BOC#023 Box of Chocolates

Beard Tax, Space Junk, Toussaint L'Ouverture, The Pacific, & Dickens

Jun 09, 2025

4 MINUTE MUNCH

DID YOU KNOW; AN UNINHABITED AREA OF THE THE SOUTH PACIFIC OCEAN IS A DESIGNATED SPACECRAFT CEMETERY…

According to the European Space Agency, there are an estimated 130 million pieces of space junk orbiting Earth. But in addition to the sea of litter in low earth orbit, a significant amount of end-of-life space debris lies dormant in the South Pacific. The dumping ground is located near the Oceanic Pole of Inaccessibility, also known as ‘Point Nemo’ (the furthest point from any landmass). The isolated maritime location was chosen to minimize the risk of debris falling on inhabited areas. While the precise amount of space-junk is up for debate, scientists at Texas A&M University’s Department of Aerospace and Engineering are exploring ways to end single-use spacecraft technology by developing more reusable space-tech that doesn’t disintegrate upon re-entering the Earth’s atmosphere.

The North Pacific Ocean doesn’t get off scot-free, for it falls victim to the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, an area of rubbish three times the size of France which occupies the waters between the U.S and Japan. The patch of marine debris is in fact comprised of two large and distinct patches of litter known as the Eastern Garbage Patch (near Hawaii), and the Western Garbage Patch (near Japan). The two patches are bound and linked by a large system of swirling ocean currents, more specifically, the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre.

WHO WAS TOUSSAINT L'OUVERTURE?

Dubbed ‘Black Spartacus,’ Toussaint L’Ouverture was a former slave on the French colony of Saint-Domingue (present day Haiti). He went on to become a prolific General, and founder of the first independent black nation in the western hemisphere following the Haitian revolution of 1791-1804. Having lead a successful insurrection against French slavery and oppression on the island, and having fought off British and Spanish colonial powers, he introduced the Saint-Domingue Constitution of 1801. Toussaint was eventually captured by Napoleon, and died in a French prison in 1803. A great book on the life and times of Toussaint called Black Spartacus* by Sudhir Hazareesingh is well worth the read.

PASSAGES FROM SWORD SONG BY BERNARD CORNWELL*:

“You never, ever, tell others of your crimes, not unless they are so big as to be incapable of concealment, and then you describe them as policy or statecraft.”

ON THIS DAY: 9th JUNE…

1870:

Victorian author Charles Dickens died at the age of 58. Besides his many famous literary works, Dickens was a known philanthropist supporting causes such as child poverty and education. In 1847 he formed his own charity called Urania Cottage which focused on refuges for ‘fallen women.’

1898:

China hands Hong Kong over to the British on a 99 year lease which expired in 1997. Did you know that Hong Kong translates as ‘Fragrant Harbour.’

1946:

Bhumibol Adulyadej becomes the King of Thailand, ruling for 73 years making him one of the longest reigning monarchs in history, up there with Louis XIV and Elizabeth II. He died in 2016.

1983

Margaret Thatcher wins the U.K general election for the second time. Before entering politics she was a research chemist at BX Plastics in Colchester.

Today is National Strawberry Rhubarb Pie Day - treat yourself!

WORDS: DIAGNOSIS VS PROGNOSIS…

A diagnosis is to identify a problem, usually a disease. A prognosis is a projection of the likely course and outcome of that problem.

DID YOU KNOW…

Russian Tsar Peter the Great introduced a tax on beards in 1698. This was an attempt at bringing Russia in line with Western Europe following his “Grand Embassy” tour of Europe. He considered the beard to be backwards, and so set about imposing financial penalties.