May 12, 2022 - National Limerick Day | National Odometer Day

This Ingenious Invention Dates All The Way Back To 15 BCE!

Welcome to May 12, 2022 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate rowdy poems and technology that has stood the test of time.Anna: There once was a man from Nantucket…Marlo: WHOA! You can’t read that on the air.Anna: I’m just reading a limerick.Marlo: Okay, but we can’t actually read a limerick. They’re simple five-line poems with a set rhyme scheme, but they are usually…um…a little off-color.Anna: How about this one? There once was a man from Madras…Marlo: Stop! We don’t want to know how that one ends. On <a href="https://nationaldaycalendar.com/national-limerick-day-may-12/">National Limerick Day</a> everyone can google some for themselves if they want. And maybe write some clean versions.Anna: Oh, okay.There have been so many technological advancements in the past century that sometimes it’s hard to keep track. Inventions seem to come and go, especially in the digital age. But a few devices have stood the test of time. Like the odometer. This device was invented way back in 15 BCE by the Roman engineer Vitruvius. He rigged up a chariot wheel with a feature that would drop a pebble into an attached box after the wheel had turned 400 times—which was exactly a mile. At the end of a trip, the driver could determine the distance traveled by counting the number of pebbles that had dropped into the box. Keep track of how far you’ve come today on <a href="https://nationaldaycalendar.com/national-odometer-day-may-12/">National Odometer Day</a>. I’m Anna Devere and I’m Marlo Anderson. Thanks for joining us as we Celebrate Every Day.

Celebrate Every Day

Q1 Network

Looking for a quick and fun way to stay up-to-date on the National Days we are celebrating today? Look no further than the Celebrate Every Day podcast! In just two short minutes, Singer/Songwriter Anna Devere and National Day Calendar founder Marlo Anderson share fascinating stories and interesting facts about the National Day of the day. Whether you're a history buff or just looking for some entertaining trivia, this podcast is sure to satisfy. Tune in and join the celebration!