History Schmistory: July 31. Houston, the Nina has landed.

1498: Christopher Columbus and crew arrive in Trinidad. What do they bring back? …Syphilis.
'Columbus landing at Trinidad', From Famous Voyagers and Explorers, 1893, The British Library [public domain]

‘Columbus landing at Trinidad’, From Famous Voyagers and Explorers, 1893, The British Library [public domain]

 

 

History Schmistory: July 30. “Eat it, gravity!”

1918: The first parachute jump from a perfectly good aircraft, performed with flair by Frenchmen Sarret.
Here goes nothing!  V.Leers (De prins der geillustreerde bladen) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Here goes nothing!
V.Leers (De prins der geillustreerde bladen) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

History Schmistory: July 29. The Final Frontier…

1958: President Dwight D. Eisenhower eagerly signs a federal statute that creates the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

To infinity and beyond!   By Bill Ingalls [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

To infinity and beyond!
By Bill Ingalls [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sadly, they were never able to get him back to his home planet.

History Schmistory: July 28. This spud’s for you.

1586: The Potato is introduced into Britain from America. It quickly adopts a flawless British accent.

'How do you do?"

‘How do you do?”

History Schmistory: July 27. Lend me your ears…..

1890: Vincent van Gogh shoots himself; he dies two days later. Insert ear joke here.

'Self Portrait'  Vincent van Gogh [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

‘Self Portrait’
Vincent van Gogh [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

History Schmistory: July 26. Mi Vidi Vi!

1887: Unua Libro  is published, detailing the language of Esperanto, Now spoken in over 100 countries. Who knew? …I sure didn’t.
By skanita en privata biblioteko de P.Fiŝo (Wikipedia/eo) [CC0], via Wikimedia Commons

By skanita en privata biblioteko de P.Fiŝo (Wikipedia/eo) [CC0], via Wikimedia Commons

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fun Fact: Esperanto was the brain child of Dr. Ludwig Lazarus Zamenhof and was designed as a ‘universal language’ that would help foster global connections and communication. Unfortunately it was not the success Zamenhof had hoped. Today only 10,000, in the whole world, speak it fluently. Commiseration’s Dr. Z

History Schmistory: July 25. First in Flight.

1909: First flight across the English Channel, by Louis Bleriot. He got halfway there once before, but decided he couldn’t make it and flew back.
How you doin'? Louis Bleriot, See page for author [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

How you doin’?
Louis Bleriot, See page for author [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

History Schmistory: July 24. King Gaga.

1567: A one year old boy becomes King James VI of Scotland when his mother, Mary Queen of Scots, abdicates. He shares a round of milk with his subjects.

'James VI as a young boy', King James I of England and VI of Scotland by Arnold van Brounckhorst.jpg, Public Domain

‘James VI as a young boy’,
King James I of England and VI of Scotland by Arnold van Brounckhorst.jpg, Public Domain

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fun fact: Once he was all grown up James ruled both England and Scotland from 1603- 1625….. he was also fascinated by witches and the Daemonologie in 1599. Each to their own I guess!

History Schmistory: July 23. Speak now or forever hold your tongue.

1926 – Fox Film buys the patents of the Movietone sound system for recording sound onto film. Silent film actors remain unable to vocalize their concerns.
Chaplin_The_Kid_2_crop

History Schmistory: July 22. Vrrrroooooooommmm-put-put… -put.

1894: The first motorcar race is held in France. Local horses start a betting racket.

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