The Island That Vanished and Reappeared

Prior to 1831, a stretch of water off Sicily's southwestern coast was nothing but sea. However, in July of that year, Sicilian fishermen observed an unusual phenomenon: dead fish surfaced in waters that emitted a strong sulfur smell.

The mystery was solved on July 10, 1831, when sailors spotted a volcanic vent emerging from the depths, spewing ash and lava. By August, an island had formed where only water had existed, measuring approximately half a mile in width (800 meters) and reaching a height of 200 feet (60 meters).

Governments quickly took notice of this new landmass, situated along vital European shipping lanes in the Mediterranean. France, the United Kingdom, Spain, and Sicily all expressed interest in claiming the island. However, within five months, the island submerged back into the sea, earning nicknames such as “L’isola che non c’è” (the island that isn’t there) and “L’isola che se ne andò” (the island that went away).

This ephemeral land became known as Graham Island or Isola Ferdinandea in Italian, linked to the underwater volcano Empedocles, located about 19 miles (30 km) south of Sicily. At the time, Italy was not yet a unified country, and Sicily was part of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, ruled by King Ferdinand II, after whom the island was named.

The French named it Ile Julie, as it appeared in July, and even sent a geologist and an artist to document it. On August 1, 1831, a captain from the Royal Navy claimed it for Britain, naming it Graham Island in honor of Sir James Graham, the First Lord of the Admiralty. Spain also laid claim to the island.

The strategic location of the island made it a desirable asset for European governments eager to control maritime trade routes to the Middle East. However, by December 1831, the island had vanished, its foundation too weak to support the new land above.

This brief existence inspired notable authors; Jules Verne referenced it in his novel In Search of Castaways, and it later featured as a treasure island in Captain Antifer. Some speculate that JM Barrie’s Neverland was influenced by this disappearing isle.

The island hasn’t surfaced since 1831, although in 1968, seismic activity seemed to suggest its return, later attributed to gas release from underwater rocks.

Two Buildings That Defied the Skyscraper

30 Rockefeller Plaza stands as a landmark in New York City, home to NBC Studios, the Rainbow Room, and Radio City Music Hall. Strangely, two small townhomes flank this towering structure, raising questions about their survival amid urban development.

The story begins in 1892, when three Irishmen signed a long-term lease for a site at 1240 Sixth Avenue, establishing a popular pub named Hurley’s that even weathered Prohibition.

As the Great Depression waned, John D. Rockefeller sought to acquire properties in midtown Manhattan, including the pub's location. Although he purchased the building, he could not evict the tenants due to their lease. The owners proposed a buyout for $250 million—equivalent to the construction cost of the skyscraper—leading Rockefeller to refuse their offer.

Adjacent to what would become 30 Rockefeller Plaza in 1933 stood another building owned by grocer John F. Maxwell, who would have sold for $1 million, but miscommunication led to him not receiving an offer, and Rockefeller was misled into thinking he wouldn’t sell.

Hurley’s evolved into a restaurant, maintaining its lease until 1975, when Rockefeller Center acquired the building. It continued operating until 1999 and is now known as Pebble Bar. Maxwell's building remained in his family until 1962, when it was sold to Columbia and later acquired by Rockefeller Center in 1970. Today, it houses a Nine West shoe store.

The 2038 Crisis

Remember the Y2K dilemma, often referred to as the millennium bug? It raised concerns about widespread computer malfunctions due to machines' inability to correctly process the year beyond 1999.

The root of the issue lay in the programming practice of using only two digits for the year. Although the anticipated computer crises did not fully materialize, another date-related problem is looming: the year 2038 issue.

This emerging challenge stems from how certain software systems record dates. Specifically, when the clock strikes one second past 03:14:07 UTC on January 19, 2038, these systems will incorrectly display the date as December 13, 1901.

The cause lies in the timestamp method known as Unix Epoch time, which counts seconds elapsed since January 1, 1970, at 12:00 AM UTC. Using a signed 32-bit integer, the maximum value it can hold is 2,147,483,647, which translates to just over 68 years of seconds. Thus, these systems will run out of date-storing capacity in 2038.

