BigBear
01-28-2011, 09:34
In the 1880's, Alfred Nobel was known as the King of Dynamite. His legacy would be built on an empire of explosives, where Nobel made millions manufacturing, distributing, and selling dynamite and other explosives worldwide.
After living in St. Petersburg, Russia during his childhood, young Alfred witnessed what his older brother and father had attempted to do – manufacture safe explosives that could be shipped and used safely around the entire world. It should be noted that their goals were not to aid countries in war, per se, but to help those countries better their own infrastructure and wealth with tunnels, roads, and mining. Accidents from explosives took millions of lives and the Nobel family worked hard to manufacture safer methods for their use.
Alfred Nobel figured out nitroglycerin could be developed so it wasn’t so volatile, and in 1867 he patented his invention he dubbed “dynamite” – a mixture of nitroglycerin and natural elements of the Earth.
The Nobel Peace Prize came about when Alfred Nobel was reported dead in a French newspaper. While he didn’t die, his obituary called him “The Merchant of Death” due to his involvement in producing dynamite and other explosives that had been used for industry and war. Upon reflection, Nobel decided to set up a fund where the majority of his estate would go to fund the newly devised awards in different fields such as Chemistry, Literature, Medicine, and Economics.
__________________________________________________ ____________
If you woke up and read your own obituary, what would it say about you?
What would you like to change in your life and how is your life helping others? What is stopping you from accomplishing your goals?
Just some thoughts for today. Thought it was an interesing read.
[Beer]
After living in St. Petersburg, Russia during his childhood, young Alfred witnessed what his older brother and father had attempted to do – manufacture safe explosives that could be shipped and used safely around the entire world. It should be noted that their goals were not to aid countries in war, per se, but to help those countries better their own infrastructure and wealth with tunnels, roads, and mining. Accidents from explosives took millions of lives and the Nobel family worked hard to manufacture safer methods for their use.
Alfred Nobel figured out nitroglycerin could be developed so it wasn’t so volatile, and in 1867 he patented his invention he dubbed “dynamite” – a mixture of nitroglycerin and natural elements of the Earth.
The Nobel Peace Prize came about when Alfred Nobel was reported dead in a French newspaper. While he didn’t die, his obituary called him “The Merchant of Death” due to his involvement in producing dynamite and other explosives that had been used for industry and war. Upon reflection, Nobel decided to set up a fund where the majority of his estate would go to fund the newly devised awards in different fields such as Chemistry, Literature, Medicine, and Economics.
__________________________________________________ ____________
If you woke up and read your own obituary, what would it say about you?
What would you like to change in your life and how is your life helping others? What is stopping you from accomplishing your goals?
Just some thoughts for today. Thought it was an interesing read.
[Beer]