Ripley's Believe It or Not by Ripley’s Believe It or Not! for October 01, 2015
September 30, 2015
October 02, 2015
Transcript:
Sailors once measured the proof of rum by mixing it with gunpowder and igniting it- it only lighted if it was above 57% alcohol. Cosmonaut Sergei Krikalev launched into space as a Soviet citizen but returned as a Russian citizen- he was in orbit when the Soviet Union dissolved. The largest squid ever captured weighed about 990 pounds and was nearly 39 feet long. If calamari rings were made from it, they would have been the size of tractor tires!
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Templo S.U.D. about 9 years ago
The rum thing is reminding me of the Flamin’ Moe of “The Simpsons.”
Bilan about 9 years ago
Curios, how did they start a fire on a boat back then?
DoubleM about 9 years ago
King Calamari~
dr_dolittle_rwc about 9 years ago
Yeah, but wouldn’t the gun powder light anyway?
Simon_Jester about 9 years ago
Uh, ‘Ishy’ would like a word with you.
Old Texan75 about 9 years ago
The gunpowder wouldn’t light if the water content of the rum was to too high. Wet gunpowder won’t burn.
There were fire starting mechanisms consisting of a handle, like a pistol, and a flintlock. This was held over tinder and the shower of sparks ignited the tinder, gunpowder or whatever. Also pocket firestarters of just a piece of steel and a flint. One just struck the steel with the flint to create a shower of sparks. Tool stores and prepper suppliers still have them.
aerilim about 9 years ago
I read that giant squid is not edible due to it’s high content of ammonia.
Stephen Gilberg about 9 years ago
“You can’t go home again.”
Brown Leghorn about 9 years ago
Moonshine is just right when a small amount spilled out on a suface will ignite and burn with a blue flame. Shake it in a clear bottle and count the seconds it takes for the “Frog eyes” to disappear is another way to see how strong it is.
finnygirl Premium Member about 9 years ago
Wonder if Sergei had to get a passport before he could return home? :-D