Oldest clock in the world

The Sumerians of Mesopotamia, who is thought to have invented writing in the 4th century BC, based their numerical system on powers of 60 (instead of 100) subdivided into multiples of 10. It was from this system that Sumero-Babylonians developed the time system that we use today: each hour divided into 60 minutes, which are divided into 60 seconds. By the way, there are 31 556 926 seconds in a year.

In olden days time was told mostly by sundials. The first timepiece was a clepsydra, a water clock, introduced at about 1500 BC. Time was measured by the regulated flow of water. Later developments of the clepsydra would drop a metal ball into a bowl upon the hour.

The first mechanical clock is thought to have been designed by an Italian monk around 1275. The clock was driven by the slow pull of a falling weight, basically like a very big hour hand. The world's oldest working clock (pictured) was built in 1386 and is still ticking away at Salisbury Cathedral, UK. Like all clocks of that time it has no face but strikes the hour on a bell.

Today, the International Atomic Time, kept by 300 atomic clocks around the world, keeps earth's time to within microseconds of accuracy of solar time. However, since the rotation of earth is slightly irregular and slowing down slowly, a leap second has to be added occasionally, giving us the world standard time known as Coordinated Universal Time (UTC).

If all of the above left you scared, you probably suffer from chronophobia, the phobia of time. If you don't mind the time but suffer from chronomentrophobia, the fear of clocks, head out to Las Vegas: there are no clocks in the gambling casinos.

Which words in the English language end with "gry"?

Have you been asked which words end with “gry”? It is an age-old trick question that people often get wrong. The full question goes like this:

"Think of words ending in 'gry.' 'Hungry' and 'angry' are two of them. There are only three words in the English language. What is the third word? The word is something everyone uses every day. If you've listened carefully, I've already told you what that word is."

Answer: The third word was "language", being the third word in "the English language."

The idea of the question is to draw attention from the main facts - much like a magician draws your attention away from his trick. The first two sentences are to be disregarded - they don't matter. Therefore, the true trick of the question is, 'there are three words in 'the English language'... what is the 3rd word?' The 3rd word is 'language.'

This is the concept of concentration shift also used by advertising agencies and politicians. For instance, the ugly habit of smoking is dressed up by placing it with beautiful models. Another example: "Low fat milk - only 2½ fat" while full cream milk is about 3% fat (the lower fat content is mostly due to more added water, therefor the end product costs the supplier much cheaper). Or a politician would answer a question with a question to try to take your mind off the issue (or the truth). But the question is: do you know which words in the English language end with "gry"?

Stick 'em up! In a nice way

Some of the most famous criminals in the world were known to be quite courteous. John Dillinger (1903-1934) being one - graciously tipping his hat to the female bank tellers he was about to rob. In the 17th century, the French-born highwayman Claude Duval (1643-1670) is said to have been very charming during hold-ups on the English country roads: he would dance with the ladies before making off with their money and jewelery. Going a step further was John Clavell (1601-1643), who published a leaflet on the habits of criminals - after all, he also was a author, playwright and poet. He advised people not to be on the road on Sundays, it being the most popular day for hold-ups - including his own best day for business.

Nowadays, the most popular day for bank robberies is Friday... while every day of the week appears to be popular for bankers to rob people of their money. These banker robbers are mostly old gray men in funny suits but notice that the fashionable highwaymen hardly had bonus days.

Four Banks Highway Robbery by Peter Nicholson, witty cartoonist with The Australian.