History is peppered with such children who went on to become prodigies and legends in their respective fields.
1. Frédéric Chopin
Chopin was born in 1810 and left Poland after being established as a child prodigy. He started learning the piano at a very young age after which his mother enhanced his skills. His talent became more apparent as he grew up and he was deemed as the ‘second Mozart’.
2. Carl Friedrich Gauss
Gauss was born in 1777 and was extremely sharp even as a toddler. He made several discoveries in the field of mathematics during his teenage years. His masterpiece was published in 1801 and went by the name of “Disquisitiones Arithmeticae”. Gauss is undoubtedly the most influential in the field and is fondly referred to as the Prince of Mathematics.
3. Lope de Vega
Lope de Vega was born in 1562 and was a playwright and poet. He published a good deal of literary pieces out of which about 2,500 were plays and 425 can still be found. This child prodigy could read both Latin and Spanish at 5 and by the time he was 10, he could translate Latin verses. He finished his first play by his 12th birthday.
4. Yehudi Menuhin
Yehudi Menuhin started playing the violin at age three under the guidance of Sigmund Anker. He performed in front of an audience in 1923 and had recorded several pieces with his pianist sister by the time he was seven.
5. John von Neumann
This mathematician was born in Hungary in 1903. He contributed greatly to function analysis, topology, computer science, quantum physics, set theory, statistics and much more. He came to be recognized as an outstanding mathematician at a very early age and one of the best the world had to offer. This child prodigy could divide 8-digit numbers mentally at six and completed his Ph.D. at 23.
This movie was released in 1979 and was massively marketed with the help of action figures, comic books and toys. One can say that “Alien” is the film that inspired the creation of some of the best monster movies we know of today. The cast was brilliant and the creature designed by H.R.Giger scared the audience out of their wits and looked like nothing one had ever seen before.
Released in 1985, “Creature” was filmed after “Alien” was a huge success. Therefore, while it is quite similar to the above mentioned movie, the “monster” elements are not as frightening and the story line is not as serious. In addition to that, even though the creature in this movie will not be as fondly remembered as the one in Alien, it is definitely a charming one, making this movie perfect for those who wish to spend the evening getting terrified.
Deep Rising was released in 1998 and was directed by the man who created the famous mummy in the films “The Mummy” and “The Mummy Returns”. The monster in this movie lives underwater and enjoys consuming ships. Even though many people are killed in the process, the movie is slightly humorous- you will find yourself laughing for several minutes at scenes that are meant to be grim and action-packed.
This movie was released in 1989 and was directed by Sean S. Cunningham. The monsters in this movie live underwater as well and are said to belong to another era. These prehistoric monsters consume anything and anybody that stands in their way. Even though the cast is unknown, the monster is undoubtedly appealing for monster-lovers!
The Descent was released in 2005 and the plot revolves around such monsters that reside underground and look like humanoid vampires. They attack six women who are unfortunately, locked underground and cannot find an exit. The movie is terrifying and nail-biting and will make you jump every time something movies in the darkness.
Labradors are extremely cute as puppies and grow up to be even cuter. They are loyal, lovable and very friendly. These dogs are nothing if not adorable and you will find yourself getting attached to them the minute you see them!
Rabbits are round, fluffy and extremely endearing. Even though they can be a little high maintenance, they are definitely worth all the effort. They will nibble on their carrots in the most adorable way and their soft fur will take away all your worries after a bad day.
Dwarf Hamsters are related to the regular sized ones but are definitely much cuter! They are native to parts of Russia and China and can be found in any pet store located near you. Chinese hamsters are as adorable and are often considered to be the same as dwarf hamsters.
This cat breed belongs to Turkey and is extremely cute. This cat’s fur is startlingly white and their eyes’ are gorgeous. They are extremely fluffy when they are newborns but their fur gradually acclimatizes itself with the weather as they get older.
Guinea pigs look a bit like hamsters and their eyes are alert and round. They have the most adorable ears and are unfortunately used in labs for testing and research. Guinea pigs are known for their docile nature and the fact that they practically take care of themselves. A number of breeds are available and in different colors. They can weigh about 2.5 pounds and can live up to eight years.
This book revolves around Leopold Bloom’s journey through Dublin. The book is similar to Homer’s Odyssey as there are a number of familiar elements between the two books. Some are explicit while others are quite implicit. Because it has been banned through the years, high school students rarely get a chance to read it. Quite a shame, since it is among the best books ever written.
This book is well known for its protagonist, a young and innocent boy. Mark Twain describes the surroundings beautifully and criticizes the racial discrimination that is apparent through the book. It is laced with elements of freedom and escapism which becomes apparent when Huck and Jim are drifting along the Mississippi River.
Candide’s plot is based on a naïve protagonist who is forced to live by the rules of Leibnizian optimism. Elements of satire are clearly seen as the story unfolds as the character has to face a number of hardships through her life. It pokes fun at a number of romantic clichés as well as those related to adventure.
Brave New World unfolds against a backdrop of a utopian world wherein the human being are not only carefree but also technologically advanced and without health problems. Wars are not being fought and nobody lives below the poverty line. However, the society which exists in the book is hedonistic and one which is deprived of religion, literature, science, family, art and culture. In addition to that, the characters all take a particular kind of drug which keeps them happy all the time.
This book revolves around Winston Smith whose life degrades due to the workings of the totalitarian society within which he lives. 1984 made the author very famous and is considered to be among the best books which discuss the elements of a dystopian society.
Collagen is injected into the face in order to smooth our wrinkles and lines that appear with age. This chemical is also used to plump up one’s lips. This particular kind of collagen injections contain fluid from placentas and such fetuses that have been aborted. If that does not disgust you enough, you should go through a few botched up plastic surgery attempts to convince yourself to stay away from these injections.
The botox injections that are used to smooth out worry lines and crows feet contains a particular protein which is said to be the most toxic of its kind. If you were to consume this protein, death would follow almost instantly. Even though the amount is limited in such injections, the fact that it is poisonous should scare you off for good.
The cobra family has the ability to produce a particular kind of venom which contains such neurotoxins that can block nerve impulses. The beauty industry was smart enough to pick up on this fact and realized that the venom could have an effect that is similar to that of the above mentioned injections.
This cream is manufactured from a cow’s placenta. It can slow down the natural process of aging and keep wrinkles at bay for many years. The placenta contains a particular category of nutrients which allows the cells to grow at a faster rate.
If you do not find the idea disgusting and foul, you should go through a certain hair treatment which will leave you with smoother, shinier hair. The hairdresser will rub bull semen into your scalp and through your hair.
This trend came up during the 1990s and was set by “Kiss Kross”, a Hip-Hop group. What they did was turn their clothes backwards and wear them like nothing was wrong. Even though it was unique and different, it was definitely ridiculous.
Baggy jeans have been popular since the 1990s. Fortunately, the jeans do not sit as low as they used to. Boys today continue to buy pants that are two sizes too big and walk around looking uncomfortable. The girls would definitely agree with one fact- this trend should have never come about.
During the 1990s, almost every male would wet his hair and comb it right through the centre. The result would be that a large scalp line would be visible. It looked extremely bad and made decent looking boys appear ugly. This trend ended soon after- thank god for small mercies!
While a few women continue to wear these today, they were extremely popular about 4 years back. Almost every female in the country owned a pair and wore them with everything- even skirts. Looking back, one would say that it made them look like abominable snowmen.
These jeans are a far cry from the ultra trendy low waisted jeans available today. High-waisted pants were extremely popular during the 1980s and were worn well into the 1990s. The reason why they look bad- they close in around your mid-section and needless to say, make your rear end look humungous. One of the worst trends till date, undoubtedly.
Almost everybody believes this superstition- that Friday the 13th of any month means bad luck. This superstition is so common that a number of hotels are known to have been built without the 13th floor and airlines don’t give tickets for the 13th row. It has been believed that the 13th guest during the Last Supper was Judas and Friday was the day that Christ got crucified. Basically- quite an unlucky day all in all.
