William Otis (1813–1839) was an American inventor of the steam shovel. Otis received a patent for his creation on February 24, 1839.

In 1839, William Smith Otis, civil engineer of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was issued a US patent for the steam shovel (No. 1,089) for excavating and (removing earth). Officially the patent drawing is missing but a drawing exists which is said to be the one from the patent[1] and this shows the crane mounted on a railroad car.

A load of earth could be lifted by the bucket, raised by the crane and turned to be dumped, such as in railcars. The patent described how a steam engine of a type then in ordinary use, was installed with a power control mechanism for the crane, and a system of pulleys to move its arms and bucket. It could move about 380 cubic meters of earth a day, with its 1.1 cubic meter capacity shovel and 180° slewing wooden jib. It was first used on the Western Railroad in Massachusetts.

How to Celebrate Inconvenience Yourself Day

Inconvenience Yourself Day may seem like an unusual holiday to celebrate.

Its goal or mission is not only to recognize a person's self awareness in life, but also to acknowledge other people's lives and actions as well. There are times where you need to put yourself first, but this day, try to put someone else before you. This unofficial holiday is celebrated on the 4th Wednesday in February.

1 - Be there for someone else emotionally. If a friend, co-worker, relative, or even an online friend wants to talk, give them your full attention. Make them feel appreciated that you're there by giving them advice and always try to get them to see a positive aspect of it. Everyone loves smiles and hugs, especially in a stressful situation.

2 - Make children feel appreciated. When parents are buried in work, household chores to maintain a clean & safe house, and bill payment deadlines to meet, it's hard to set some time off to spend quality time with kids. Help them out with homework, have fun preparing for a test by creating index card games, take them to the park, or even play their favorite video game with them.

3 - Perform a random act of kindness to a stranger. Don't hesitate to let someone in the supermarket line before you if they have a few things while you have a full cart. Open the door for a senior citizen and allow them to walk in/out before you.

4 - Be patient on the road. Allow people to go in front of you to make a merge and never play the "bumper-to-bumper game" so that people can't merge. Avoid taking a parking space because it's closer and more convenient for you; go further back to allow someone else the chance - it's also good exercise to walk.

5 - Achieve success at work. Use this day to re-evaluate how you present yourself towards others. Offer help to someone first; don't wait for them to come to you. Explain things with specific instructions instead of a basic overview. Take the time out and ensure that they are presented with the best assistance.