10 Of The Most Famous In The History Of Betting
Perhaps, it is difficult to find a more gentlemanly pursuit than bet. No wonder the British considered the main amateurs and virtuosos of the case. However, funny, resourceful and impressive Bet since ancient times throughout the world, what you have the opportunity to see.
1. pearl cocktail
One of the oldest bet in history was signed between Cleopatra and her Roman lover Mark Antony. The queen has argued that one can drink wine dinner for 10 million sesterces. Potentially a very interesting, and Mark was pleased to accept the bet. However insidious woman, of course, to cheat. Early
dinner before her set with a glass of wine vinegar, Cleopatra took out
of my ear at a huge black pearl, which was known for its fabulous value,
and threw it into this glass. Calcium
carbonate is reacted with acetic acid, to weaken it, and at the end of
dinner, the resulting cocktail was quite possible to enjoy a spectacular
one gulp, and that the queen has done. Marc Anthony found her victory. By the way, scientists recently proved realism of this chemical experience. Prudence
Jones, a Professor at the University of New Jersey armed with vinegar,
and pearls, and found that it takes about 24 hours to dissolve in acid
medium pearl. He admits that the Egyptian queen before his earring soaked in vinegar and pulled her out of the ear in a softened state. Or dinner, as it often was at that time, especially in a society of Cleopatra, smoothly flowing into breakfast.
2. Go to the White HouseBets that can not win:1. Bet with a friend that he can not lift his left leg for three seconds, firmly against the wall right shoulder and right foot. Even for a moment - it's hard!2. Suggest score 100 points in bowling, playing blindfolded. Do not get: people instantly disoriented in space.3. Say
that your opponent will not be able to lay down a sheet of paper of any
size greater than 9 times, provided that each time a sheet composed
half.Who, other than the incumbent, may open the door with his foot in the White House? This
question was recently taken aback by the famous American basketball
player Shaquille O'Neal and a bet with one of his coaches, he can go
without an appointment, "visit" of Obama, just stop the car at the gate
and pushing security. Under
the terms of betting, basketball should not have to call anyone (he
admitted that he has friends in the protection of the White House) to
call themselves, and to use force. Argued for a thousand push-ups.During a short trip to Washington coach gave Shaquille phone, caught a taxi and went to storm the residence of Obama. "They knew me, - he said later told reporters. - They said, "Hey, Shaq! Glad to see you, but can not start up. " I told them, 'OK, I understand. "NBA star insisted that he really did not hurt. But on the day in his "Twitter" message: "Just do not let the White House. Pochemuuu?
"However, perhaps the emotions belong to thousands of push-ups, which
has kindly allowed the coach to break approaches to thirty times.
3. Balzac zhenschiny3. Balzac women
The
story is there more as a literary tale (no official biographers Honore
de Balzac does not confirm it), but all the prerequisites for the like
really were. It
is known that Balzac considered myself a connoisseur of women, and
often entertained friends writing detailed biographies encountered some
interesting stranger on the street.So, once with a friend Balzac strolling in the park. First came two ladies, is an amazing contrast. One
- blonde, beautiful woman with a wonderful figure and sharpened
movements, the other - a flat, awkward brunette with incredible hat on
his head. Balzac
declared friend, that he was ready to bet on anything: blonde - radical
Parisienne "with a true Parisian gait", probably has a few rich lovers,
she is childless and beautiful life. But
brunette - Englishwoman, probably housekeeper; she has one child, the
fruit of an error of youth, who lives with his grandmother, and she
barely makes ends meet. Buddy opened his mouth in surprise and took the bet. Decided to argue for dinner at a nice restaurant. If Balzac rights - pay pal, if you made a mistake - on the contrary. Friends made a bet. Writer unabashedly went to the ladies, and got to know them. But the more they respond to his questions, the darker became a "connoisseur of women's souls." It turned out that the blonde - German, respectable mother of two, wife of a diplomat. But brunette - radical French, moreover, the actress is very frivolous character, which is not averse to "dine with the Lord." Balzac barely managed to get rid of it: with his dinner that day, and so totally out of luck.
4. lunar bet
At the moment when Neil Armstrong made his giant leap in the history of mankind, sincerely rejoiced not only all of America, but also one quite modest British. His name was David Trelfol, and he was amazingly lucky. For nine years prior to this event, in 1960, he came to bookmaker with 10 pounds in his pocket and the idea to put on something crazy. From a list of most of all he enjoyed the trip to the Moon in the next 10 years. Bets will be 1 to 1000. Ten pounds were not such a small sum in those days: a monthly salary equal to the working 30-40 pounds. Nevertheless David took a chance and, as we know, has won! In 1969, less than a year before the end of betting, American made, the same moon-landing. A Trelfol then bought a luxury sports car. However, the smile of fortune turned sarcastic smirk in the first year, David crashed to death in his car.
5. He or she?
Probably in the diplomatic practice of the past centuries there were many cases in the style of "Madame Butterfly", when a beautiful alien actually turns monsieur. Some of them are widely known, but none have been the subject of so many bets as the history of the Chevalier d'Eon de Beaumont. This gentleman is part of his life as a man, and some - like a woman.
