Monthly Archives: January 2011

April fool! All Fools’ Day, when childish pranks are played and their victims are taunted with cries of April fool, seems to have been brought from France to England in about 1700. But its origins and the reason it is … Continue reading →

Silhouette Madame de Pompadour had her friend Etienne de Silhouette appointed France’s controller general in 1759, but was probably disappointed with the results. Silhouette, then 50, proceeded to try to get France back on her feet after the bank­rupcy brought … Continue reading →

The Elephant When the Romans first encountered the elephant, they called it the (Lucamian OX) never having seen the great beast before. Another story however, holds that the elephant is a corruption of (Infanta de Castile). The elephant is the … Continue reading →

You’re a 19 year old kid.  You’re critically wounded and dying in  The jungle somewhere in the Central Highlands of Viet Nam.  It’s November 11, 1967. LZ  (landing zone) X-ray.  Your unit is outnumbered 8-1 and the enemy fire is … Continue reading →

Blood is thicker than water This was stated by the US Commdore Jusiah Tattnall on the Peiho River , China 1859 when he went to the aid of the British against the Chinese and was told this  that Blood is … Continue reading →

The Founder of the Modern Olympics,Charles Pierre Frédy de Coubertin Born Paris1856 and Died Switzerland1937. He was an unlikely sports hero, a French aristThe Founder of the Modern Olympics,Charles Pierre Frédy de Coubertin Born Paris1856 and Died Switzerland1937. He was … Continue reading →

What Do You Believe Is True Even Though You Cannot Prove It? Benoit Mandelbrot   Wandering through the frontiers of the sciences, and the arts, I have always trusted the eye.   While leaving aside the issues that eludes it. It … Continue reading →