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Keywords
perpetual motion, technological fraud, Charles Redheffer, engineering, history of technology, inventions, scientific advancements, robotics, historical frauds, innovation
Summary
This conversation explores the historical case of Charles Redheffer and his fraudulent perpetual motion machine in the early 19th century. It delves into the implications of questioning established scientific principles and the role of engineers in exposing technological frauds. The narrative highlights the absurdity of Redheffer's claims and the eventual unraveling of his deception, emphasizing the importance of skepticism in scientific advancement.
Takeaways
Questioning established rules can lead to scientific advancements.
Charles Redheffer's perpetual motion machine was a fraud.
The public was fascinated by the idea of unlimited power.
Redheffer charged different prices for men and women.
Engineers played a crucial role in exposing frauds.
The story illustrates the absurdity of technological deception.
Historical figures like Robert Fulton challenged fraudulent claims.
The narrative highlights the importance of skepticism.
Redheffer's disappearance from history is notable.
The series will focus on technological frauds in history.
Titles
The Illusion of Perpetual Motion
Unmasking the Fraud: Charles Redheffer's Tale
Sound bites
"Have you ever seen a rule and wanted to break it?"
"What could you do with unlimited power source?"
"Thank you for returning with me after our hiatus."
Chapters
00:00 The Quest for Perpetual Motion
02:44 The Rise and Fall of Charles Redheffer
05:28 Exposing the Fraud: The Role of Engineers
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🎙️ Hey there, history buffs! Did you know Teddy Roosevelt and his six kiddos were practically running a zoo in the White House? 🐻🐍 With over 40 pets, including a badger and even a bear 🦡, their adventures are bound to blow your mind! Tune in to our kids history podcast #WildWhiteHouse 🏰🐾 #PodcastFun
If you enjoyed please pass along to friends and your online community.
If you found the mistake I hid in the episode please head over to www.owlandtwine.com and email me the correct answer so I can share your name on our next episode.
Sources:
https://www.nps.gov/thrb/learn/historyculture/roosevelt-assorted.htm
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/presidential-pets-the-roosevelts-menagerie/
https://www.presidentialpetmuseum.com/theodore-roosevelts-bears/
https://www.presidentialpetmuseum.com/presidents/26tr/
https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/presidential-pets
https://www.cnn.com/interactive/2021/02/politics/white-house-pets/
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Mathew Henson
Explorer
I think I am going to do a series of PLEASE SOMEONE IN HOLLYWOOD MAKE A MOVIE ABOUT THIS PERSON
Tell me at the end if you would not sit and binge an entire series about Mathew Henson one of the first people to go to the NorthPole in our Black History month for I Can’t Believe That Happened.
Born August 8 1866 on a farm in Maryland
He was the middle child with an older and a younger sister
His parents were free sharecroppers who escaped to Georgetown after the KKK made southern Maryland too violent to stay.
Mathew was orphaned at a young age and raised by his uncle in Washington DC.
He earned money by washing dishes in a restaurant.
During the speeches of 1863 Mathew was deeply inspired by Fredrick Douglas.
At the age of 12 he became a cabin boy on the Katie Hines traveling to ports in China, Japan, Africa, and the Russian Arctic.
During his time on the Hines he was educated by the ship’s captain
When he returned to land he worked in a clothing store where he met Commander Robert E Peary. Once Robert learned of Mathew’s sea experience eh recruited him for a surveying tour of Nicaragua. Mathew impresses Peary on the voyage and became first man on all upcoming trips.
For twenty years the expeditions centered around the arctic where they traded heavily with the Inuit. Mathew learned their language and was said to be the only non Inuit who became skilled in driving the sled dogs and training the dogs in the Inuit way.
He was a skilled craftsman who learned to build igloos from snow and other mobile housing.
In 1909 Peary mounted an expedition to reach the North Pole. He and Mathew boarded the Roosevelt leaving Greenland along with four Inuit assistants, Four Inuit guides named Egingwah, Ooqueah, Ootah, and Seeglo, and were the first people to set foot on the North Pole.
