http://makesfaces.livejournal.com/ ([identity profile] makesfaces.livejournal.com) wrote in [community profile] fandomhigh2009-10-29 11:05 pm
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Humorous History: Friday, Period 1, Class 8

"If you're from this planet, you probably have an idea what Stonehenge is. If you're not, then it's this," Jim said, pointing at a picture taped to the board. "It's a bunch of stones put in very precise circles back in prehistoric times, so we don't really have a good idea how they moved the stones at all, let alone putting them together the way they did."

"Anyway, it's one of those big world mysteries that a lot of people speculate about and so it's a popular tourist thing. But England hasn't always owned it. Up until 1918, Stonehenge was privately owned. King Henry the Eighth gave it to somebody, who gave it to somebody else, and they gave it to somebody else, and so on until it ended up being auctioned off in 1915. And that's when a man named Sir Cecil Chubb bought it at auction as a present for his wife."

"The fact that he donated it to the government three years later probably tells you everything you need to know about how well that present went over."

"And this brings up three obvious questions: Why would somebody buy a five thousand year old circle of stones for his wife? What's the weirdest thing you've ever bought for a significant other that you can talk about in polite company? And what landmark would you give someone if you could?"

Re: Take Notes [Week 8]

[identity profile] decoder-rings.livejournal.com 2009-10-30 10:57 am (UTC)(link)
Now, Hannibal didn't much care for his first name but he was pretty damn glad he wasn't named Hannibal Chubb. That would have been too much. As it was, he was already laughing as he listened to the lecture.
officetightass: (Default)

Re: Take Notes [Week 8]

[personal profile] officetightass 2009-10-30 11:50 am (UTC)(link)
Well of course Sir Cecil's wife hated her present. He gave her rocks. Angela thought it was amazing it took three years.
life_inshadow: ([spec] writing)

Re: Take Notes [Week 8]

[personal profile] life_inshadow 2009-10-30 01:00 pm (UTC)(link)
Tara knew Stonehenge as a sacred, mystical site.

She had never thought about it as real estate. The real estate story was pretty interesting.