Ludicrous Latin: Caesar si viveret, ad remum dareris.

If Caesar were alive, you’d be chained to an oar!

History Schmistory: April 15. Czechoslovakia goes Schizo!

1993. Czechoslovakia peacefully split into two new countries, the Czech Republic and Slovakia. The Czech Republic gets the house and Slovakia gets the car.

Ludicrous Latin: Noli me vocate, ego te vocabo.

Don’t call me, I’ll call you

Ludicrous Latin: Sona si latine loqueris.

Honk if you speak Latin.

History Schmistory: April 13. Edict of Nantes.

1598. King Henry IV of France signed the Edict of Nantes, granting rights to the Protestant Huguenots. No truth to the rumor they got their name from enemies saying “You are HUGE–NOT!”

Ludicrous Latin: Non curo. Si metrum non habet, non est poema.

I don’t care. If it doesn’t rhyme, it isn’t a poem.

History Schmistory: April 6. After 1500 Years…Boring Sports are Back!

1896. Athens, Greece–The Olympics are back for the first time since 369 AD when Emperor Theodosius abolished the Games as he considered them pagan. Finally, sports so boring that you’re only willing to watch them every four years are back!

Ludicrous Latin: Quantum materiae materietur marmota monax si marmota monax materiam possit materiari?

How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?

History Schmistory: April 5. Harvard weeps.

1649. Elihu Yale, the English philanthropist for whom Yale University is named, was born in Boston. Dave Harvard, in the next crib, is immediately jealous.

Team Marco Polo Presents: History Schmistory

Culture Buzz: Savage Easter

In the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary it is an Easter tradition to torment women for the day. This typically includes dousing them with water and/or lightly spanking them. Seriously. Somehow, symbolically the ritual is meant to keep them young and fertile, derived from an old medieval tradition that probably should’ve stayed just that. Though most observe the tradition playfully, there are always a few who ruin it for everyone. So, to be safe, many ladies of Central Europe will justifiably choose to stay in this Sunday.

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