Mathew was one of six chosen to make the final leg of the journey. Reports have it that Henson was no longer able to continue by foot and used the dog sled to scout ahead of the group.
Henson was the one to plant the American flag.
There was much controversy about the story but their accounts are backed up by the National Geographic association as well as the Naval Affairs Subcommitee of the U.S. House of Representatives.
In 1912 he wrote a book about his experiences traveling widely to give speeches about his experiences. Though Henson was a very important part of the expedition it was Peary who received most of the fame and focus. Henson spent years working as a clerk.
Long overdue in 1937 Henson was given membership to the New York Explorers Club.
Congress awarded him the Peary Polar Expedition Medal in 1944
He was honored by President Truman and President Eisenhower before he died in 1955
Bibliography
https://www.arlingtoncemetery.mil/explore/notable-graves/explorers/matthew-henson
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Welcome to I Can’t Believe That Happened and our first episode on the History of Cursed Jewels.
A quick reminder I always throw in one wrong fact.
If you find it send me and email and let me know what the right fact is and what your source is.
Let’s start with the Ring of Dwarf Hill that inspired The Lord of the Rings author J.R.R. Tolkien
Let’s talk about:
The One ring to rule them all.
The ring that had all of middle earth in a massive power struggle.
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What is it about minerals and gemstones that we find so amazing even beyond their beauty? We give them a supernatural power from healing crystals, to purifications, to remembering our dead with memento mori, to of course curses of long-dead powerful rulers wishing to keep their riches in to the eternity of the afterlife.
We have told stories about cursed gems. There have been books and movies. You will certainly have heard of a few of the stories before or you might find out your favorite tale comes from one of these histories.
When studying history we find often that the most frightening part of the tale is not the supernatural but in the way that people can set aside kindness and treat others in a way that they themselves would not wish to be treated in obtaining a symbol of power and beauty.
As you might imagine the history of jewels is full of these tales. While this is meant to be a fun romp through history I want to leave you with this, never forget those in the margins of your history books and whenever you can choose kindness.
Now lets go far back into a world where stones are so much more than a decoration.
............
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Mercy Otis Warren: Revolutionary Playwright, Historian, and Whistleblower July 4 Episode
In researching the revolution so many names came up that even with my decades of love of history I had never heard. Mercy Otis is one. Which is surprising given how much she did during and after the revolution and the president’s who held her views in high regard. She not only wrote to presidents )who wrote back) but she published plays, pamphlets, and the first history of the revolution published by and American. Though the presidents admired (or mostly admired) her work she did have some critiques on them. She was anti slavery believing that such horrors were undermining to what the country was based on. She was angry at the treatments of the First Nations people and as you may expect was angered that there was no place for women in the new laws.
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Our first black history month at 10-minute history podcast for kids!
This week we are going to be taking a look at Elizabeth Jennings Grahm the woman who started the desegregation of the New York transportation system in the 1800’s.
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The Chess Playing Turk Automaton
The magic trick that astounded the world was not made by a magician. It was not even intended to be a magic trick. It was a challenge and from the challenge one of the most interesting stories about magic and robots came to be.
Bibliography:
Magic 1400’s-1950’s
Daniel, Noel Caveney, Mike Jay, Ricky and Steinmeyer Jim
Taschen
Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Turk
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Created by
Name: John Joseph Merlin (1735-18030)
Apprentice to James Cox.Musical inventor, created a museum called Merlin's Mechanical Museum in Princes Street
In the 1760’s created something like inline skates but forgot a braking system, he tested these two-wheel skates at a party while playing a violin where he became closely acquainted with a large and expensive mirror.
and James Cox ( 1723-1800)
An incredible businessman who reminds me of P.T Barnum. He ran the most expensive museum called the Cox museum. The goal of the museum was to attract royal patrons.
The Swan was created by Merlin and Cox in 1773
The swan was described in a 1773 Act of Parliament as being 3 feet (0.91 m) in diameter and 18 feet (5.49 m) high.
