Free Articles Submission Service. » History

Death by Umbrella: The Brollies of Doom

asingleton — Thu, 27 Dec 2007 11:54:06 +0000

The “Umbrella Murder” is the most famous incident involving the misuse of a brolly, and took place on the streets of London in 1978. Georgi Markov, a Bulgarian novelist and playwright who defected from the communist state to work for the BBC World Service, met The Reaper after being stabbed with an umbrella containing a poison pellet whilst he was waiting at a bus stop on Waterloo Bridge. It’s reported that a man holding an umbrella apologised in a foreign accent and then walked off. Later that day Markov developed a high fever and was admitted to hospital; he died three days later.

Due to the suspicious nature of his death, Scotland Yard ordered a thorough investigation including an autopsy, where they discovered a pin sized spherical metal pellet in Markov’s calf muscle. The pellet was made up of 90% platinum and 10% iridium and had drilled holes in which traces of a poison known as ricin were found. The ricin was held in place by a special sugar substance which was designed to melt at body temperature, releasing the poison into the blood stream once the pellet had hit its mark. Ricin is a protein produced by the castor bean plant, found in the leaves and stem, but is most concentrated in the seeds. It is highly toxic to man and has no known antidote.

Markov wasn’t the last person to suffer death by umbrella; in 2003, an 11 year old was beaten to death with an umbrella by her parents after trying to run away from home in Atlanta, Georgia. She had been locked in a room and starved before being beaten, and the cause of death was recorded as ‘blunt force trauma’.

More recently, a court in Rome has convicted a Romanian woman of fatally stabbing another passenger with an umbrella whilst on Rome’s subway. The 21 year-old female victim, Vanessa Russo, was jabbed in the eye with the umbrella tip, and died two days later in hospital. The Romanian was caught on the metro station’s CCTV camera and has been sentenced to 16 years imprisonment. The news has sparked calls for stricter laws on immigrants in Italy, though the incident doesn’t appear to have made a dent in the number of travellers taking a short break in Rome.

For the vast majority of us though umbrellas continue to serve as a useful tool for keeping us dry when the heavens open, but in the wrong hands, this humble household item can become a deadly weapon.

Think Twice To Think Better

alex — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 11:12:39 +0000

To think twice is to reconsider that first conclusion that we all arrive at so easily. Here’s a look at how and why.

More: continued here

A Slave No More

alex — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 16:12:55 +0000

John M. Washington was born a slave on May 20, 1838, in Fredericksburg, Virginia. Washington begins his narrative with the wry comment that he never had the pleasure of knowing his mother’s owner, Thomas R. Ware, Sr., who died before John was born.

More: continued here

Postal Zip Code Locator - Zip Code Directory Lookup

alex — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 00:12:41 +0000

Read on to know more about history of the ZIP Codes and the facilities of the zip code directory lookup facilities provided on the Internet

More: continued here

How Can Texting Lead To A Relationship Ending The Signs Your Spouse Is Cheating When Texting

alex — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 03:12:35 +0000

In this modern age of instant communication and finger talking (Texting) at what point is this cheating when you see your significant other talking to the opposite sex? This question cannot be easily answered especially when your not able to see the communication that are doing. What can be done and what are the signs on Texting Cheating?

More: continued here

African Descendants in Brazil - Sociological and Cultural Aspects

alex — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 01:12:06 +0000

We can say that, sadly, discrimination follows the human kind since ancient societies and it has developed with the modern cultures in the most different forms, being a present question in this global world where we live. So, this article tries to explain cultural, social and economical treatment dedicated to afro-descendants in Brazil, a country known as an equal and free land

More: continued here

Life Quality and Wellness - Sociological Concept

alex — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 01:12:57 +0000

This article tries to demonstrate how individual and social characteristics construct ideals and concepts of life quality and well being. Cultural, social, and other surrounding aspects are highly connected to what an individual needs to obtain his satisfaction and life quality.

More: continued here

Creative Inspiration - How To Have It

alex — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 03:12:23 +0000

A look at creative inspiration - where it comes from, and how to have more.

More: continued here

Macedonia’s Titanic Waltz

alex — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 03:12:47 +0000

Like the denizens of many other developing countries, Macedonians have no concepts of private vs. public spaces.

More: continued here

Taking a Bath in Roman England

alex — Sun, 09 Dec 2007 00:12:34 +0000

Bath England contains what has been called the best preserved religious spa from the ancient world. What can be found here? And how did taking a bath at this ancient site compare to bathing today?

More: continued here