A list of curious facts
One: The very first Spider Woman was not a white woman named Jessica Drew but Valerie, a Black librarian. While her character was short-lived, Valerie was the very first Black, female hero in Marvel Comics—created in 1974. Screen Rant has her backstory.
Two: January 14 is a very special day. It marks the Festum Asinorum or Feast of the Ass. It commemorates all the times the humble donkey was mentioned in the Bible—especially the one that carried Mary and the baby Jesus to Egypt to escape King Herod. The donkeys even got their own special Mass back in medieval times, which went something like this:
“From the Eastern lands the Ass is come,
beautiful and very brave, well fitted to bear burdens.
Up! Sir Ass, and sing. Open your pretty mouth.
Hay will be yours in plenty, and oats in abundance.”
Think it can’t get sillier? You are wrong: “And instead of saying ‘Amen,’ the congregation would bray ‘Y-a’ like a donkey.” (Esquire)
Three: Did you know that CDs and audio cassettes are among the 299 items that the Indian government closely monitors to measure inflation in India? In fact, at least 10-12% of the items used to arrive at the Consumer Price Index are “defunct.” Also included: the price of Nokia phones which are used as proxies for smartphones. Nokia’s share of the Indian market: 2%. Mint has more on the absurd inflation metrics.
Four: US historian Michael Beschloss tweeted out a delightful thread reminding everyone just how big the Nehru Jacket was in America—back in the sixties when the Beatles first wore it during their performance in New York’s Shea Stadium. There are lots of images, but the one that caught our eye was this throwback Sears ad for “Nehru Coats”—made of corduroy or suede and only $34.50!
What blew our mind: is the fact that Pandit Nehru posed for Vogue in a longer—and preferred—version of the jacket (achkan) in 1964—just a year before the Beatles made it the hottest thing in fashion.
