MEET SAM THE UNSINKABLE CAT

According to the story, Unsinkable Sam survived the destruction of three warships in World War II and lived happily until 1955. A pastel portrait of Sam (titled Oscar, the Bismarck’s Cat) by the artist Georgina Shaw-Baker is in the possession of the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich.

GET AHEAD BY THINKING AHEAD

A favourite cartoon depicts a sales rep trying to grab the attention of a medieval king directing a battle in which arrows are being exchanged. The salesman has on offer a Gatling machine gun and boxes of ammunition. A short burst would be a game-changer. Alas, the king is too busy to see him.