Is this really a Country & Western song title?
Number 23, apparently, in the Best of the Worst Country-Western Song Titles list
My personal favourite (no 29):
My John Deere Was Breaking Your Field, While Your Dear John Was Breaking My Heart
Saturday, June 30, 2007
Friday, June 29, 2007
War of Jenkin's Ear
Probably the best named war ever, the War of Jenkins Ear was fought between England and Spain in Florida and the Caribbean between 1739 and 1742.
The war took its name from English sailor Robert Jenkins, captain of the ship Rebecca, who claimed Spanish coast guards had cut off his ear in 1731. He exhibited said ear in the House of Commons ('ear 'ear!). The severed appendage so aroused public opinion, Prime Minister Robert Walpole was force to reluctantly declare war on Spain.
Spain sort of won but the war didn't really end in 1742. Instead it became part of another war, one that wasn't named after a body part, instead more boringly called the War of the Austrian Succession.
Jenkins went back to work with the Navy despite his impediment and became the governor and most famous resident of St Helena until Napoleon spectacularly blew that honour away in 1815.
The war took its name from English sailor Robert Jenkins, captain of the ship Rebecca, who claimed Spanish coast guards had cut off his ear in 1731. He exhibited said ear in the House of Commons ('ear 'ear!). The severed appendage so aroused public opinion, Prime Minister Robert Walpole was force to reluctantly declare war on Spain.
Spain sort of won but the war didn't really end in 1742. Instead it became part of another war, one that wasn't named after a body part, instead more boringly called the War of the Austrian Succession.
Jenkins went back to work with the Navy despite his impediment and became the governor and most famous resident of St Helena until Napoleon spectacularly blew that honour away in 1815.
Thursday, June 28, 2007
Ireland's first black mayor
Rotimi Adebari, 43, born in Okeodan in Ogun state, in southwest Nigeria, was expected to take the chain of office in the midlands town of Portlaoise, Co Laois.
Adebari has a masters degree in intercultural studies from Dublin City University and works with the local authority in County Laois co-ordinating an integration project for immigrants.
"Ireland is really changing. The immigrant community in the town has been growing, especially since the accession countries joined the European Union on enlargement in 2004," Adebari said.
"That is not to say that I did not have my own share of the prejudice that would be out there against maybe Nigerians, or immigrants or asylum seekers," he said.
"But I don't let the attitude of a very small minority over-shadow the fact that the people are wonderful."
Adebari has a masters degree in intercultural studies from Dublin City University and works with the local authority in County Laois co-ordinating an integration project for immigrants.
"Ireland is really changing. The immigrant community in the town has been growing, especially since the accession countries joined the European Union on enlargement in 2004," Adebari said.
"That is not to say that I did not have my own share of the prejudice that would be out there against maybe Nigerians, or immigrants or asylum seekers," he said.
"But I don't let the attitude of a very small minority over-shadow the fact that the people are wonderful."
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
absolutely astronomical aphelions and analemmas
Aphelion - the point on its orbit when the Earth is farthest from the sun where as Perihelion is the point on its orbit when the Earth is closest to the sun
.
Analemma is the figure-8 path that the sun makes in the sky when you photograph it once a week at the same time of day for an entire year. The top of the eight is at the perihelion. The bottom is at the aphelion.
.
Analemma is the figure-8 path that the sun makes in the sky when you photograph it once a week at the same time of day for an entire year. The top of the eight is at the perihelion. The bottom is at the aphelion.
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
Monday, June 25, 2007
Sunday, June 24, 2007
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