It is life-size
The swan is no longer this tall which brings the question if there was a second swan that might be lost or stolen like the waterfall that was behind the swan that was stolen while the swan was on tour.
The swan automata has a long and interesting history. It was exhibited at the Paris World’s Fair n 1867 and was bought and sold many times.
The swan was admired by Mark Twain during its’ display at the Paris International Exposition of 1864,
‘I watched the Silver Swan, which had a living grace about his movement and a living intelligence in his eyes - watched him swimming about as comfortably and unconcernedly as it he had been born in a morass instead of a jeweler’s shop - watched him seize a silver fish from under the water and hold up his head and go through the customary and elaborate motions of swallowing it...'
When the crank is turned the swan looks around itself then preens its’ silver feathers. It then swings its’ head around searching for the silver fish in the waves of glass. When she finds her prey she swoops down grabbing the wriggling fish in her mouth
Most recently restored 40 years ago, there are three separate clockwork motors. One is for the music, activating steel hammers that strikeout eight tinkling tunes. Another creates the illusion of the babbling brook and its darting fish. A series of camshafts, rollers, and levers rotate twisted glass rods on which seven fish are attached. During the restoration, it was discovered that instead of heading in the same direction, three of the fish were meant to swim forward, the rest backward. It is thought that three of the fish are from the 18th century and four from the 19th.
Bowes bought the swan in 1873 for $318 roughly $32,000 today.
Due to the current pandemic, it looks like the swan might need some more work. During normal times the museum had the swan’s feeding schedule set for 2 PM every day. Since the pandemic, the swan was shut down, once the museum reopened there seems to be a problem with starting the swan back up.
Hopefully, this stunning automata will be back in working order soon!
The swan can be visited at the Bowes Museum in County Durham
Bibliography
https://www.thebowesmuseum.org.uk/Collection/Explore-The-Collection/The-Silver-Swan#
https://www.cultofweird.com/curiosities/silver-swan-automaton/
https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424127887324355904578159601753981708#:~:text=Bowes%20bought%20it%20in%201872,Clock%20in%20the%20Hermitage%2C%20St.
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Jaques de Vaucanson
Early Life:
Jaques de Vaucanson was born in Grenoble, France in 1709
10th child to a poor family of glove makers
Jaques wanted to become a clock maker as a child. His mother being very religious took Jaques to church with her. While she was in confession Jaques would watch the clock until he memorized its’ mechanisms to such perfection he was able to recreate it at home.
When Jaques father died when he was seven he was sent to live and train with the Jesuits. It was a difficult place for Jaques and he did poorly unable to concentrate on lessons. He was even punished for having cogs and wheels to create a boat in his possessions. There was a stand off with the priests where he refused to learn until a teacher would help him make a boat that could cross the pond. After being punished a math teacher and monk decided to help Jaques.
Later he became reacquainted with his love of mechanics after meeting the surgeon Claude-Nicolas Le Cat this is where his love of anatomy came from that will feature in his work.
At 18 he had his first automaton workshop in Lyon in 1727. Jaques created a robot that would serve the dinner and clear the table. Instead of being impressed one of the politicians found the robot to be an insult to the natural order and demanded the workshop to be destroyed.
This era was the time of the robots. They were all the rage in the royal courts though were often classified as toys or games.
Jaques was also greatly admired by the famous minds of his time. Voltaire even called him a "new Prometheus".
Robots:
The Flute Player
The flute player while a marvel was Jaques first steps into creating not just a robot that would perform tasks but a robot that could imitate life. In 1737 the flute player was made as a life size Shepard that could play 12 songs.
It is said that the flute player came to him in a fevered dream during a four month illness.
Vaucanson had been told by a musician that the most difficult instrument to play and tune was a flute. The challenge was set and he decided to make an automaton that would not just mimic playing but would actually play the most difficult instrument.
This is what made the flute player unique in a court full of interesting automata was that the machine was playing the music as if it were alive using fashioned lungs that created the breath, fingers that moved, and a mouth that created the shapes need to make the music. The robot was playing the flute in an approximation of how a human would. He also created a tambourine player and a pipe and drum player based on the same principles.
