GO THERE!


The Underwater Sculpture Park in Cancun, Mexico. Another great reason to learn how to snorkel.

History Schmistory: August 21. Mona Lisa Smuggle

1911: Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa is stolen from the Louvre during business hours.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The culprit: Vincenzo Peruggia

See page for author [Public domain or Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

See page for author [Public domain or Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

His motive was to return the piece to Italy as a long overdue retaliation against France, whose former leader, Napoleon, stole boatloads of priceless art from Italy and sent it to Paris. A noble cause, but Leonardo actually brought the Mona Lisa to Paris himself in 1516, and it has been there ever since. Oh well, it’s the thought that counts. Vinny was arrested trying to sell it out of his closet.

Sister Windy would be ashamed!

GO THERE! attn pin-heads

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Not that anyone needs another reason to go to Vegas, but the “Pinball Hall of Fame” is always reason enough for Marco.

GO THERE!


The Meenakshi Temple in Madurai, India, is an historic Hindu temple that will put your uncle Dave’s hideous “art car” to shame. …Not that it would be that difficult.

History Schmistory: August 20. Who brought the cannon?

1882: Piotr Ilich Tchaikovsky premiers the 1812 Overture in Moscow, with a section of real cannon blasting away during the finale. Six months later a cannonball falls out of the sky and kills Wagner. It was that awesome.

Don’t think you know it? Skip to 3:05….

History Schmistory: August 19. To go where no man would dare go before…

1960 – Sputnik Program: Sputnik 5  – the Soviet Union launches a satellite with 2 dogs, 40 mice, 2 rats and a variety of plants. The first animals to be launched into orbit and return safely. Not to take anything away from the first animals ever in space, fruit flies. Seriously. They did so well we sent them back a few years ago. Poor little guys…

By Jack Dykinga, U.S. Department of Agriculture [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

By Jack Dykinga, U.S. Department of Agriculture [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

-We should give a shout to Laika, the original space dog, who unfortunately didn’t make it back. RIP widdle buddy!

Laika Monument By Laika ac from USA (Laika) [CC BY-SA 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Laika Monument
By Laika ac from USA (Laika) [CC BY-SA 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

History Schmistory: August 18. Truth or Dare?

1587: Virginia Dare, the first American child of English descent, is born. Sad news for the Truths, across the road, who are  two weeks overdue.

Henry Howe [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Henry Howe [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

History Schmistory: August 17. Moving stick-people? One please!

1908: Fantasmagorie by Emile Cohl, debuts as the first animated film in history. Try it with your own soundtrack! … …Or don’t.

History Schmistory: August 16. Can you hear me now?

1858: The United States exchanges overseas greetings with the United Kingdom for the first time through the transatlantic telegraph cable.

See page for author [Public domain or Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

See page for author [Public domain or Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Which was destroyed 4 weeks later by this guy…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Portrait of Wildman Whitehouse, 1856-1865, Maull and Polyblank, Science Museum, 1856-1865. Object No. 1980-2/50. © This image is available for use under the following license: CC-BY-NC-ND 2.0]

His complaint was it didn’t work fast enough, so he turned up the juice too high and fried the thing. Way to go, Wildman.

He tried to make it up to everybody with a communications device of his own…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

No one was amused.

History Schmistory: August 15. I see ridiculous pants in your future…

1519: Panama City is founded. A super great rock song is prognosticated shortly thereafter.

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