|
What's On the Tube?
SEPTEMBER 7, 1927 - At the age of 21, Philo T. Farnsworth, a scientist who grew up on a potato farm in Rigby, Idaho, successfully transmitted an image through an Image Dissector Camera Tube. It was the first ever electronic transmission of an image, which in this case was just a simple straight line. Farnsworth and others continued to develop this technology, and he is credited today as the Father of Television. Ironically Farnsworth was not a fan of the medium he invented. It is said he told his children there was nothing worthwhile on television and that he did not allow it in his home.
|
|
Off With His Head
 SEPTEMBER 10, 1977 - Hamida Djandoubi, a Tunisian immigrant who had been convicted on charges of rape, torture and murder, became the last person to be executed by guillotine in France. The guillotine was invented in 1791 during the French Revolution by a committee tasked with finding a quicker and more humane form of execution. It is named after Dr. Joseph-Ignace Guillotin who was a prominent member of that committee. For nearly 200 years the guillotine was the only legal form of execution in France. In 1981 capital punishment was abolished in France.
|
|
Cheaters Never Prosper
SEPTEMBER 10, 2001 - Charles Ingram, a former British Army major, won £1,000,000 on a British version of the television game show Who Wants to be a Millionaire. However the payout was immediately suspended after Ingram was accused of cheating by having his wife, who was present in the audience, cough when the correct answer was read from the list of four possible choices. After an investigation was conducted charges were brought against Ingram and his wife. In April 2003 they were convicted of fraud and both received a suspended 18-month prison sentence and fined £115,000. Furthermore Ingram was forced to resign his military commission and surrender his pension.
|
|
"If it weren't for Philo T. Farnsworth, we'd still be eating frozen radio dinners."
- Johnny Carson
|
History Quiz
So what was the correct answer to Charles Ingram's £1,000,000 question? Email me the correct answer here and be entered into a drawing for two free movie passes. (And no cheating!)
A number one followed by one hundred zeros is known by what name?
A. Googol
B. Megatron
C. Gigabit
D. Nanomole
|
|