The Digesting Duck:
When attendance and money fell of from his musicians in 1739, Jaques turned to something entirely new, the digesting Duck.
“…it was the same size as a living duck. It could drink, muddle the water with its beak, quack, rise and settle back on its legs and, spectators were amazed to see, it swallowed food with a quick, realistic gulping action in its flexible neck.” Gaby Wood
It is important to say the duck would grab pellets from the hands of visitors, gulp the food down a tube where the pellets would be “digested” in the duck’s stomach and then the duck would poop out the food. The entire food cycle in a robot duck all to the hilarity and enraptured crowd of France.
Research:
This Eighteenth-Century Robot Actually Used Breathing to Play the Flute
By Kat Eschner
SMITHSONIANMAG.COM
FEBRUARY 24, 2017
Living Dolls: A Magical History Of The Quest For Mechanical Life by Gaby Wood The Gaurdia
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Leonardo DaVinci’s Robots History Podcast for Kids. Robot Lion, first self-driving cart, and robot lion all from the 1400’s! Share and press like.
Early Life: 1452- 1519 born into a challenging circumstance in Florence, Italy, but was given an apprenticeship at a painter's studio. Fishing reference.
Robots:
The knight’s existence was discovered in 1957 by historian Carlo Pedretti.
Designed 1495 wearing German-Italian armor. According to records, it is believed the knight was built and at a celebration for Duke Ludovico Sforza in the court of Milan.
The knight worked via gear and pulley.
2002 the knight was rebuilt by robotics expert Mark Rosheim.
The knight went on to NASA helping in designing the planetary exploration robots.
1478 the design was based on clock works with the power coming from wound up springs to regulate the cart’s drive mechanism. The direction or steering could be programmed with pegs put in round holes which would guide the carts directions to move at specific times. The drawing were found in the early 1900’s by Girolamo Calvi who dubbed the cart “Leonardo’s Fiat.”
In 2004 a working replica was made in Florence at 1:3 scale.
Take a look at these and then look up the Mars Land Rover.
Recreations and Applications to Current Robotics:
According to records he built two automated lions for the French King Louis XII in 1509. It is said that one could rear up on their hind legs and present lilies (the flower of France). The second was a gift to Francois I when he visited, you guessed it Lyons (a city in France) in 1515. The King was so impressed with his new mechanical pet he offered Leonardo a permanent home in the French court.
Unlike the cart and the knight, we have far more records of the lions. Michelangelo wrote on the second lion’s abilities and design.
The lion was powered by a key capable of 10 steps before needing to be turned again.
In 2019 the lion was remade for The Italian Culture Institute in Paris. The lion was 10 feet long and 7 feet tall.
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Name: Badīʿ az-Zaman Abu l-ʿIzz ibn Ismāʿīl ibn ar-Razāz al-Jazarī
Early Life :
Born 1136 CE
Born in Upper Mesopotamia. Like his father, he served as chief engineer at Artuklu Palace. His book: The Book of knowledge of Ingenious Mechanical Devices includes all we know of al- Jazari's life and only includes inventions he created himself.
Wrote: The Book of Knowledge of Ingenious Mechanical Device descriptions of over fifty mechanical devices with instructions on how to build them. His book was so important because he wrote it with full instructions, not keeping any trade secrets, a DIY book.
Famous Inventions:
The camshaft: this invention is what truly makes something a programmable computer. These are not seen again in Europe until a few centuries later. While we will focus on his Automata he did invent ways to bring water up without electricity.
Automata: Moving peacock driven by hydropower.
Musical Robot Band: Remember the can system? Robotic musicians would float on the lake playing music according to which can was put in place. Why the lake? Water power or hydraulic power.
Clocks:
Elephant clock
Castle clock: 11 feet high displayed zodiac, solar, and lunar orbits. The clock had five robot musicians 2 falcons that would drop balls into buses
Best Website
to view the book and an easy breakdown for teachers and homeschoolers https://aljazaribook.com/en/
Bibliography:
Al-Jazari: The Mechanical Genius
by Salim Al-Hassani
https://muslimheritage.com/al-jazari-the-mechanical-genius/
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Lived: 1st century writing between 60-70 AD.
