Versailles

The palace of Versailles is undoubtedly considered one of the most beautiful buildings ever constructed. When Louis XIV decided to begin construction in 1664, he wanted to build a palace more elegant and grand than any other before it. 20 years later, with help from architects Louis Le Vau and Andre Le Notre, he accomplished just that. The palace boasts some of the most beautiful gardens anywhere as well as some of the first modern fountains. Even today, when all the fountains are turned on, getting enough water pressure is a chore. The palace grounds even boast thier own "Grand Canal" as in Venice. However, the palace was more than just a beautiful place to live, it was a symbol of absolutism for the next 100 years. From the day Louis XIV moved to Versailles in 1682, until the royal family was forced back to Paris in 1789, the palace represented autocracy. In some ways, the palace is an elegant landmark, but in others it represents the many hardships the French people had to endure during the 17th and 18th centuries.

Other fun facts about Versailles

Roof area- 27.2 acres
Floor Space- 51,210 sq. M or 551, 000 sq ft.
Windows- 2,153
Rooms-700
Staircases-67

The Marriage of Figaro

Upon first glance, many 18th century "satires" may seem less exciting than watching the Detroit Lions' offense on Sundays, but I have come to realize that this is not always true. Recently I read one such 18th century satire titled The Marriage of Figaro by Pierre-Augustin Caron De Beaumarchais. In this satirical play, there are many examples of humor, especially at the expense of the nobility. Countless times throughout the play, the noble of the land, dubbed "The Count" is teased and poked fun at, and countless times, he fails to realize it. Beaumarchais goes on to make fun of various other things such as the court system and the peasants, all in very creative and clever ways. I really enjoyed reading the play and it opened my mind to 18th century literature that is typically labeled "boring" and left for dead. Beaumarchais opened my eyes and taught me that even 200+ year old literature can still draw a few laughs and keep the pages turning.

Joseph Addai, Future Hall of Famer

By drafting LSU running back Joseph Addai with the 30th overall pick in 2006, the Indianapolis Colts may have made the best pick of the entire draft. Addai, who was the fourth running back taken behind Reggie Bush, Laurence Maroney, and DeAngelo Williams, quickly became a star, tying a Colts franchise record by scoring four rushing touchdowns in a single game. Also during his rookie season, Addai rushed for 1,081 yards, leading all rookies and becoming the first running back to rush for over 1,000 yards without starting a single game.
But Addai doesn't do all of his damage on the ground. In both his seasons in the NFL, Addai has caught 40 passes and netted over 325 yards through the air, last year amassing 364 yards. 364 yards doesn't seem like much, but compared to Reggie Bush's 417 yards last year, it isn't too bad. Furthermore, on November 4, 2007, Addai became the only Colt ever to gain 100 yards both rushing and receiving.
So what does this all mean? Well, when the numbers go together with one of the best offensive units in the NFL, it means Pro Bowls and Championships. With Payton Manning at the helm and Reggie Wayne split wide, defenses can't key on Addai, meaning on most downs, defenses only put seven or eight men in the box, leaving plenty of room for Addai to run wild, especially when he is behind one of the games elite offensive lines. Running behind three time Pro Bowler Jim Saturday, as well as tackles Tony Ugoh and Ryan Diem, Addai can find holes sometimes bigger than...(insert lame analogy here). The point is this- Addai was selected to his first Pro Bowl at age 24, and barring a major injury, he has ten more Pro Bowl seasons in him. Don't be surprised when the number 29 hangs from the rafters in Indianapolis, because this 6'0", 205 pound kid is here for the long haul. Watch out Eric Dickerson.

Galileo and The Solar Sytem

Galileo Galilei, the 16th and 17th century physicist, mathematician, and astrologer, was one of the pioneering minds behind many of the theories we hold true about our solar system. Galileo is credited with the invention of the telescope, and for several years he was one of very few who could make telescopes well enough to observe the heavens. Towards the end of his life, he constructed a telescope with 30x magnification, one of the most powerful of it's time. Galileo also is credited with the discovery of four of Jupiter's 63 moons. These four satellites were the first discovered orbiting Jupiter, and are now known as the Galilean moons. However, more importantly, the discovery of these moons allowed Galileo to disprove the Geocentric model of the universe. By observing the behavior of the moons, Galileo was able to conclude that the moons were orbiting Jupiter, not Earth.
Galileo went on to observe many other extraterrestrial occurences, including sunspots, the Milky Way, Neptune, and the moon's terrain. Credited with countless discoveries not only in the world of astrology, but also in the worlds of math and physics, Galileo can undoubtedly be acclaimed as one of history's most influential men. Galileo's discoveries and theories are still in use today, and may still be used hundreds of years down the road.