At
the end of XVIII century, he lived in London in the form of the famous
French aristocrat, emancipated fencers, rider and visitors of all
secular salons. But in spite of women's clothing, no facial hair and an incredibly thin arms, the whole of London is still beset by doubts. What do the British in this case? Naturally, the bet! It
is known that in 1774 the total amount that the British put on the line
in order to establish gender de Beaumont, to 120 thousand pounds. But no one dared to ask a question to the point: a few curious Chevalier already packed duels. It was not known and no master, who could boast of a tolerance to the boudoir of the mysterious lady.The issue was resolved only in 1810, when d'Eon died. The conclusions of his death waiting eagerly than reported results racing. And so it appeared in the papers! Doctors
determined that "despite the unusual roundness of arms and legs, as
well as swelling of the breast, Mr Beaumont has a fully formed male sex
organs, and therefore recognizes the man." Tens of thousands of pounds have changed owners at this news! Subsequently confirmed that Beaumont passed information to the French King Louis XV.
6. Around the world in ...
The most famous in the world literature bet Phileas Fogg ("Around the World in 80 Days") has generated a lot of imitators. The first ever to break the record Fogg in real life, was an American journalist Nellie Bly. In
1888, she suggested to his editor at News of the World (by the way, it
was a Pulitzer himself) to send her on a mission route Jules vernovskogo
character with a small suitcase and 200 pounds in his pocket.While
Nelly is ready to travel, the magazine Cosmopolitan is also interested
in the question and put his correspondent: she was going to go around
the world, moving in the opposite direction. In the end, had to bet which of the girls will return to the first point of departure.November 14, 1889 Nelly boarded the transatlantic liner Augusta Victoria and hit the road. Of
course, in real life it was waiting for much less adventurous than in
the book, but there were also missed the train and visit the leper
colony in China, and buying handmade monkey in Singapore, and even a
meeting with himself, Jules Verne. All this Nelly wrote a telegram to his magazine. Pulitzer has opened tote for readers to take bets on when Nelly gets to the next destination. January 21, too late for two days because of the storm in the Pacific Ocean, Nellie came back to the U.S.. But she still had to move to another coast. If
the journalist was traveling on conventional rail, I did not met would
be in 80 days, but the Pulitzer sent her personal train, so Nellie came
to the point of departure for eight days ahead of schedule! Cosmopolitan of her rival at this point still Furrow Atlantic hopelessly lost bet.
7. Race with the butcher
The following story took place in England in the eighteenth century and can justly be regarded as one of the wittiest bet. Lived
in Brighton butcher named Bullock, he was known throughout the city by
its thickness and ingenuity: this gentleman never climbed his words. In the same area was the Earl Barrymore, a brilliant young nobleman, enthusiastic athletics. Earl rightly regarded himself as one of the best athletes of the country. History
is silent as to whether the client Barrymore Bullock, but it is known
that the butcher once offered to Count unusual bet. Fat
man announced that the young athlete is taken overtake on the beach,
but on two conditions: it reserves the right to choose the place and
asks a handicap of 35 meters. The winner gets the loser of a considerable sum, which is comparable to the cost of the business of Mr. Bullock. Count amused this bold proposal, and he agreed. Runners started to prepare for competition.Only a few hours before the race butcher his cards: he chose out the Black Lion Lane - one of the narrowest in the UK. Immediately
after the launch Barrymore caught his opponent, but ... was not able to
push past it, to be the first to reach the finish line. They say Earl gave up his match and honestly paid Bullock all he owed.
8. Movie in 10 secondsFamous
Italian writer Tonino Guerra (screenwriter for Tarkovsky, Antonioni,
Fellini) wrote the story of the dispute "the shortest film in the
history of cinema." They say that one of my friends made with Guerra bet he did not come up with a full length movie in just 10 seconds. The next day brought a sketch writer: "A woman is watching TV. On the screen - Broadcast rocket launch. Countdown: 10 ... 9 ... 8 ... 7 ... 6 ... 5 ... 4 ... We see her face, which reflected the storm experiences. At the last second, she picks up the phone, dials a number, and with the launch of the rocket says into the phone: "He's gone."
9. Fashionable bet
British aristocrat Lord Spencer at the beginning of XIX century was the undisputed trendsetter in the London salons. He was so sure of himself that one day even signed an absurd bet. Lord offered to do something with his Thrace wild - for example, cut the tails. After that, he promised to appear at the ball in a manner assuring that all would find it absolutely decent attire.I
must say, Spencer not only won the bet - he introduced the fashion of
cropped jackets in the waist, which has become not only men but also
women. Blazers rightly became known (and still so called) "Spencer." They wear as an alternative to a tuxedo.
10. People and holesThe famous physicist Stephen Hawking (incidentally, also British) also did not escape the national passion. Throughout his life, he made a bet for some, mostly about black holes. As you know, the black holes are very concerned about the great scientist. The first time Stephen was arguing with his colleague that the source Cygnus X-1 does not contain a black hole. Rate
was one-year subscription to Penthouse (Hawking for the opponent)
against four subscriptions to the satirical magazine Private Eye. Alas, Stephen was not to enjoy satire: a hole was in place and won the bet amateur erotica. The next time Professor Hawking argued that the hole is completely absorbs information. Again, wrong! This time the professor made more modest rate, as was suggested just a baseball encyclopedia. Thing, of course, is much less useful than satirical or erotic magazine.