Primarily affecting UNIX systems, other software utilizing similar timestamp methods could also be impacted. Fortunately, most programs are expected to transition to 64-bit timestamps, allowing ample storage for dates. However, outdated programs may encounter issues if not updated in time.

The Tax Implications of Olympic Medals

For Olympians, winning a gold, silver, or bronze medal represents the pinnacle of their athletic journey, yet it may also attract the attention of tax authorities, classifying the medal as part of their income.

Many Olympic athletes face financial challenges during their training, often relying on sponsorships and stipends. Before the recent Olympics, 59% of U.S. Olympic athletes reported annual earnings below $25,000. Winning a medal brings with it a financial reward.

This was initiated in 2017 by the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) under the program “Operation Gold.” A gold medalist receives $37,500, a silver medalist $22,500, and a bronze medalist $15,000. However, prior to 2016 and post-1986, these earnings were considered taxable income by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) under the “victory tax” scheme, which encompassed cash prizes and awards such as Nobel Prizes and game show winnings. In the case of Olympic medals, the fair market value had to be reported and was taxed at 37%.

In 2016, Congress enacted HR 5946, the United States Appreciation for Olympians Act, which exempted athletes who win medals as long as their gross income for the year stays below $1 million. If they exceed that threshold, which is possible with new sponsorships and endorsements post-medal victory, they face the 37% tax, although this amount is less significant in relation to their total income.

Singapore leads in medal payouts, awarding its athletes 1 million Singaporean dollars ($750,680 USD) for a gold medal, $369,000 for silver, and 184,000 for bronze. Kazakhstan and Malaysia follow with $250,000 for gold medals.

How Firefighters Access Numerous Businesses with One Key

In various U.S. cities, fire departments utilize specialized boxes that can only be opened by them to access buildings during emergencies. These boxes, commonly referred to as “Knox boxes,” are named after the company that produces them.

Local governments often mandate businesses to install these key boxes outside their premises to facilitate emergency access for firefighters. These boxes house all necessary keys, access cards, and even floor plans. While several manufacturers exist, the Knox Company is a leading provider.

Typically, business owners purchase and install the box, but it lacks an exterior lock. Firefighters then visit to install the lock, after which they secure the box with all essential keys and materials, making it inaccessible to the owner.

All boxes within a designated fire zone are keyed alike, allowing firefighters to use a single key to access all businesses in that area. In smaller towns, one key might open all the boxes, while larger cities may have different keys for various zones.

The purpose of these boxes is to grant firefighters safe entry into buildings when no one is present. This prevents extensive property damage that might occur if they were forced to break in. However, the boxes can present a security risk, as a single key can unlock multiple businesses and access locked areas within those buildings. In some cases, hundreds of businesses can be reached with one master key.

To enhance security, businesses may recess-mount the box in a wall or equip it with an alarm that triggers upon tampering. Others might install security cameras aimed at the box.

The Knox Company, the foremost manufacturer of these key boxes, employs a high-security Medeco lock and key system. This mechanism prevents key duplication, and locksmiths do not have access to these keys.

Only the Knox Company can provide these keys, and only fire departments are permitted a master key, which is distributed through 911 emergency dispatch for tracking. Approximately 14,000 fire departments across the U.S. utilize this system for rapid emergency access.

The Crucial Component of Helicopters

A small yet essential part of a helicopter, the retaining nut, connects the main rotor to the aircraft. Known colloquially as the “Jesus nut,” it is critical for safe operation; if it fails, the helicopter cannot function correctly.

This term is believed to have originated during the Vietnam War, particularly in relation to the Huey helicopter. If this nut were to break, crew members would often joke that their only recourse would be to "pray to Jesus."

Constructed from steel and roughly the size of a fist, the Jesus nut is designed to endure significant operational forces. Although failure of this component is uncommon, it can occur if not installed properly.

Many modern helicopters do not utilize a Jesus nut, but the term has expanded to describe other vital components that serve as a last line of defense against catastrophic failure. It can also refer to climbing equipment anchors, which provide climbers with crucial protection against falls. Additionally, it is used to describe the nut holding the cable used to rescue individuals into a helicopter from the ground.

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