Historian
I can think of no better use of resources than to mess with the people of the future.
From the Believer:
This explains menhirs and moai better than anything else, I think; though I may be the only historian who attributes major monuments to whimsy and irony. h/t
Image Cite: flow14, “Carhenge @ Sunset,” Flickr, CC License
Sometimes you can tell a source is going to be good just from the index.
Case in point, some selections from the index to the “Squadron Letters” (reports to the Navy Department) for Commodore John H. Aulick’s cruise to China, 1851-1853:
California Joe, Chinese coolie, participation in mutiny on the ROBERT BROWNE, 510
…
CELESTIAL, American clipper ship, chased by a fleet of piratical junks, 565, 685
…
Flag, United States:
Insult offered to, by the govt of Zanzibar, 267
Saluted by the govt of Zanzibar, 238, 239, 262, 265
…
Flogging, effects of abolition of, in the US Navy, 99, 100, 161, 162
…
Shipwrecked Japanese mariners:
Death and burial of leader, 717
Protest their return to Japan in one of our warships, 477, 478
ST MARYS ordered to receive them on board from U.S. revenue cutter POLK, 761
Thirteen of, still on U.S.S. SUSQEUHANNA, 566
Transferred to U.S.S. SUSQEUHANNA from U.S.S. ST MARYS at Macao, 417, 418
…
Sultan of Muscat and Zanzibar
Detained at Muscat by troubles among Arabian subjects, 230, 261
Not at home, 226
…
Busy trip, eh? And I’ve left out most of the mutinies.
Unfortunately, awesome means lots more work. Everything has a price…
Dael A. Norwood 