Team Marco Polo

History Schmistory: August 9. No more Richard jokes!

Wednesday, August 9, 2023 by teammarcopolo

1974: President Richard M. Nixon becomes the only US president in history to resign. He does, however, retain the rights to all merchandising.

By Edmund S. Valtman [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

History Schmistory: August 8. Riiiiiicolaaaa!

Tuesday, August 8, 2023 by teammarcopolo

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.

Â© Hans HillewaertÂ /Â , via Wikimedia Commons

History Schmistory: August 3. La Scala-kazam!

Thursday, August 3, 2023 by teammarcopolo

1778: La Scala Opera House opens in Milan, Italy, with a show by F. Murray Abraham’s character in Amadeus.

By ungenannt [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Speaking of mediocre composers, here’s a Marco classic!

History Schmistory: August 1. Breathe, durn-it!

Tuesday, August 1, 2023 by teammarcopolo

1774: Oxygen is ‘discovered’ by Britain’s Sir Joseph Priestly, and given a symbol (O), though most refer to it as “the substance formerly known as air.”

By penner (http://flickr.com/photos/penner/2450784866) [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