Managing Director of Arthur Guinness, Son & Co. Ltd, 1946-1960.
Perhaps he didn't realize it at the time, but the book he had published
created an atmosphere that taught the world that it is Cool to be Crazy.
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Dead Guy
# 1. Sir Hugh Eyre Campbell Beaver,
RIP 1967, Managing Director of Arthur Guinness, Son & Co. Ltd, 1946-1960. Perhaps he didn't realize it at the time, but the book he had published created an atmosphere that taught the world that it is Cool to be Crazy. |
Cool Thing He did. Hey, have you ever
heard of the Guinness Book of Records. Well, Hugh is the man. He got in an argument
concerning which of two European games birds, the golden plover or the grouse,
was the fastest. (Now, ain't that a dumb argument. But, hey, stupidity is the
forefather of most great creations.)
Contribution to Mankind. He got people
to loosen up, enjoy life and be crazy.
Do you know that on September 1, 1996, at the Canfield Fair in Ohio, USA a crowd
of 72,000 people did the Chicken Dance?
Or, that in Sarnia, Ontario, Canada, on February 11, 2000, a total of 1,588
young lovers puckered up and kissed simultaneously? They smooched for 10 seconds
and a new world record.
And that on December 16, 1998, in Carlsbad, New Mexico, a young man set the
record for blowing from his nose a single strand of spaghetti for a record distance
of 19 cm.
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Sir Hugh
deserves our thanks for making Acting Crazy a Cool Thing. |
 |
Here's a sweet,
Japanese girl
letting herself loose and enjoying life & the World Cup! I love her. She's doin' her thing and lettin it all hang loose. <Well, almost.> The World is a better place because of her! |
While we are at it, now is as good a time
as any to wave a red, white or blue jersey, whatever, and salute
Dead Guy # 2.
Sir Arthur Guinness (RIP
1803) BREWER extraordinaire!
Cool Thing He did. For most of his adult life, thanks to his father, he brewed beer. In 1778, he started to brew porter ( a dark beer popular with London porters) and consequently developed his world famous stout.
| Contribution to Mankind. |  |
Draft Guinness 'Nough said. |
Contributing factor in the saying "Faster
horses, younger women, stronger whiskey & Draft Guinness." For those
of you who doubt the benefits, qualities and energy that beer can add to one's
life, please recall that good ol' Sir Arthur fathered 21 children. Now, that's
one for the Guinness Book of Records. I wonder if his dear wife, Olivia, drank
beer. Let's see. 21 x 9 months = 189 months or almost 16 years of being pregnant.
Wow.! My hat is off to her too. She definitely deserves a toast.
Dead Guy # 3.
The early Fifteenth Century Chinese Navigator, Zheng
He, (RIP 1435). Between 1405 & 1433 Admiral He made seven
voyages to South West Asia and Africa. Even today, Zheng He's fleet would kick
ass. He had more than 300 vessels with some 30,000 men. Look out Spanish Armada
and Japan's World War II fleet. Zheng He's flag ship was more than 130 meters
long & almost 60 meters wide. A wooden ship that definitely belongs in the
Guinness Book of Records. Columbus' Santa Maria was reported to be 25 by 8 meters.
Given that the reports on both ships are close to accurate, Zheng's ship could
hold more than 30 Santa Maria sized ships on it's deck..
Cool Thing He did. He was a damn cool navigator and skillful admiral of the sea. He developed the biggest wooden ships in history and gave China the opportunity to become the unchallenged Master of the Seas.
Contribution to Mankind. Unfortunately, except for bringing a few giraffes, rhinoceroses and ostriches to Beijing and some gold and other goodies for the emperor, Zheng He's contribution was limited. Thanks to infighting, the Middle Kingdom government dropped the ball (Its deje vu, all over again) and had the fleet destroyed. Never the less, Zheng He deserves a toast. Bartender, another round of Guinness, please, before we sail away.
