Team Marco Polo

History Schmistory: October 21. UFO-snap!

Tuesday, October 21, 2025 by teammarcopolo

1978: Australian pilot Frederick Valentich vanishes somewhere over the Bass Straight after reporting an unidentified aircraft hovering above him. Dude got jacked by some punk aliens.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/df/PurportedUFO2.jpg

History Schmistory: October 20. No worries, mate!

Monday, October 20, 2025 by teammarcopolo

1973: 10 years overdue and $95 million over budget, the Sydney Opera House finally opens, and quickly becomes the universal icon of Australia. That is, until Crocodile Dundee comes out.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7c/Sydney_Opera_House_-_Dec_2008.jpg

GO THERE! Pumpkin-heads!

Sunday, October 19, 2025 by teammarcopolo

This Saturday, if you love carving jack-o-lanterns and are anywhere near New Hampshire, the Keene Pumpkin FestivalÂ is your Halloween dream come true! And its “Orange Towers” are a pumpkin’s worst nightmare realized.

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3173/2973861501_65a42b129f_o.jpg

History Schmistory: October 19. Somebody please do something historic!

Sunday, October 19, 2025 by teammarcopolo

Today in history kinda bites. Nothing all that significant, fun, or crazy to report. So, here you go!

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b1/Chuck_Norris,_The_Delta_Force_1986.jpg

History Schmistory: October 18. Happy Alaska Day!

Saturday, October 18, 2025 by teammarcopolo

1867: The United States moves in with Alaska after purchasing the territory from RussiaÂ for 7.2 million clams. They live together for 92 years before finally making the relationship official in 1959. Meanwhile, Canada insists they are carrying Alaska’s baby.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/85/Alaska_purchase.jpg

History Schmistory: October 17. Flow this way!

Friday, October 17, 2025 by teammarcopolo

The manor house of Toten Hall, where the flood began http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c9/The_manor_house_of_Toten_Hall_-_1813.gif

1814: The London Beer Â Flood occurs in, you guessed it, London, killing nine and inebriating several others.

GO THERE!

Wednesday, October 15, 2025 by teammarcopolo

To get your share of Halloween spooks, look no further than The Stanley Hotel in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. This hotel and its ghostly inhabitants, which inspired Stephen Kings novel/movie The Shining, go the extra mile during haunting season. So book a room on the fourth floor, the most paranormally active floor, and don’t expect to sleep a wink. No better way to spend Halloween! Which in Marco’s case means curled up in the fetal position, crying for mommy.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/36/Stanley_Hotel,_Estes_Park.jpg

History Schmistory: October 14. Poor Steve.

Tuesday, October 14, 2025 by teammarcopolo

2003: 95 years (to the day) after the Chicago Cubs won their last World Series title, fan Steve Bartman does his part to make sure it doesn’t happen again, in what has become known as the Steve Bartman incident. Should be a holiday in Florida. Though, in all fairness, he was really just the unfortunate scapegoat for the Cubbies monumental choke-fest.