Best opening wiki paragraphs

New Topic
This topic has been archived, and won't accept reply postings.
 Cú Chullain 11 Jan 2018

Can you find anyone better then these two?

>Lundgren received a degree in chemical engineering from the Royal Institute of Technology in the early 1980s and a master's degree in chemical engineering from the University of Sydney in 1982. He holds the rank of 3rd dan black belt in Kyokushin karate and was European champion in 1980-81. While in Sydney, he became a bodyguard for Jamaican singer Grace Jones and began a relationship with her. He received a Fulbright scholarship to MIT and moved to Boston. Jones convinced him to leave the university and move to New York City to be with her and begin acting, where, after a short stint as a model and bouncer at the Manhattan nightclub The Limelight, Lundgren got a small debut role as a KGB henchman in the James Bond film A View to a Kill, in which Jones starred.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dolph_Lundgren

 

...........and

 

Lieutenant-Colonel John Malcolm Thorpe Fleming Churchill, DSO & Bar, MC & Bar (16 September 1906 – 8 March 1996), was a British Army officer who fought throughout the Second World War armed with a longbow, bagpipes, and a basket-hilted Scottish broadsword.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Churchill

 

 SuperLee1985 11 Jan 2018
In reply to Cú Chullain:

'Mad Jack Churchill' is a true legend!

 Mick Ward 11 Jan 2018
In reply to SuperLee1985:

Have read his wikipedia entry with astonishment. My God, there's a man you'd want on your side (and wouldn't want not on your side). Amazing stuff.

Mick

 deepsoup 11 Jan 2018
In reply to Mick Ward:

Same here.

I also followed a link to read a wee bit about Wichard von Alvensleben.  Another character you might think was a cliche in a war film - the honourable Wehrmacht officer who steps in to prevent the SS from carrying out their dastardly plan to execute the prisoners before they can be liberated.

 Stichtplate 11 Jan 2018
In reply to Cú Chullain:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adrian_Carton_de_Wiart

Lieutenant General Sir Adrian Paul Ghislain Carton de Wiart[1] VC, KBE, CB, CMG, DSO (5 May 1880 – 5 June 1963) was a British Armyofficer born of Belgian and Irish parents, and recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" in various Commonwealth countries.[2] He served in the Boer War, First World War, and Second World War; was shot in the face, head, stomach, ankle, leg, hip, and ear; survived two plane crashes; tunnelled out of a prisoner-of-war camp; and tore off his own fingers when a doctor refused to amputate them. Describing his experiences in the First World War, he wrote, "Frankly I had enjoyed the war."[3]

 
......... I wouldn't play chicken with this dude.
 Stichtplate 14 Jan 2018
In reply to Cú Chullain:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roland_the_Farter

Roland the Farter (known in contemporary records as Roland le FartereRoulandus le Fartere or Roland le Petour) was a medieval flatulist who lived in twelfth-century England. He was given Hemingstone manor in Suffolk and 12 hectares (30 acres) of land in return for his services as a jester for King Henry II. Each year he was obliged to perform "Unum saltum et siffletum et unum bumbulum" (one jump, one whistle, and one fart) for the King's court at Christmas.[1]

 

.... worth its place in Wiki if only to let us know that flatulist is an actual job title and that the latin word for fart is bumbulum.

 Big Ger 15 Jan 2018
In reply to Stichtplate:

Le Pétomane (/l??p?t?me?n/, French pronunciation: ?[l?pet??man]) was the stage name of the French flatulist (professional farter) and entertainer Joseph Pujol (June 1, 1857 – 1945). He was famous for his remarkable control of the abdominal muscles, which enabled him to seemingly fart at will. His stage name combines the French verb péter, "to fart" with the -mane, "-maniac" suffix, which translates to "fartomaniac". The profession is also referred to as "flatulist", "farteur", or "fartiste".[1]

It is a common misconception that Joseph Pujol actually passed intestinal gas as part of his stage performance. Rather, Pujol was able to "inhale" or move air into his rectum and then control the release of that air with his anal sphincter muscles. Evidence of his ability to control those muscles was seen in the early accounts of demonstrations of his abilities to fellow soldiers.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Le_P%C3%A9tomane

 Big Ger 15 Jan 2018
In reply to Stichtplate:

I saw that at the cinema back in the day, it was the support feature to a major movie.

They don't have supporting films any more, which is a shame.

 

 Jimbob64 15 Jan 2018
In reply to Cú Chullain:

Wojtek (1942–1963) was a Syrian brown bear purchased, as a young cub, at a railroad station in Hamadan, Iran, by Polish II Corps soldiers who had been evacuated from the Soviet Union. In order to provide for his rations and transportation, he was eventually enlisted officially as a soldier with the rank of private, and was subsequently promoted to corporal.[1]

He accompanied the bulk of the Polish Second Corps to Italy, serving with the 22nd Artillery Supply Company. During the Battle of Monte Cassino, in Italy in 1944, Wojtek helped move crates of ammunition and became a celebrity with visiting Allied generals and statesmen.

 John Ww 15 Jan 2018
In reply to Cú Chullain:

Not all in one paragraph, but Kris Kristofferson's Wiki entry takes a bit of beating. "Multi-talented" is a minor understatement!

 Steve Perry 15 Jan 2018
In reply to Cú Chullain:

Maxwell "Max" Woosnam (6 September 1892 – 14 July 1965) was an English sportsman who is sometimes referred to as the 'Greatest British sportsman' in recognition of his achievements.

Among his achievements were winning an Olympic gold and silver in tennis at the 1920 Summer Olympics, winning the doubles at Wimbledon, compiling a 147 break in snooker, making a century at Lord's Cricket Ground, captaining the British Davis Cup team, captaining Manchester City FC finishing ultimately runners-up for the Football League Championship in 1920/21 and captaining the England National Football Team.

Phew! 


New Topic
This topic has been archived, and won't accept reply postings.
Loading Notifications...