Professors
Art critic
Pandora's Inbox
Make a wish
Get a job
The Fall of the Onomatopoeian Empire
Robert De Nero
Rome 1582
Barbarians
Night of the long knives
The Pedants' Revolt
King Tut
History repeats
Boston 1876
Alternative gladiator
Aethelred the Oven Ready
Siren

Fact of the Day

Pope Innocent VIII allegedly drank the blood of three young Jewish boys in the hope of capturing their youth. He is also reported to have had the first blood transfusion, in 1492.

Quote of the Day

"Democracy is the worst form of Government except for all those other forms that have been tried from time to time. "
~ Winston Churchill

On This Day

9 Future emperor of Rome and founder of the Flavian dynasty, Vespasian, was born.
1292 John Balliol became King of Scots.
1558 The beginning of an era: 'Bloody' Mary died and her half-sister, Elizabeth, became queen.
1603 Sir Walter Raleigh's trial for treason began. He conducted his own defence and lost, although his life was spared.
1724 Thief, gaol-breaker and working class hero Jack Sheppard was hanged in front of a crowd of 200,000 at Tyburn.
1796 Catherine the Great died of a stroke, aged 67.
1810 A war only on paper: Sweden declared war on its British ally to appease France. No battles were ever fought.
1869 After ten years in the making, the Suez Canal opened. It connects the Mediterranean with the Red Sea.
1913 German monarch Kaiser Wilhelm banned the armed forces from dancing the tango.