Tuesday, August 5, 2025
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!”
Tuesday, August 5, 2025
1926 – New York.Â
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
Tuesday, August 5, 2025
1100: Henry I is crowned King of England in Westminster Abbey. This particular Henry was not significant enough for Shakespeare, and conveniently skipped.
Monday, August 4, 2025
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!
Monday, August 4, 2025
Favorable winds, stay the course. …Or, as we would put it:Â
Monday, August 4, 2025
1900: Queen Elizabeth, ‘the Queen Mother’ is born. Not to be confused with Elizabeth II, who will most likely live forever.
![By Allan warren (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0) or GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html)], via Wikimedia Commons](http://www.teammarcopolo.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/389px-H.M._The_Queen_Mother_Allan_Warren.jpg)
By Allan warren (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0) or GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html)], via Wikimedia Commons
Sunday, August 3, 2025
“Alright, but you’re so darn* ugly.”
Sunday, August 3, 2025
![By ungenannt [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons](http://www.teammarcopolo.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/800px-Milano_Teatro_alla_Scala_Postkarte_001.jpg)
By ungenannt [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
Speaking of mediocre composers, here’s a Marco classic!
Saturday, August 2, 2025
1610: Explorer Henry Hudson enters the bay later named after him, the Hudson Bay. Since his crew mutinied and left him for dead, an apology card was also in order. It’s in a bottle, floating out there somewhere. Sorry Hud!
![By Neemster (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons](http://www.teammarcopolo.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Henry-Hudson-posterimage.png)
By Neemster (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
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