It is believed that if your left palm itches, it means that you will lose money but if your right one does, you will earn, inherit or receive money. However, you must let it itch because if you go ahead and scratch it, you may end up countering the effect.
Most rational people don’t walk under ladders lying about because they feel that something may fall on their heads and leave them unconscious. However, those who like to go along with the herd believe that walking under a ladder is equal to bad luck. The “logic” behind this belief is that you will end up awakening evil spirits when you walk through the triangle that the ladder makes with the wall.
This superstition hardly needs an explanation. Basically, if you break a mirror, bad luck will get attached to you for seven years. In the past, it was believed that a mirror reflects the person’s soul and if you smash it, the soul will get hampered as well. In case you break a mirror, you can take the broken mirror outside, dig a hole and throw the pieces inside. Don’t forget to cover it with mud or the bad luck will come after you for sure!
If you find a horseshoe in an open field- you should consider yourself to be extremely lucky. When you find it, you are required to use your right hand to pick it up, cover one end with your spit, wish for something spectacular and then throw it over your shoulder- make sure it is the left one because otherwise, all that activity will bear no fruit.
This cinema hall is among the largest in Manhattan. The exterior of the theater is flashy and merges with the bright and glamorous surroundings. AMC Empire 25 has about 25 screens and showcases all the popular movies as and when they release. The seating is extremely comfortable, even for those who sit in the front row.
AMC Loews Kips Bay 15 is not only among the largest but also one of the most beautiful movie theaters. The lobby of the cinema hall resembles that of a palace and the murals on the wall are movie-themed and absolutely stunning. It showcases a wide variety of movies and is extremely spacious. However, it has been noticed that it tends to get very quiet, which is why people tend to avoid it.
This cinema hall has murals of those New York cinemas that existed in the past and therefore, makes the entire experience very nostalgic. Unlike other movie halls which assign numbers to each auditorium, this cinema hall allots cinema namesakes and the main lobby has been designed with a retro theme. This cinema hall is among the most comfortable and modern cinema halls.
The BAM Rose cinema hall was founded in 1998 and its structure and architecture is similar to that of an opera hall. The entryway is vast and the ceilings are extremely high. What’s more, even the wooden banisters are massive! This movie theater is extremely popular amongst actors, screenwriters and directors.
The Angelika Film Center showcases some of the best and most popular independent films in the United States. The main lobby is large and holds the Angelika Café which is beautiful and trendy.
Everybody is familiar with the famous wizard Harry Potter and his friends Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley. The books, created by J.K.Rowling have been immensely successful and have been made into films as well. Harry’s battle against the evil Lord Voldemort forms the crux of the plot. Packed with action, humor and interesting spells, this fantasy world will make you wish that you had received a letter from Hogwarts at 11 too!
Based on the book, “Alice in Wonderland” written by Lewiss Carroll, this fantasy world revolves around Alice who follows a rabbit and accidentally falls down a rabbit hole. The world she enters consists of anthropomorphic and extremely strange creatures. The reason why this fantasy world is popular is because it challenges certain well-accepted notion and logical theories.
This fantasy world was introduced in the books and movie “The Chronicles of Narnia which talk about children that leave ‘our world’ and find themselves in Narnia. This fantasy world has been created by C.S.Lewis and is extremely popular amongst adults and children alike. In Narnia, magic is common-place, animals are able to communicate like us and mythical beasts can be seen everywhere.
This wonderful fantasy world was introduced in “The Wizard of Oz” and talks about Dorothy Gale who wishes to get away from her boring town. She faints during a tornado and finds herself in Oz with the dog Toto. Here she meets Glinda-The Good Witch of the North, a Tin Man, a Cowardly Lion and a Scarecrow.
Dreamlands is a fantasy world created by H.P. Lovecraft in “Dream Cycle”. This world is gigantic and one can enter it only through one’s subconscious mind while dreaming. This alternate world consists of such dreamers that visit Dreamland often and are said to become permanent residents after they pass away.
