The facts machine
Miscellaneous fact: caw, fen, sylph and gab are useful words — for word games.
Miscellaneous fact: In 1599, Nandabayin, a Burmese king, laughed to death when informed by a visiting Italian merchant that Venice was a free state without a king.
Miscellaneous fact: passersby, bodies politic, daddies-long-legs and gins and tonic are all plural compounds.
Miscellaneous fact: In Cockney Rhyming Slang a "Jam Jar" is a car, "Tomfoolery" is jewellery, "Trouble and Strife" is the wife and "Brass Tacks" are facts.
Facts there from Schott's Original Miscellany, a book that's become a mini-cult, and a hobby that's become a lucrative one-man industry for Ben Schott. What is it about his collection of trivia that has made it such a success? Which brings us to the bigger question: Why can some people see gaps in the market before others do? Another example is Jakob Nielsen, who has turned his thoughts on "website usability" into a very profitable business. Both Nielsen and Schott have spawned copies and clones but the original is what most people prefer. Is it easier to win the lottery than come up with an idea, a concept, a book that millions want to use or own?
Comments
Never mind all that;how is Mrs Rainy Day getting on with her very important mission?
Posted by: Rod | March 3, 2005 11:43 AM
Rod
I am awaiting a report from Mrs Rainy Day. So far, we are confined to text messages, which are somewhat short, but the story is that the people are wonderful, the infrastructure is hit and miss, the fruit is splendid, the team is great, the weather is very warm -- 37C yesterday! But that's not a problem and much preferable she says to the frost. So, that's the story, but there are cybercafes in Dar and a fuller report should be on its way from one of those soon.
Posted by: Eamonn | March 3, 2005 1:35 PM