Was a student of Ctesibius a man believed to be the head of the Museum of Alexandria. It is thought he was a teacher and lecturer there as well. Historians believe this since his writings appear to be lecture notes. He was also inspired by Inspired by Philo of Byzantium (3 centuries before wrote about the use of trapped and compressed air)
The museum was described to be a school that taught through experimenting and doing as well as by lecture. “Unusual blend of pure science with engineering . . . [and] applied technology . . . [where] much can be discovered through experiment.”
Wrote: Automata, the Pneumatica, the Dioptra, the Catoprica and the Mechanical
Hero used these techniques and expanded on them using water, steam, a need for the inventions, and a sense of humor.
From amusing tabletops (Hercules stands with a bow on the ground is an apple in front is a tree with a servant. If one lifts the apple Hercules draws his arrow and servant begins to hiss.)
In his treatise on pneumatics Hero outlines various birds that could move and sing according to which species they were be changing the pressure of air or water or the length of the tube. One of my favorites is the fountain surrounded by songbirds that would trill until an automaton owl would turn and notice them into still silence.
Hero also created a programmable cart that was powered by a falling weight. The ability for the cart to be programmed was created by strings wrapped around the driving axel. Pay attention to the rest of the book and see how many inventors use this invention as a starting point.
Hero is credited with the first robot which was used in his mechanical theatre. A theatre that ran a ten-minute play where actors, scenery, and sound were all mechanical and powered by gears and pullies.
“Using pegs projecting from the axle, Heron could vary how the rope was wound around the axle, allowing the robot to change direction and move along a pre-programmed course. This primitive mechanism is very similar to a modern binary computer language; old fashioned punch cards operated on exactly the same principle.
Heron used the same system of ropes, cylindrical axles and knots to create a mechanical play of almost 10 minutes in length, including dropping metal balls onto a sheet of metal to resemble thunder.” Heron's Inventions, Martyn Shuttleworth
Hero is credited with creating the world’s first:
Automatic Door Opener:
vending machine
Steam engine: Described by NASA as a "rocket-like device," Hero's steam engine (called an aeolipile) was essentially:
A hollow sphere that can rotate about an axis passing through antipodal points, because of steam flowing out through two bend pipes placed at its equator.
In case you would like to build your own
Hero gave detailed instructions on how to build one:
Place a cauldron over a fire: a ball shall revolve on a pivot. A fire is lighted under a cauldron . . . containing water, and covered at the mouth by the lid . . . with this the bent tube . . . communicates, the extremity of the tube being fitted into the hollow ball. . . . Opposite to the extremity . . . place a pivot . . . resting on the lid . .. and let the ball contain two bent pipes, communicating with it at the opposite extremities of a diameter, and bent in opposite directions, the bends being at right angles . . . . As the cauldron gets hot it will be found that the steam, entering the ball . . . passes out through the bent tubes towards the lid, and causes the ball to revolve.
Mechanical Puppet Theatre: Animated figures acted out a series of dramatic events, including the repair of Ajax's ship by nymphs wielding hammers, the Greek fleet sailing the seas accompanied by leaping dolphins, and the final destruction of Ajax by a lightning bolt hurled at him by the goddess Athena.
Fire Engine: described by Heroas follows:
Take two vessels of bronze [made] to fit . . . pistons fitted to boxes. Let the cylinders [be connected] by means of the tube and be provided with valves . . . within the tube end opening outwards from the cylinders. In the bases of the cylinders pierce circular apertures . .. covered with polished hemispherical cups . . . through which insert spindles . . . connected with the bases of the cylinders. . . . The centre of the pistons fasten the vertical rods . . . and attach to [a] . . . beam . . . branching into two arms . . . and provided with small pipes through which to force up water . . . [and] producing a water-jet by means of the compressed air.
Fountain: •A standalone fountain that operates under self-contained hydro-static energy; now called Heron's fountain.
