Random factoid is random but cool

[donutsweeper]

Did you know the United States once had an emperor?

On September 17, 1859, Joshua Abraham Norton distributed letters to newspapers in San Francisco stating he "declare and proclaim myself Emperor of these U.S."

He later went on to dissolved the United States of America and also barred Congress from meeting in Washington, D.C.

He "reigned" over the United States as Emperor (along with the added responsibility of being the "Protector of Mexico") for 21 years, until his death on January 8, 1880.

The official 1870 census, by the way, had his occupation listed as "Emperor" (although it did also list him as insane).



(click 3x to see full sized, his entry is on line 24)

....things you learn O.o

Comments

[mad-jaks.livejournal.com]

*is amused*

I'm also hungry, but I'll have to address that problem later...


ETA *pouts* I daren't read your NCIS posts :(

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

*offers donuts*

Has the new season of NCIS started for you yet?

[mad-jaks.livejournal.com]

Well! Where to begin!
We were SUPPOSEDLY getting them only a week or two behind you guys, then FX put it on "Christmas Break" at the end of Enemies Foreign (at the end of November/beginning of December) and we won't get Enemies Domestic until February!!!!!!!!!!

Two months for Christmas WTF?

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

I don't think you're that far behind us, we haven't had many new episodes since Nov sweeps, maybe 3 more episodes have aired here?

[mad-jaks.livejournal.com]

That makes me feel somewhat mollified.

They're currently reshowing S8 from the beginning - tonight's is episode 3 - so it will be 6 weeks before we get the new ones. *flails sadly*


Nov sweeps
I don't know what that is?

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

In the US Nov, Feb and May are "sweeps" months. Here shows are made or broken by viewing numbers (you may have heard of the Nielsen ratings). Rating in general are watched and fussed over, but it is during the 'sweeps' times that determine how much the network can charge for the ads that run during the show, so the BIG episodes always air then- weddings, births, explosions, deaths, etc

[mad-jaks.livejournal.com]

I knew that went on - you can't really NOT notice when you're in fandom - but not that those months were designated 'sweeps'months. Nor had I really absorbed it happens 3 times a year. Oops!

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

It's not as noticable when you're just watching episodes. I mean, seasons always end with a big bang sort of episode so the fact that it happens to be in May that that happens isn't surprising. Usually Feb's sweeps are kind of mild too, which doesn't help.

[mad-jaks.livejournal.com]

*nods*
And of course over here, the episodes themselves are not aired at the same time as over there. On one show we may only be a week or two behind, while on another show we're months out!

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

if you get to see them at all- a frustration I can well understand

I don't get BBC America so no Doctor Who here through legal means

[mad-jaks.livejournal.com]

no Doctor Who
The horror!

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

Tis terrible. But I have been catching up on Old!Who with the kids so its not as bad as it could be