[Otclassof1973] S'UP? THE SEQUEL

Tue Mar 18 00:46:31 EDT 2008

Holy Guerre de Cent Ans, Professeur Worrell.  Thanks for the lesson histoire, mon frere Spartan.  You get bonus points for including references to the 1066 Battle of Hastings, two French Joans (one of royal blood and the other of Arc), St.Paddy's Day in Belmar, but the clincher in my book was when you mentioned your Quads.  That's one heckuva hat trick.  Usually when people mention quads they're talking about their gym workout.  In the words of Jackie Gleason's Ralph Kramer: "Homina-homina-homina!"  

I've got some family news of my own to share: my "baby" brother (47's a baby, right?) announced on Saturday, March 1st that he married his girlfriend of several years on Friday, February 29th.  Why do I keep thinking he picked that particular date so he can get away with remembering his anniversary once every four years?

I meant to mention all this in a post I was going to write last Friday (3/14), but didn't get around to, so here's wishing everyone a belated Happy Pi Day.  More than coincidence that 3/14 is also Einstein's birthday?

Uh-oh, that sounds suspiciously like I'm giving people another topic.  Jim, before you get started, Albert Einstein was born in Ulm, Germany, 129 years ago, this past Friday 3/14.  The actor Albert Brooks (Defending Your Life, Broadcast News, voice of the father in Finding Nemo) changed his name for show business.  His real name is Albert Einstein.  Albert's brother is Super Dave - back on the Smothers Brothers TV show, Super Dave was Officer Judy.

Aaaaaand we're off on a tangent.  It's William of Normandy in the lead, followed closely by King Harold II and Louis X.  But Edwards II and III break away from the pack.  They're surging.  It's Edward II in the stretch, Edward II and Edward III are neck and neck.  Edward II falters, he stumbles and Edward III wins it by a nose.

Give me enough time and a running start and I'll be able to work snakes back into the warp and weave.  Did someone mention warp?

John, welcome back to the conversation - now everyone get on your metaphorical bikes and ride.  Hope you're all enjoying the view.  

Here in San Francisco it feels decidedly like spring.  Easter's in the air - you can tell, because bunny's are laying chocolate eggs all over the place.  When SWMBO's family gets together for Easter dinner, they usually have grilled salmon.  Not surprisingly, Easter means grilled salmon and chocolate eggs to me!  Maybe it's true: I say Tomato, you say tomahto.

Wishing each and every one of you every happiness.

Marvin

PS/ Avec apologies to Fred Cohen for corrupting one of his langue prefere.

PPS/ Careful, I can tell you all to talk among yourselves and give you another topic without breaking a sweat.  That's right, I'm talkin' to you.

#9#9#9#9#9#9#9#9#9#9#9#9#9#9#9#9#9#9#9#9#9#9#9#9#9
If you would be a real seeker after truth,
it is necessary that at least once in your life
you doubt, as far as possible, all things.
Rene Descartes

In a message dated 2/29/2008 4:12:42 PM Eastern Standard Time, 

neufsaid at juno.com writes:

Talk among yourselves, I'll give you a topic: The conflict between France and England waged from 1337 to 1453 is known as the Hundred Years War even though it lasted 116 years.  Discuss.  (Note: Who needs rhetorical questions?)

Greetings  Marvin,

We Just finished the ST. Patrick's Day parade in BELMAR NJ......Luck of the IRISH.....!

OK Here goes....

So, I guess to ask why was the war between France and England between 1337 to 1453 called the Hundred Year War last would be rhetorical in that it's obvious that from 1337 to 1453 covers a little more than a hundred years....so the question begs the answer.

However, if one is to be precise, The Hundred Years War, even though it was waged between 1337 and 1453, did not last 116 years, because there were two rather lengthy periods of peace in between some of the major battles. So, in fact the Hundred Years War actually lasted 81years.

Now, in terms of what the Hundred Years War was about....that's a very complicated story, so you'll need to let me know exactly what about it you want to know....otherwise it would take a very long document to describe.

To begin with, you'd have to understand that among the royalty of France, England, Spain and Germany there was a continuous flow of intermarriages. And this resulted with the crown princes of these various royal houses in the various countries sometimes believing they were also the rightful heirs to the crowns in one of the other countries.. because they were in fact blood relatives to the kings of other countries.

So, in 1066 at the Battle of Hastings, when William of Normady (France) invaded England and defeated the Anglo-Saxon King Harold II, he then crowned himself King of England (as well as being the Duke of Normandy, France).....thus intermingling the royal family of England with the royal family of England.  And it was this victory which is at the core of what later caused the Hundred Years War in the 14th century. France was claiming that the Norman kings of England owed allegiance to France and as kings of England were to relinquish their right to their lands and castles in the northern part of France (Normandy) back to the French.

But, of course, the King of England wasn't about to surrender this French territory, as at that time the King of England ruled more French territory than the King of France did himself. 

So the King of France declared war on the King of England, and in fact, in 1214 actually conquered Normandy, reducing England's hold on French territory to just a few provinces in Gascony. The English royal family was also stripped of any claim to the French throne. Now, this part is the background, but not  part of the Hundred Years War. However over the next two centuries, the royal family of England never forgot what they had lost and eventually in the 14th century decided to reclaim these Norman territories.

Then, when Louis X (King of France) died in 1316, his daughter Joan inherited the throne. First of all a female inheriting the throne was highly questionable at that time, and more importantly is was highly suspected that Joan was the biological daughter of the king to begin with. So Edward II of England felt that he was the male heir most directly related to the king of France and therefore he should be the king of France as well. So, England went to war with France... and that's the first battle of the Hundred Years War. That opening war was a complete failure for England.

Then, Edward II was assassinated in England, and Edward III, who was related to the royal family of France by both his mother and father, became the legitimate heir to the throne of France. That war started in the 1340's..... How much of this do you really want to know???

England won some of the battles and France won others. And after each major seige, treaties were signed, there were a few years of peace, and then another king would inherit the throne on one country or the other and they started up all over again

But, the basic result was that England lost all rights to ,most of its French territories and all claims to the royal lineage to France. And the Hundred Years War ends with Joan of Arc leading the French army to the final defeat against England. 

The Worrell Super Quads,

Colleen
Shawn
Patrick
Ryan

OTHS CLASS OF 2015

"taking on one teacher at a time"
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