Bibliography
The Amazing Ancient Machines of Hero of Alexandria
https://gizmodo.com/the-amazing-ancient-machines-of-hero-of-alexandria-1533213972
The pneumatics of Hero of Alexandria, from the original Greek.
https://www.loc.gov/resource/rbc0001.2009gen41532/
Heron's Inventions
https://explorable.com/heron-inventions
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Archytas of Terentum First Drone
mathematician, political leader (elected seven times), and philosopher
Alive and active during the time of Plato. We know this because he sent a ship to rescue Plato from Syracuse. (not the city → this guy).
We only have four fragments of Archytas' work. We mostly rely on writings that took place fifty years after his death to piece together his life.
350 B. C.
The first self-propelled flying device
Wooden mechanical dove capable of flapping wings and flying
200 Meters using compressed air and steam.
These are second-hand reports and many believe pulleys and counterweights were used since the first wind up bird was not invented until a few hundred years later by Hero of Alexandria who will talk about next week-This is only a theory since all records of the event state that-the bird actually flew but with no drawings of the workings of the dove we have to take guesses. Until a clever person or child recreates this original drone using materials and techniques of the times to see what was possible.
Bibliography
A Brief History of Robot Birds
The early Greeks and Renaissance artists had birds on their brains By Jimmy Stamp
SMITHSONIANMAG.COM
MAY 22, 2013
Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy
Archytas
First published Thu Jun 26, 2003; substantive revision Tue Aug 23, 2016
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Today I want to talk about Elizabeth Jennings her story is about the importance of challenging systems
A special thank you to Mo Rocca and his show Mobituaries for bringing Elizabeth Jennings to my attention and patching up a massive hole in my US. history education.
Elizabeth Jennings-Grahm Born free in 1827 to a freeborn father and a mother who was born into slavery. Her father Thomas L. Jennings was the first black patent holder in 1821 for developing a new clothes Cleaning method. He was able to purchase his wife's freedom though under the abolition law of 1799 She remained an indentured servant until 1827. Elizabeth grew up with well politically-active parents. Elizabeth grew up to become a school teacher at New York African Free School-and was the organist at her church.
During the 1850's the 'bus' was a horse-drawn wagon. These were not run by the city but by private companies that felt that they could refuse passengers or assign seating based on race. The rule was segregated carts or if no person objected then they could ride.
On July 16, 1854 Jennings was running late for service at church. Elizabeth and her friend Sarah Adams got on the trolley and was ordered off. She refused bravely holding window sashes and then the conductors' coat as she was thrown off. She jumped back on the train only to be forcibly removed by a police officer.
Her father took donations at church to sue the transportation company Third Avenue Railroad Company. Fredrick Douglas wrote about her case in his paper. The future president of the United States was her lawyer, Chester A Arthur. This is almost exactly one hundred years before Rosa Parks. with a jury of all white men, they ruled in favor of Elizabeth awarding her $250 about $8,000 today. She had asked for $500. Judge William Rockwell added 10 percent plus legal costs. This made the railway companies desegregate and began a ten-year process to full desegregation in 1865 of the New York public transportation system.
Elizabeth continued teaching for thirty-five years. She did go on to start and operate one of the first kindergartens for black children out of her home in her later years. She died on June 5 1901.
For a woman who used her bravery and her use of disobedience to challenge a corrupt system why have so many not heard her name? Thanks to a group of third and fourth graders from P. S. 361 lobbied in 2007 to name the street corner "Elizabeth Jennings Place" In 2019 Chirlane McCray announced a statue at Grand Central. please see our show notes for details or how you might help.
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For the start of black history month, we are going to head all the way back to the old west to meet a man who has been long thought to be the inspiration behind The Lone Ranger. Take a listen through and if you are familiar with the TV show or watched the latest movie let me know below what you think. Without any dispute Bass Reeves was one of the most feared lawmen of the west.
Born 1838 in Crawford County, Arkansas as a slave. The slave owner was Confederate Colonel George Reeves and during the war. There are conflicting accounts as to what happened but on record, he said to have left to ensure his safety and his freedom.
