Sometimes I see something someone did and it amazes me.

I like finding very obscure facts.

And I do mean – VERY obscure.

Did you know that on this blog you’ve not only found out the history behind giving someone the middle finger, but also the person behind the phrase “Bite Me!”?

Who knew you could find out so much about the world you live in?

Pat yourself on the back for finding my little contribution to the World Wide Web and for finding all these factoids.

On to something new

Now I bring to you Captain John DS Phillips.

This guy … oh, this guy is a guy after my own heart.

This guy was LITERALLY in the right place at the right time.  In fact – this guy is THE most shining example of being “in the right place at the right time” you’ll ever hear.

Captain Phillips was a man of his generation and kind of a prankster too.

The man was in position to do something great.  He didn’t plan on it – but when presented with a chance – he took it.

Ok – cue the swirlie screen and the odd futuristic music as I take you back in time.

The year was 1899 and Captain Phillips was the captain of a passenger steamer, The SS Warrimoo in the mid-Pacific headed to Australia from Vancouver.

The ship’s navigator had just finished working out a fixed star alignment and brought Captain Phillips the result.

NOW – keep in mind, it was 1899 – well before navigation computers came into play.

After charting the stars position and determining their position, the First Mate Payton told Captain Phillips, “Do you know what that means?”

Their position was: LAT 0 and 31’ N and LONG 179 30’ W.

“It means we’re only a few nautical miles from the intersection of the Equator and the International Date Line.”

Upon hearing this, Captain Phillips knew exactly what he wanted to do.

The date was December 31, 1899.

He called every member of his crew and told him what he wanted, and he told them it had to be precise.

They all did the math, calculated and changed their speed and slightly altered their course.

His course had to be precise and the speed had to be absolutely perfect.

The ship’s position was checked and double checked countless times.

Ship’s path was perfect, he then had the speed adjusted to slow down and then come to a complete stop at exactly the right time.

For he knew he’d only have this one chance to do this.

He’s never get this chance again. 

Nope – not being dramatic – this was literally a once in a lifetime moment.

In fact, he assumed. That no one had ever been able to do this.

The calm weather and the clear night made all this possible – and it was done.

PERFECT !!!

What he had accomplished was nothing short of miraculous.

At exactly midnight, the SS Warrimoo lay on the Equator at exactly the point where it crossed the International Date Line.

So – what had he done:

The bow of the SS Warrimoo was in the Southern Hemisphere in the middle of summer

The stern of the SS Warrimoo was in the Northern Hemisphere in the middle of Winter

The date in the aft of the ship was December 31, 1899

The date of the bow of the ship was January 1, 1900

So, Captain Phillips and the passengers of the SS Warrimoo were in:

• 2 different days
• 2 different months
• 2 different years
• 2 different seasons – AND –
• 2 different centuries

ALL AT THE SAME TIME !!!

There’s another age old expression that you might say: “Same shit – different day”

But even then – you got nothing – NOTHING – on Captain Phillips.

• Seriously