April 14, 1611

On April 14, 1611, the Italian scientist and naturalist Prince Federico Cesi help coin the word ‘telescope’ in a letter he wrote to Galileo Galilei. Interesting enough, in the nearby city of Rome, an Italian gatekeeper coined the phrase “Back that ass up,” when he ordered a Venetian merchant to stop trying to drive his mule-drawn cart into the city. Except he said “Solstieni quell culo”.

About Joel Byers

Born in North Georgia and educated at some very fine public institutions. Real education started after graduating from college and then getting married and raising two boys. Has the ability to see the funny and absurd in most things and will always remark on it, even if it means getting the stink-eye from his victims.
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