Like History? Good. You're akin to 98% of the population that slept through history class and only turns on the History Channel if "The History of Sex" is on late at night. But whether you admit it or not, history can be pretty amusing and freakin' cool. I'm going to prove that to you, or at least give you some fun facts you can use to impress your friends.
Saturday, April 2, 2011
I'm in St. Augustine, Trick.
If the popularity of Youtube has taught us anything, its that people don't necessarily have to be talented, smart or even decent looking to become famous. Indeed, hundreds of people owe their fame and fortune to their stupidity or lack of talent.
Case in Point..
Anyway, this type of fame resulting from stupidity has existed long before the internet, and has made people a lot more famous than Rebecca Black or that kid who pretends to be a jedi, or a the girl who smashes her head on the TV while dancing to "Single Ladies"
Which brings us to today's topic. On April 2nd 1513 Spain's most gullible man discovered what would become one of the United States most well, sunny states: Florida. Ponce de Leon stumbled upon this giant landmass while searching for the fountain of youth. For those of you who didn't read my post about groundhogs day, the fountain of youth supposedly provides any drinker with eternal youth and prosperity. Poor ponce didn't realize that he landed about 3000 miles too far south, because the fountain of youth is apparently in Pennsylvania somewhere, being wasted on a ground hog.
BASTARD!
Anyway, Ponce landed near what is now St. Augustine, Florida. He named the area after the Pascua Florida, a traditional Easter feast held on that particular day. He didn't find the Fountain of Youth, of course but he did encounter a few Native American's who were not too happy to see him. When Leon came back a few years later, still searching for that fountain, the He and the Natives got into a huge battle which resulted in Ponce being fatally wounded. Attempting to find a source of eternal youth, only to be mortally wounded by natives along the way? that's irony for you folks, and history loves irony.
So today we have our lovely state of Florida, with all of its beaches, alligators, golf courses, old people on golf courses and muscle men. It's a beautiful thing.
Well, almost beautiful
And it's all thanks to the ignorance of one Spaniard, looking to preserve his hotness (?) and youth and failing miserably. Oh well!
What a great posting! You bring together so many weird and wonderful elements. The fountain of youth search has actually given the US a place where seniors go to get a kind of youth. Weird!
What a great posting! You bring together so many weird and wonderful elements. The fountain of youth search has actually given the US a place where seniors go to get a kind of youth. Weird!
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