Quickies
Quickies: Hedy Lamarr, the extinction of guinea worms, and bicycle face
- Docs slam rumors that migrants carry disease – “Doctors say they are concerned about false rumors and “hysteria” that the unaccompanied children coming across the border from Mexico into Texas are carrying diseases such as Ebola and dengue fever.” From Michael.
- Hedy Lamarr: Actor, inventor, amateur engineer – An episode of the Australian radio show The Science Show. From Robert.
- Guinea worm on the verge of extinction – “Back in the mid-’80s, more than 3 million people were catching the parasite each year. Then an international campaign started slashing cases, year after year.” From Mary.
- 19th century health scare of “bicycle face” – All that pedaling could simply ruin your complexion. From Sarah.
It’s not *Hedy*, it’s *Hedley*. Hedley Lamarr.
“I want rustlers, cut throats, murderers, bounty hunters, desperados, mugs, pugs, thugs, nitwits, halfwits, dimwits, vipers, snipers, con men, Indian agents, Mexican bandits, muggers, buggerers, bushwhackers, hornswogglers, horse thieves, bull dykes, train robbers, bank robbers, ass-kickers, shit-kickers and Methodists. “–Hedley Lamarr, Blazing Saddles
What’s actually funny is, I’m sure Mel Brooks playing a Sioux chief was parodying how a lot of Indians in the 30s were actually played by white actors. What changed that was Tonto. So you can imagine, Johnny Depp as Tonto was…a punch in the gut.
Or maybe because Lakota just has a bunch of postalveolar and velar fricatives. Or a shot at the Mormons, who have probably exploited that little fact at some point.
Cracked had Hedy Lamarr a while back.
Anyway, I won’t be sad to see the guinea worm go.
Amanda,
“bicycle face?” Now I’ve heard everything.