Episode 883

Another Dead Musician, Another Jingle?
With the recent surmise of Michael Jackson, Leo is wondering if he will join the ranks of the dead Letters Jingle Singers.  Calling Dan Lueders ... It won't be long.

Terracotta Chia Pets
Talk of China's Terracotta Warriors has prompted another letter from Alessandro Abate. The Chinese invented paper currency (and paper itself), gunpowder, noodles and the compass, but among the less well-known of their inventions was the Chia Pet (see Episode 752 for the Chia Obama).  The Terracotta Soldiers were actually the Emperor's private collection of Chia Pets, but the Chinese forgot to water them.  Terracotta, Alessandro adds, is Italian for "baked earth".  It was the ancient Romans' first failed attempts on making pizza.  Thankfully they switched to baking dough in time.

The Man Who Loved China ...
... and it's not Leo.  Recommended by Alessandro, this book by Simon Winchester is about Joseph Needham, the British scientist who, starting in the 1940's, became fascinated with China and its scientific achievements.  It was the Audible Pick of the Week on MacBreak Weekly 135, but Leo has not got round to reading it yet.  The Man Who Loved China is available on Audible.



Leo's Gallery on China Tour
Leo is still enthusing about his tour of China, and was much impressed by the 8,000 odd Terracotta Warriors, each about 6-foot tall and every soldier is different.  Check out his photos on Smugmug or Flickr.

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