit 10-21-19

Robert was the most popular male name between 1924 and 1939.

Robert William Lawrence Sr Omnibit 10-21-19
Robert was the most popular male name between 1924 and 1939.

Emus eat charcoal William Lawrence Sr Omnibit 10-19-19

Emus eat charcoal. Nobody really knows why.

Emus eat charcoal William Lawrence Sr Omnibit 10-19-19
Emus eat charcoal William Lawrence Sr Omnibit 10-19-19

American Pie was first William Lawrence Sr Omnibit 10-18-19

Don McLean’s confusing, cryptic but highly regarded song American Pie was first performed at Temple University in Philadelphia on March 14, 1971. McLean, himself, attended Villanova for a bit where he was friends with Upper Darby native and songwriting legend Jim Croce.
 
American Pie was first William Lawrence Sr Omnibit 10-18-19
American Pie was first

Ly Nam De William Lawrence Sr Omnibit 10-17-19

On this date, Oct. 17, Ly Nam De, the first emperor of Vietnam was born. So was Eminem. So was Pope John Paul I. If you see some sort of connection, you are probably the only one.

Ly Nam De William Lawrence Sr Omnibit 10-17-19
Ly Nam De William Lawrence Sr Omnibit 10-17-19

Surface of the sun William Lawrence Sr Omnibit 10-16-19

A lightning bolt has a temperature of 50,000°F. That’s more than eight times hotter than the Sun. Well, the surface of the Sun anyway. The core? No, the Sun’s core has a temp of about 283,000,000 °F

Surface of the sun William Lawrence Sr Omnibit 10-16-19
Surface of the sun William Lawrence Sr Omnibit 10-16-19

Cassowary William Lawrence Sr Omnibit 10-15-19

While the crowned eagle of Africa may be a suspect in murder, the cassowary is the only bird to stand convicted. They attack people without provocation.

Cassowary William Lawrence Sr Omnibit 10-15-19
While the crowned eagle of Africa may be a suspect in murder, the cassowary is the only bird to stand convicted. They attack people without provocation.

Largest Tomb William Lawrence Sr Omnibit 10-14-19

So is the Great Pyramid of Giza the world’s largest tomb? Well, Fort Peck Dam in Montana is 38 times bigger and holds the remains of six workers whose bodies were unable to be recovered when a landslide occurred during its construction in 1938.

For the record, nobody’s body is likely entombed in Hoover Dam.

Largest Tomb William Lawrence Sr Omnibit 10-14-19
Largest Tomb William Lawrence Sr Omnibit 10-14-19

One-point safety William Lawrence Sr Omnibit 10-12-19

Can a football game end with a score of 6-1? Yes Anthony, it theoretically can. The winning team would have had to score a touchdown and botch the extra-point so badly one its players got tackled in its own end zone at the other end of the field. It would be a one-point safety. One point safeties have happened in college ball — albeit the victim was the defensive team — but never in the pros. Obviously, a 6-1 score never happened.

One-point safety William Lawrence Sr Omnibit 10-12-19
One-point safety William Lawrence Sr Omnibit 10-12-19