Worst traffic jams of all time, & the history of the Chipko Movement | #46
Also, learn classical music from Bugs Bunny
Hello
News has filtered in that a ship, that is two times the height of the Statue of Unity, is stuck at the Suez Canal. This has allowed Canalers to experience what Bangaloreans term as the "Silk Board experience" aka a massive traffic jam. On that note, this week’s edition features stories from the worst traffic jams ever.
Things we learnt this week:
Experts predict the current Suez deadlock might take a few weeks to clear up. Some doomsdayers predict it will take at least a year. But this won’t be a patch on the longest traffic jam in the Suez Canal which lasted 8 years. In 1967, Israel captured the Sinai peninsula. In response, Egypt crippled the Israeli economy by blocking the Suez Canal. They did it with sunken ships and mines. 14 unlucky ships were trapped there for 8 years. The 14 ships got together and set aside geographical differences to form a ‘Yellow Fleet’ - and even had an Olympics to coincide with the 1968 Mexico City Olympics. Talk about an extended ‘on-site’ posting.
If you have commuted in any major Indian city, its fair to say you have experienced a traffic jam or two. But what would you do if you are stuck in traffic for 10 days? Commuters along the 110 Expressway in China, were stuck in the highway for over 10 days! The extreme congestion in the highway, that connects Beijing to Tibet, was due to “delay in maintenance work” and overloaded coal trucks that blocked the road. Local villagers even made a quick buck by selling boxed meals of rice, vegetables, and pork for an expensive 10 yuan. Future scenario in Saki Naka, perhaps?
Remember airplanes? Well, imagine that you’re on a flight, working on last-minute changes to an important presentation. The flight then makes an unscheduled stop at a small town where you’re stuck for 2 days. This is the scenario United Airlines passengers faced after it had to take an unscheduled stop for 2 days at Anchorage, Alaska because the toilets on the Boeing aircraft were faulty. A truly shitty situation.
From Twitter, with Love
March 25th, 1974 - a young girl informed Gaura Devi about some loggers entering the Reni forest. What she did next will surprise you.
A thread on Harry Houdini and the various times his life was hanging by a thread.
Things we’re reading / watching/ listening to:
If you want to learn more about western classical music and want to do it through cartoons, here is a fantastic thread.
The Fire Rises - A must-watch if you are a fan of the Christopher Nolan Batman trilogy. Lots of background information and amazing behind-the-scenes footage and also commentary from other directors such as Guillermo del Toro and Zack Synder.
Quiz Announcement:
The 5th edition of the Great India Quiz is nearly upon us. Join legendary host Dr. Navin Jaykumar along with panelists Rohini ‘Radio ki Heroini’ Ramnathan and historian Manimugdha Sharma. Expect bad jokes, puns, and great questions - all about our great country.
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❤️ IWTK