© Hans Hillewaert / , via Wikimedia Commons
History Schmistory: August 8. Riiiiiicolaaaa!
Saturday, August 8, 2020
1786: The first successful ascent of the highest mountain in the Alps and western Europe, Mont Blanc. Sadly, both climbers forgot to bring their Alphorns.
History Schmistory: August 7. Otto-matic
Friday, August 7, 2020
936: Otto the Great is elected King of the Germans.
![By Photographer: Ajepbah; edit: Crisco 1492 [CC BY-SA 3.0 de (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/de/deed.en)], via Wikimedia Commons](http://www.teammarcopolo.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/Alter_Markt_Magdeburg-Altstadt.Magdeburger_Reiter_edit.jpg)
By Photographer: Ajepbah; edit: Crisco 1492 [CC BY-SA 3.0 de (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/de/deed.en)], via Wikimedia Commons
History Schmistory: August 6th: Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No it’s…. a Supernova!
Thursday, August 6, 2020
1181 – The Supernova is first observed by Japanese and Chinese astronomers.
![NASA/ESA [CC BY 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons](http://www.teammarcopolo.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/super.jpg)
NASA/ESA [CC BY 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
History Schmistory: August 6. Rastafar-from English
Thursday, August 6, 2020
1962: Jamaica becomes independent from Britain.
Monkeys vs Apes…
Wednesday, August 5, 2020
As the world goes Ape-y for the new Planet of the Apes movie, it is important to know why we call them apes and not monkeys. One easy distinction is that almost all species of monkey have tails while apes do not. Also, though many apes enjoy swinging through the trees like Tarzan, they actually live on the ground, whereas monkeys are arboreal (tree dwellers) and spend most of their time jumping through the tree-tops, more like squirrels.
“Hey, I’m just a monkey!”
History Schmistory: August 5th: Hou-dunnit!
Wednesday, August 5, 2020
1926 – New York.
Magician and escape artist Harry Houdini is submerged in an underwater coffin. It take’s him 1 1/2 hours to escape.
![David Blaine's got nothing on this guy! By McManus-Young Collection (Library of Congress) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons](http://www.teammarcopolo.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/HarryHoudini1899.jpg)
David Blaine’s got nothing on this guy!
By McManus-Young Collection (Library of Congress) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
History Schmistory: August 5. The Original “Harry”
Wednesday, August 5, 2020
1100: Henry I is crowned King of England in Westminster Abbey. This particular Henry was not significant enough for Shakespeare, and conveniently skipped.
Revolutionary Dayz
Tuesday, August 4, 2020
As we observe (or some of us anyway) the details of former Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak’s trial, many are reminded of how remarkable Egypt’s non-violent overthrow was. Really. If it was in France it would have been a bloody mess…
–One more time with feeling!
Ludicrous Latin: Ventis secundis, tene cursum.
Tuesday, August 4, 2020
Favorable winds, stay the course. …Or, as we would put it:
