Historical Trivia: When were the following invented?

1. Firearms
2. Machine Guns
3. Air Planes
4. Hot Air Balloons
5. Iron Clad ships
6. Photography
7. Film
8. Audio Recording
9. Color Photography
9. Trains
10. Cars

I would prefer you to answer these without looking them up. Give it a try. The person to get most of them correct will get the best answer.

1. 12th or 13th century in China

2. Towards the end of the American Civil War, or maybe shortly afterwards.

3. The first people acknowledged to have landed a heavier-than-air vehicle (as opposed to crash it) were the Wright Brothers, in 1903.

4. Late 18th century in France.

5. Late 1850s in France

6. 1830s

7. Not sure… late 19th or early 20th century.

8. 1880s.

9. Early 20th century with a filter system (required multiple exposures), but it didn’t become practical until the 1930s.

You have two number 9s…

9. Carts on rails were pulled by horses and humans in mediaeval times, but the first train that moved under its own power was… 1820s.

10. 1890s.

Sky Lantern aka 孔明灯

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For those who are interested in changing the look of their living space, Asian decor has been making a bit of a splash of interior design. Asian art is the perfect accompaniment for the clean lines and austere style of decoration and is widely available on the internet.

Everyone will be familiar with futons and straw matting which is indicative of an oriental themed room. But these days the choice of other decorating pieces means that the home can take on a really sophisticated look without spending too much money.

If the person starts off by painting all the rooms in a neutral color, this makes for a perfect backdrop for any pieces to be displayed to perfection. For the table, for example, there are some wonderful wooden candle holders that have that oriental look. Not only do they look neat and clean, they also give off a very romantic light which is both restful and peaceful.

Also for the table are the wonderful dinner sets with an oriental theme. Squared plates with bamboo or tree designs on them look great against a black or dark oak table. Even bottle covers are available in silk brocade made to look like a traditional suit of clothes. The coolie hat is the cover for the wine bottle.

To add some focal points, the range of oriental dolls, resplendent in wonderful silk brocades, make excellent conversation pieces when dotted around the room.

The garden does not get left out of this oriental influence either. There are some magnificently decorated bamboo parasols that can be used instead of the traditional patio umbrellas. The difference is though is that these parasols have great decorative designs on them. A pair of flying cranes on a brilliant gold background is just one of the designs and would look superb set out on a patio bereft of fussy plants or flowers.

There are hot air balloon spirals that also add some movement and spots of color for the garden and are highly unusual to say the least. There are also some designs of brass thermometers that can be placed at strategic places in the garden so that the temperature is always at hand.

Back in the house try decorating the walls with a lovely set of oriental face masks. These wonderfully painted designs would look lovely down a stairway or grouped together in a dark niche in the home. Perhaps set against a rich red or green background, these masks would surely look sophisticated and decorative.

For brightening up dull corners, there are some great simply decorated lamps. These lamps have a simple flower design painted on the shade and on the base and will add just a touch of elegance to any room.

The idea, when decorating in the oriental style, is to keep everything as simple and uncluttered as possible. There is no need to fill every space with knick knacks as this will spoil the entire look that is being sought. Try searching the internet or hire an interior designer for some creative suggestions on simple decorating.

Connor R. Sullivan is very pleased with the Asian decor furnishings he and his wife chose online. He and his wife added several Asian art pieces to their family room.

Mini Hot Air Balloon

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