Difference between revisions of "Template:Westarctica.wiki:Today's featured article"

From Encyclopedia Westarctica
Jump to navigation Jump to search
 
(66 intermediate revisions by the same user not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
[[File:Blowtorch-Drink.jpg|250px|left]]
[[File:Emperor Joshua A. Norton I.jpg|250px|left]]
A '''[[blowtorch (drink)|blowtorch]]''' is an alcoholic cocktail invented by members of the 1928 Byrd Antarctic Expedition. The recipe calls for mixing lemon powder with grain alcohol and diluting the mixture with ice until it's drinkable.
'''[[Emperor Norton]]''' was a resident of San Francisco, California, who in 1859 declared himself "Emperor of these United States" in September 1859, a role he played for the rest of his life.  


As prohibition was in effect in the United States in 1928, it was illegal for American citizens to possess or consume alcohol. However, [[Richard Byrd]] got around this prohibition by requesting 2,000 gallons of alcohol for medicinal purposes. Prior to the expedition, Richard Byrd asked The Insulin Company to develop a dried fruit powder that contained vitamin C in an effort to prevent scurvy. The Byrd expedition carried large quantities of lime juice and lemon powders.
Norton had no formal political power, but was treated deferentially in San Francisco and elsewhere in California, and currency issued in his name was honored in some of the establishments he frequented. Some considered Norton to be insane or eccentric, but residents of San Francisco and the city's larger Northern California orbit enjoyed his imperial presence and took note of his frequent newspaper proclamations. Norton received free ferry and train passage and a variety of favors, such as help with rent and free meals, from well-placed friends and sympathizers. Some of the city's merchants capitalized on his notoriety by selling souvenirs bearing his image.  


Dr. F. Dana Coman, the expedition's physician, and the man with the keys to the liquor supply, took some of the grain alcohol and mixed it with the lemon powder and the crushed orange juice concentrate. The men dubbed this extremely potent drink a "blowtorch." Bryd himself participated in the festivities and every couple of weeks, he would authorize a tub of blowtorches to be made up and a party held to help the men relax and unwind during the long winter.
He is often considered the founding father of [[micronation|micronationalism]].


 
'''([[Emperor Norton|Full Article...]])'''
'''([[blowtorch (drink)|Full Article...]])'''

Latest revision as of 05:06, 11 July 2026

Emperor Joshua A. Norton I.jpg

Emperor Norton was a resident of San Francisco, California, who in 1859 declared himself "Emperor of these United States" in September 1859, a role he played for the rest of his life.

Norton had no formal political power, but was treated deferentially in San Francisco and elsewhere in California, and currency issued in his name was honored in some of the establishments he frequented. Some considered Norton to be insane or eccentric, but residents of San Francisco and the city's larger Northern California orbit enjoyed his imperial presence and took note of his frequent newspaper proclamations. Norton received free ferry and train passage and a variety of favors, such as help with rent and free meals, from well-placed friends and sympathizers. Some of the city's merchants capitalized on his notoriety by selling souvenirs bearing his image.

He is often considered the founding father of micronationalism.

(Full Article...)