If any of you want Tidbits emailed directly, let me know and I'll take care of it. Tidbits may be reprinted without charge -- with attribution and without change. Additionally, if you know of anyone who you think would enjoy Tidbits, please make them aware of us. URL
It's the time of the Western Han Dynasty. We've just trekked into the Western Han tomb in Mancheng, Hebei Province. This is the final resting place of Liu Sheng, Prince Jing of the State of Zhongshan. We find some gold needles and gold thread ... and two jade and gold suits ... one for the prince ... one for his wife. The jades are linked together with the gold threads. The suits weigh 1800 grams. Parenthetically ... the state treasury at that time contained 400,000 Jin of gold. Alas ... I don't know if a Jin is a unit of weight or of money. Is it an ounce ... is it a shekel? Is there no end to the mysteries of life? Still ... a gold and jade suit. Ye gads man ... we're talking conspicuous consumption here.
And now to Gort. Gort was a robot. Klaatu was his master ... and the command of the title was a directive to Gort not to destroy the earth. And the reason for this oblique connection? Well ... as it happens ... at least as I see it ... these gold and jade suits engulfing the bodies of prince and princess bear a striking resemblance to Gort. Go take a look ... for those of you old enough to not only remember this film ... but also memory-capable enough to remember seeing it. And tell me if you don't agree that these gold encased bodies look very much like Gort.
As to thems out there who might say ... yeah ... gold and jade ... jade and gold ... but they're suits ... not jewelry. To you I say ... yeah ... gold and jade ... jade and gold ... and they're suits ... and they look like Gort ... so isn't that justification enough? Yes? No?
For those of you who are new to this thing called Tidbits...may I direct you to my home page at
And there ya have it. That's it for this week folks. Catch you all next week. Benjamin Mark
All issues of Tidbits are copyrighted and available from our home page. All rights reserved.