This is about Whale Oil. The other two words are added for fun and the whole title must be read at speed. Takes you back to School doesn't it?
I'll come to the Whale Oil later.
Like fire, or the aggregation of crystals, civilisation is spurred by itself. It has crackled and leapt on for 300,000 years, give or take a fortnight, to the present amazing level. Like fire, it burns all the time but flares up, and dies down by times. The flare-ups are technological leaps, like taming the horse, or making iron, or transistors. This civilising conflagration is still raging but there are boundaries, even to progress, and the flammable material eventually will be virtually all consumed, and progress will slow to nearly nothing. The explorations of science into cosmology, atomic structure, genetics, physics, and all the make up of our physical world is already well advanced. It is sure that all will be known in due course and much less remains to be discovered and developed than we have already found. Priorities have been observed in the past; necessity being the Mother of Invention. A cure for diphtheria was made before the non-stick frying pan. Now we are as much into research and development for leisure and diversion, as we are for need.
We have established that it has not been steady progress, this civilisation. Why didn't we make the advances of the last two hundred years, long before, if not 300,000 years before, then at least earlier than we did?
The answer is light. Artificial light.
Twenty thousand years ago (yesterday in our time-line) at a barbecue, fat dropped out of the spitted pig and made the fire flare up. Our Grandad collected some in a little pot, put a wick in and there was light. He could now read in bed, if he had been able to read and if there had been any books. This little animal fat lamp, for the first time, extended the working time beyond the daylight hours, and extended the working areas to dark caves and mines. But it was scarce stuff, fat from animals. No natural substitute was found, except beeswax, which was even more limited in supply. Fat or oil, was expensive, fetched a lot of money or barter. Working on the theory that the amount of fat obtained was relative to the size of the animal, our clever ancestors went for the largest animal on Earth to get oil. It was a success, not only did Whales have a great deal of fat because of their size, they were extra well endowed with blubber for swimming in bitter cold water. Many boats, with forty or fifty men in each would spend a year in the Antarctic and Arctic Oceans catching and boiling the leviathans, so that a fellow might light his whale oil lamp in London or Dresden and study the leg of a flea. Thus more people had access to light, to burn the midnight oil in experiment and thought.
By the light of the whale scientists pored and delved and increasingly efficient successors were found. Paraffin Lamps, Candles, Gas, Electricity.
When you think that without it there would be no 'East Enders' and we'd all have to go to bed at six o'clock, all you can say is 'Whale Oil Beef Hooked.'
Peter :-6
Goldfish Hamlet
- Board index General Forums History
- Search
-
- It is currently Thu Mar 28, 2024 5:48 am
- All times are UTC-07:00
Whale Oil, Beef, Hooked.
- retepsnikrep
- Posts: 71
- Joined: Wed Dec 13, 2006 9:39 am
- retepsnikrep
- Posts: 71
- Joined: Wed Dec 13, 2006 9:39 am
Whale Oil, Beef, Hooked.
Post by retepsnikrep »
Diuretic;503890 wrote: Well placed in the history section. I remember hearing that one in 1975
Nice one Ha Ha :-6
Nice one Ha Ha :-6
Jump to
- Official Forumgarden Area
- ↳ News and Announcements
- ↳ Request A New Forum Here
- ↳ Problems, Solutions Feedback
- ↳ Threads containing hotlinks
- ↳ Test Forum
- Relaxing in the Garden
- ↳ Introductions
- ↳ Member Map Link
- ↳ Photos
- ↳ Member Map Discussion
- ↳ Members' News
- ↳ ForumGarden Hotel
- ↳ General Chit Chat
- ↳ Friends, Relationships, Advice
- ↳ Mental Health
- ↳ Travel Vacation
- ↳ FG Game Shows
- ↳ The Dating Game
- ↳ Commentary
- ↳ FG's Got Talent!
- ↳ Mystery Gardener!
- ↳ Weather Station
- ↳ Welcome To My Day!
- ↳ Pub Nutters Inn
- ↳ The Coffee Shop
- ↳ Holidays
- ↳ Just For The Fun Of It
- ↳ Arcade Discussions
- ↳ Word Games
- ↳ This Deserves A Caption
- ↳ Links to the Fascinating
- ↳ Explain Your Avatar!
- ↳ Did You Know?
