Category: Omnibit

Gray ships are harder to see at night than all black ships. The Navy found this out during World War II, when it painted some destroyers all black.

Gray ships William Lawrence Sr Omnibit 9-28-19

All parts of the dandelion are edible. It’s even cultivated for consumption in many places that are not suburban back yards.

Dandelion are edible William Lawrence Sr Omnibit 9-27-19

Tobacco is radioactive. Just one more reason not to smoke.

Tobacco is radioactive William Lawrence Sr Omnibit 9-26-19

There have been but 15 unassisted triple plays in the 143 years of Major League Baseball. What is noteworthy is that just four of the 30 franchises performed 60 percent of them. Cleveland Naps/Indians with three; and the Phillies, Braves and Red Sox franchises with two each. It’s also worth noting that two of them occurred within three weeks by teams playing for the same city: the Boston Red Sox on Sept. 14, 1923 against the Indians and the Boston Braves on Oct. 6, 1923 against the Philadelphia Phillies.

Unassisted Triple Plays William Lawrence Sr Omnibit 9-25-19

If while in Vienna someone tells you Beethoven slept here, he could be telling the truth. The great composer moved 70 times in the city.

Beethoven slept here William Lawrence Sr Omnibit 9-24-19

The design of the Reichstag building in Berlin where Hitler gave speeches and the Soviets raised a flag is based on Philadelphia’s Memorial Hall.

Design of the Reichstag William Lawrence Sr Omnibit 9-23-19

Lots of horses were killed in making the 1936 movie Charge of the Light Brigade. Director Michael Curtis used a wire to trip the horses galloping at high speeds. About 25 of the animals died in a single battle shot. The deaths became public and the ensuing scandal led to reforms in Hollywood. In Curtis’ defense, the device called the Running W, was in common use in film at the time.

Running W William Lawrence Sr Omnibit 9-21-19

Gerhard Junker back in 1969 studied those split-ring lock washers you get in assembly packages and found they really didn’t work. Actually, he found the lock washers made the bolts get looser faster.

So why do they still make them? Got us by the sneakers.

Lock Washers William Lawrence Sr Omnibit 9-20-19

The last aircraft designed by noted Nazi aircraft maker Willy Messerschmitt was the supersonic interceptor Helwan HA-300 for the Egyptian air force in 1964. Only seven of them were built through 1969. It never saw combat.

Helwan HA-300 William Lawrence Sr Omnibit 9-19-19

Ever hear of Nerva? On this date, Sept. 18, exactly 1923 years ago, he became empire of Rome. He lasted but 15 months before dying of a stroke on Jan. 27, 98. He is considered to have been a pretty good leader.

Nerva Willliam Lawrence Sr Omnibit 9-18-19