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Historical tidbits you didn't know you needed to know

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fuzzytomcat:
"Iolite" gemstone of the Vikings -

When Leif Eriksson and the other legendary Viking explorers ventured far out into the Atlantic Ocean, away from any coastline that could help them determine their position, they had a secret gem weapon: iolite. The Viking mariners used thin pieces of it as the world's first polarising filter. Looking through an iolite lens, they were able to determine the exact position of the sun even in the fog, and navigate their way safely to the New World and back.

 ;D
 

cgonzales:

--- Quote from: billyfridge on July 17, 2007, 07:55:06 pm ---As incredible as it sounds, men and women took baths only twice a year (May and October)! Women kept their hair covered, while men shaved their heads (because of lice and bugs) and wore wigs. Wealthy men could afford good wigs mad e from wool. They couldn't wash the wigs, so to clean them they would carve out a loaf of bread, put the wig in the shell, and bake it for 30 minutes The heat would make the wig big and fluffy, hence the term "big wig." Today we often use the term "here comes the Big Wig" because someone appears to be or is powerful and wealthy.

 ;D


--- End quote ---
So this is the reason why i saw some old pictures that involves rich ones with lots of lice squeezing out from their wigs.  O0

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