- ↳ Show Us Your Computer Station
- ↳ Skewed News Humor
- TV Movie Chatter
- ↳ General TV Shows
- ↳ Soap Operas
- ↳ Films Cinema Forum
- Music Forums
- ↳ General Music
- ↳ New Releases
- ↳ Song Lyrics
- ↳ Favorite Music Videos
- My Favorite Videos
- ↳ Arts Animation
- ↳ Autos Vehicles
- ↳ Comedy
- ↳ Music
- ↳ People
- ↳ Pets Animals
- ↳ Science Technology Videos
- ↳ Sports
- ↳ Travel Places
- ↳ Video Games
- Personal Forums
- ↳ Fitness Nutrition
- ↳ Wall Street to Main Street
- ↳ Health Wellness
- ↳ Diabetes
- ↳ Men's Health
- ↳ Women's Health
- ↳ Healthcare
- ↳ Work Employment
- ↳ Fashion Clothing
- ↳ Home Management
- ↳ Kids Family
- ↳ Physically Challenged
- Support and Counseling
- ↳ Recovery Forum
- ↳ Bereaved People
- ↳ Bereaved Parents
- General Forums
- ↳ Current Events
- ↳ History
- ↳ Bizarre News Stories
- ↳ Conspiracy Theories
- ↳ Conservation The Environment
- ↳ Polls, Polls, and more Polls
- ↳ Philosophy
- ↳ Wide World of Sports
- ↳ Societal Issues News
- Crimes, Trials, Justice
- ↳ Crimes Trials
- ↳ Missing Children
- ↳ Missing Adults
- ↳ Amber Alert Forum
- Shop 'Til You Drop
- ↳ Hot Deals Freebies
- Dogs, Cats, All Things Pet Related
- ↳ The Pets In Our Lives
- ↳ Pet Advice Support
- ↳ Choosing a Pet
- ↳ Training Your Pet
- ↳ Pet Behavior
- ↳ Your Pet's Diet
- Farming
- ↳ Pastoral
- ↳ Hydroponic
- ↳ Arable
- Autos, Motorcycles, Anything With Wheels
- ↳ Cycling and Cyclists
- ↳ Biker Forum
- ↳ General Chit Chat
- ↳ Auto Racing
- Radio Forums
- ↳ General Radio
- ↳ Amateur Radio
- ↳ Shortwave Listening
- ↳ Collecting and Refurbishing
- ↳ Radio Tech: HD Radio, Satellite, SDR, Packet
- Politics
- ↳ Current Political Events
- ↳ Immigration
- ↳ Abortion
- ↳ Gun Control
- ↳ Drugs, Alcohol Tobacco
- ↳ Health Care
- ↳ Warfare Military
- ↳ Presidential Elections Campaigns
- ↳ Social Human Rights
- ↳ International Politics
- ↳ Political Humor Satire
- Arts Entertainment
- ↳ The Time Capsule
- ↳ Time Capsule Photo Gallery
- ↳ The Nifty 1950's
- ↳ The Psychedelic 1960's
- ↳ The Super 70's
- ↳ The Awesome 80's
- ↳ The 1990's.
- ↳ Our Current Decade
- ↳ The Television Forum
- ↳ The Library
- ↳ Talk About Comedy
- ↳ The Gaming Zone - PC Console
- ↳ Flash Games
- ↳ Web Design Art Forum
- ↳ Poetry Writing Forum
- Religions Beliefs
- ↳ General Religious Discussions
- ↳ Christianity
- ↳ Modern Ancient Paths
- ↳ Body, Mind, Soul
- ↳ Magic Mystery
- ↳ Ancient Wisdom
- ↳ Islam
- ↳ Judaism
- ↳ Eastern Religions
- ↳ Godlessness
- ↳ Prophecies and Prophets
- Science Technology
- ↳ Science
- ↳ Paranormal Science
- ↳ Space and Astronomy
- ↳ Earth Changes
- ↳ The Internet
- ↳ Computers Internet
- ↳ Electronic Gadgets Galore
- ↳ Home and Car Audio
- Hobbies - Special Interest Forums
- ↳ The Outdoors
- ↳ Gardening Forum
- ↳ Garden Galleries
- ↳ Photography More
- ↳ Geo Photo Blogging
- ↳ Needlecrafts
- ↳ The Kitchen
- ↳ Arts Crafts
- Senior Forums
- ↳ Retirement Planning
- ↳ Retirement Activities
- ↳ Health and Drug Concerns
- ↳ Senior Share
- Regional
- ↳ United States
- ↳ New England / Mid Atlantic
- ↳ South East
- ↳ Mid West
- ↳ Mountain West
- ↳ South West
- ↳ Pacific West
- ↳ Australia
- ↳ Canada
- ↳ United Kingdom
- ↳ England
- ↳ Scotland
- ↳ Wales
- ↳ Northern Ireland
- ↳ Ireland
- ↳ Other Regions
- Westcliff Rules Debating Area
- ↳ Watch
- ↳ Discuss
- ↳ Propose
- ForumGarden Blogs
- ↳ Recent Blog Postings