I wasn’t expecting to enjoy this as much as I did…
In his farewell address, George Washington warned against future threats to the newly formed nation, including “entanglements” in foreign wars and the rise of political factions. He was smart to warn us. Too bad we didn’t listen. You can read the whole thing here history.com George Washington farewell speech in this article on History.com.
Two funny videos: One is about marriage counseling.
The other is about precocious toddlers.
Both are connected in my mind. It’s something about how, in this last decade or so, we’ve drifted into an Orwellian world where common sense has been tossed out the window and the most absurd ideas and behaviors are becoming legitimized.
The parachute is only one of many inventions attributed to Leonardo Da Vinci that seem to have more to do with modern technology than that of the Renaissance. A few examples…
* the aerial screw – which presages the helicopter, or at least the concept of vertical flight
* the ornithopter – which demonstrates an understanding of aerodynamics fundamental to the development of aviation
* the robot – not in the modern sense, but a self-operating automaton that was capable of moving without human aid/intervention
* the machine gun – a 33-barrelled thing, nothing like the modern machine gun but notable for introducing the concept of a rapid-fire weapon
* the diving suit – strikingly similar to early prototypes of the modern diving suit
(Source: HistoryLists.com)
Is it possible to refine one’s sensibilities to such a point that one is no longer a happy consumer of puerile humor? Or is it just impossible for me?
You probably know that Valentine’s Day commemorates the death of St. Valentine, who was executed by Emperor Claudius II on February 14 sometime in the 3rd century. But you probably don’t know why he was sentenced to death. According to ReadersDigest.com, “the most popular [legend] says he was a priest who married young couples after Claudius outlawed marriage for young men. (Apparently, they were better soldiers when they weren’t romantically attached.) Another says he helped save Catholics who were imprisoned for their religious beliefs.
“However, the holiday may have been promoted to overshadow the pagan festival Lupercalia. Between February 13 and 15, Romans celebrated by sacrificing a goat and a dog and whipping women with their hides. Crude as it may seem, people believed this made women more fertile, and women actually lined up to get slapped with bloody hides. In the 5th century, Pope Gelasius I outlawed Lupercalia and officially declared February 14 Valentine’s Day.”
Is this even legal today?
“Beating around the bush”… “Getting the short end of the stick”… “The apple of one’s eye”… “Throw down the gauntlet”… “Red-letter day”… “You’ve got to be cruel to be kind”…
Test yourself on the origins of these old sayings in this fun little quiz from TriviaGenius.com LINK
One of my favorite songs when I was a teenager…
If you took a single penny and doubled it every day for a month, you would end up with more than $5 million.