Bass Reeves escaped into Oklahoma territory where he found help and friendship amongst the Cherokee, Choctaw, Chickasaw, Creek, and Seminole First Nations Tribes. During his time with The First Nations Tribes, he learned the skills that would make him one of the best lawmen of the west. He learned to track, shoot, ride, and fluently speak five First Nations Languages. By the way, if I am using First Nations and Native incorrectly please email me. I did an extensive search but I am open to corrections.
It is said that he left his master but that he went to the Union to fight. Other accounts have him moving to Arkansas to farm and marry Nellie Jennie (and have 11 children). Some accounts say both.
Bass Reeves started as US Marshal in Oklahoma and the Arkansas Territories in 1875. Bass Reeves was never taught reading. He was said to have memorized how the suspect’s name looked on the paper ad was able to match it with the warrant. He was never said to have arrested the wrong person.
He was known for his relentless pursuits of criminals and while shot at many times was said to have never been hit by a bullet. He did come close having both his hat and belt shot off. His jurisdiction territory spanned seventy-five thousand square miles. It was said that when a deputy marshal rode out for a round trip of 800 miles a wagon and a cook who also served as a guard went along. This territory was supposed to be handled by 200 deputies unfortunately according to records only twenty to thirty worked at a time.
In total Bass Reeves accounted for over 3,000 felons using disguises (a fellow criminal hunted and shot at by law enforcement, a woman, or a preacher). Taking them in as they say dead or alive. Though according to the numbers he made sure to state of just over 3,000 he only had to kill 14 and only in self-defense.
After he retired at 67 he spent two years as a city policeman in Muskogee, Oklahoma. During those two years, there were no reported crimes in his new territory.
Historians have an incredible benefit to Bass Reeves working life in that he would often be followed by newspaper reporters who would give eye witness accounts.
If you ever in the neighborhood go pay respects the bridge that crosses the Arkansas River named the Bass Reeves Memorial Bridge.
One of my favorite depictions of Bass Reeves was on a short-lived but amazing sci fi show Timeless.
A thank you to Owlcation and the writer Readmikenow for a huge leg up on the structure of this episode
References:
The Muskogee Pheonix
The Oklahoma City Weekly Times-Journal
Key words Oklahoma History, Midwest History, Arkansas History
The Washinton Post
The Muskogee Pheonix
The Oklahoma City Weekly Times-Journal
National Parks Service
Key words Oklahoma History, Midwest History, Arkansas History
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Pandora:
The myth of Pandora can be read as a warning against artificial intelligence or AI. As the first AI being created (by Hephaestus) she did define the chaos of what AI can bring.
In Hesiod’s Theogony Pandora is made as a response to Prometheus giving the human’s fire. Zeus seemed to think that was just a step too far in the human power direction and not enough in the all-mighty Zeus and God power line up.
So Zeus goes to his brilliant design and crafting god, Hephaestus, and asks him to create a woman. Depending on what you read she is made of earth or breathed into existence using fire.
The other Gods and Goddesses circle round giving her intelligence, beauty, and of course curiosity. Her name means “all gifted or all giving”. She is also given a box and told NOT TO OPEN IT.
The box contained the entirety of ills that can befall a civilization. Even if you have never heard the myth I bet you can guess what happens. After all of the horrible exits the box (or jar again depending on the reading) there is a tinkering sound. Pandora, I am guessing has a what else could go wrong attitude opens the box again. The tinkering sound is a ball of light which is hope.
So much to unpack here but I think this myth is an important one. Artificial intelligence offers us incredible convenience, progress, and for many in the disabled community's quality of life and communication. But do you think can go wrong? As we invent do we also have a responsibility to see what pitfalls our progress might hold? If we know a cliff is coming perhaps we can create some safety protocols. From our last chapter, you were supposed to think up a robot to do a task. You were going to think of what the task would be and what you would need to program the robot to do and how its’ design would help it in its’ task. Now I would like you to think about what would you do with your robot to make sure it does what you want it to do but does not do what it is not programmed to?
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