Comments on: This framed hamburger wrapper? I found it when I summited Everest

By: Trebuchet

Trebuchet — Wed, 20 Nov 2019 15:23:52 +0000

I used to have a little piece of pumice from Hawaii, where they promoted the same bad luck legend. It may still be around somewhere. I was oh, so tempted to write them:
When we visited Hawaii, I took a little rock. Since them my life has been changed. I met my one true love, got promoted, and won the lottery. Please send more lucky rocks!

By: sumac

sumac — Wed, 13 Nov 2019 16:40:26 +0000

In reply to Kiwiwriter. The story of the hulk of the HMS Exeter is appalling. It's for profit, exactly as you say. Not for mementos.

By: Kiwiwriter

Kiwiwriter — Wed, 13 Nov 2019 16:10:30 +0000

When I went to Antarctica, I was ALLOWED to take home distinctive rocks from the continent, because I could use them when I gave guided tours in my role as Public Affairs Office for the US Antarctic Program in Christchurch, New Zealand. I would give a tour of our facilities, which included displaying a complete winter flight outfit, and finished up with the rocks. Adult groups and children were amazed.

After I left the Navy, I was able to take them home, as there was nobody to pass the rocks down to — the Navy was pulling out of Antarctica, and I was not being replaced. So that accounts for my Antarctic rocks.

I haven’t been to the Petrified Forest, but when I go with my family, we’ll get our fossils in the gift shop.

There’s a big issue with people stealing Native American pots from National Parks, and the FBI brings in forensic experts to determine the soil they came from, so they can prosecute the thieves.

Now here’s the big one: divers found the wreck of the heavy cruiser HMS Exeter, sent to the bottom in the second Battle of the Java Sea, fleeing more powerful Japanese forces from Java. After taking photographs and leaving a memorial plaque on the war grave, the investigators sailed off.

Sometime later, Indonesian authorities saw lights over the Java Sea by night. They investigated with deep-sea sonar and found a long gash in the sea bottom where Exeter had been found — but no Exeter. Scrap dealers had illegally shredded the ship for profit. Nobody accounted for the remains of 54 Royal Navy Sailors that went to the bottom with her.

By: sumac

sumac — Wed, 13 Nov 2019 02:16:24 +0000

In reply to Ernie in Berkeley. Picturing mail carriers staggering under their loads....

By: tanita

tanita — Wed, 13 Nov 2019 00:11:32 +0000

This is both pathetic and humorous. People are kind of ridiculous. Belief… frees us, or holds us hostage, depending on the day.

That mockingbird is adorable, though.

By: Ernie in Berkeley

Ernie in Berkeley — Wed, 13 Nov 2019 00:05:16 +0000

A few years ago, there were rumors that, every day, Greek workers would scatter stones around the Acropolis to replace ones that tourists were pocketing. I couldn’t find evidence to support this (and in fact someone was jailed for a few days for scooping up Acropolis) rocks, but here’s a story much like one for the petrified wood.

https://usa.greekreporter.com/2018/02/05/us-tourist-says-sorry-returns-acropolis-stones/