Tag Archives: history

Was Ivan the Terrible really just misunderstood?

By Ryan | Published: March 11, 2010

In English we call him Ivan the Terrible, but his Russian moniker was Ivan Grozny, meaning mighty, powerful and strict. His father died when Ivan was four, making him the Grand Prince of Moscow until 1547 when he became the proper Tsar of Russia, at age seventeen. It seems the early years of his reign [...]

Shakespeare enwisened* the English language with new words

By Ryan | Published: March 9, 2010

At the end of the 16th century Europe was just wrapping up with the Medieval period and freshening up for the coming Renaissance. Russia was nearing the end of Ivan the Terrible, and England had just gotten past King Henry VIII with his beheading phase. A young upstart by the name of William Shakespeare was [...]

The original kazoo was made with spider eggs

By Ryan | Published: February 8, 2010

When I visited Buffalo, NY I was given a souvenir kazoo. Since 1912, they’ve been the promised land of kazoo making. Well, technically it’s the tiny town of Eden, just south of Buffalo, that is home to the Original American Kazoo Company. Just to be safe, I will back it up here and explain what [...]

Posted in Interesting Facts | Also tagged music | 4 Comments

The First Winter Olympics

By Ryan | Published: February 1, 2010

It was 1924 when the French Olympic Committee decided to organize and host the “International Winter Sports Week”. Things went well enough that the following year it was officially dubbed the first Olympic Winter Games and the event has continued ever since. The games were held in the shadow of Mont Blanc, the highest mountain [...]

Posted in Interesting Facts | Also tagged games | Leave a comment

FACT: a woman in high heels is more deadly than an elephant

By Ryan | Published: November 25, 2009

Not only am I a man, I’m a man who doesn’t always wear matching socks… so women’s high-heel shoes are a mystery to me. How can these ladies bear to stand on their tippy-toes all day? Why put yourself at the mercy of a metal sidewalk vent? Why do you still wear them during winter?!? [...]

Posted in Interesting Facts | Also tagged fashion, physics, words | 3 Comments

FACT: Guy Fawkes never had a chance to blow up the king

By Ryan | Published: November 2, 2009

This week British people will be celebrating Bonfire Night, or Guy Fawkes Day on November 5th. They are celebrating the safety of the king, because in 1605 King James I almost didn’t live to see November 6th. On the other hand, there may not have been any risk at all. I smell intrigue! Like most [...]

Posted in Interesting Facts | Also tagged traditions | 3 Comments

FACT: orange carrots are a relatively new development

By Ryan | Published: October 2, 2009

Orange and carrots go together like yellow and bananas, like red and apples, like orange and oranges… but it’s a fairly new look. Throughout history carrots were primarily purple or white. The orange carrots we know and love really only became prominent in the 1600s in northern Europe. Actually, the historical development of the modern [...]

Posted in Interesting Facts | Also tagged food | 1 Comment