History Schmistory: September 23. Mario Kard?
Tuesday, September 23, 2025
1889: Nintendo is founded as a playing card company by Fusajiro Yamauchi, and soon introduces Hanafuda, a flowery card deck with a number of applicable games, including Tyson’s Punch-Out! 🙂
![I, Aldaron [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html), CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/) or CC BY 2.5 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5)], via Wikimedia Commons](http://www.teammarcopolo.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/800px-Koi-Koi_Setup.jpg)
I, Aldaron [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html), CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/) or CC BY 2.5 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5)], via Wikimedia Commons
Cryptozoology Break! Kongamato
Monday, September 22, 2025
In the Jiundu swamps of western Zambia, a legendary pterodactyl-like creature known as Kongamato (“overwhelmer of boats”) had been terrifying the natives for generations. This elusive creature was known to capsize boats and deliberately pursue and destroy any poor soul who laid eyes on it. A few early 20th century explorers reported seeing and often being attacked by these crazy ugly flying monsters. Similar sightings were reported from as far away as Mount Kilimanjaro. Today, the real truth about the Kongamato remains a mystery…
You say Kongamayto, I say Kongamahto, let’s get the heck outta here!
History Schmistory: September 22. Act now!
Monday, September 22, 2025
1598: Playwright Ben Jonson, a contemporary of Billy Shakespeare, is arrested for killing an actor in a duel. Naturally, the actor only had his prop gun.
![By Joost J. Bakker from IJmuiden (Space Pilot X Ray Gun Uploaded by Oxyman) [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons](http://www.teammarcopolo.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/800px-Space_Pilot_X_Ray_Gun_made_by_Taiyo.jpg)
By Joost J. Bakker from IJmuiden (Space Pilot X Ray Gun Uploaded by Oxyman) [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
History Schmistory: September 21. The original prequel?
Sunday, September 21, 2025
1937: J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit is published. No Hobbits were harmed during the making.
![By Jeff Hitchcock (Flickr: Butterfly Catcher) [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons](http://www.teammarcopolo.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/800px-Hobbit_Hole.jpg)
By Jeff Hitchcock (Flickr: Butterfly Catcher) [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
History Schmistory: September 20. Spain’s Ba-a-a-ad Boys.
Saturday, September 20, 2025
1920: Spain establishes the Spanish Foreign Legion, an elite unit of the Spanish Army. It’s mascot? A goat… Really?
![By Julio César Cerletti GarcÃÂa (https://www.flickr.com/photos/mybuffo/13993260346) [CC BY-SA 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons](http://www.teammarcopolo.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Mascot_of_the_Spanish_Legion.png)
By Julio César Cerletti GarcÃÂa (https://www.flickr.com/photos/mybuffo/13993260346) [CC BY-SA 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
History Schmistory: September 4. La La Land!
Saturday, September 20, 2025
1781: Los Angeles, California is founded as El Pueblo de Nuestra Senora La Reina de los Angeles de Porciuncula, (The Village of Our Lady, the Queen of the Angels of Porziuncola), which seems like a silly name for a city, until you see this…
Photo by Eyreland (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
Here are some more ridiculously long city names. Shouldn’t there be a limit? How irritating would it be to have to send a package to Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateaturipukakapikimaungahoronukupokaiwhenuakitanatahu?
History Schmistory: September 19. We’re not safe here.
Friday, September 19, 2025
1957: The US begins testing underground nukes. Burrowing animals across the globe react in horror.
History Schmistory: September 18. In fifteen hundred zero two, Columbus sailed the ocean blue for the last dadgum time!
Thursday, September 18, 2025
1502: Christopher Columbus lands at Costa Rica on his fourth and final voyage. And yes, he still thinks it’s Asia. Poor sap.
![Sebastiano del Piombo [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons](http://www.teammarcopolo.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/498px-Christopher_Columbus.png)
Sebastiano del Piombo [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
History Schmistory: September 17. The New Frontier…
Wednesday, September 17, 2025
1976: NASA unveils the first space shuttle, Enterprise. Shatner and Nimoy consider a comeback.
History Schmistory: September 16. Let’s get together!
Tuesday, September 16, 2025
1963: Malaysia is formed from the Federation of Malaya, Singapore, British North Borneo and Sarawak. Singapore decides later to leave the newly established nation. Malaysia was quoted as saying, “fine, be that way!” and Singapore was all like, “Oh you just watch me!” and then Malaysia was like, “wait, don’t go!” but by then it was too late.
Happy 48th, Malaysia!
![By Brian Jeffery Beggerly from S'pore (Singapore), Singapore (IMG_1988 Uploaded by Smooth_O) [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons](http://www.teammarcopolo.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/800px-Malaysian_flag_flying_in_Malacca.jpg)
By Brian Jeffery Beggerly from S’pore (Singapore), Singapore (IMG_1988 Uploaded by Smooth_O) [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
