Richard III

[Emil Miller]

He was a strange choice, I think he is a comedian. I suppose the whole thing was a bit of a joke, with those Ricardians digging up a car park and Philippa getting a funny feeling right where there was an "R" painted on the tarmac, it was comedy gold - until they found the remains. Then I bet there was some hasty editorial reviews and they wished they'd got someone with more wieght.

Of course, there was a time when first choice for such a programme would have been somebody like Sir Mortimer Wheeler but we have progressed since then: or so I'm often told.

[prendrelemick]

I haven't seen the programme but saw a clip and he looked like one of the guys from Horrible Histories (the one who plays Caligula, and Death) so perhaps not such an odd choice after all. No weirder than Tony Robinson, anyway.

I'm so glad you brought up Horrible Histories.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R6JczvS1PL4

And yes, that's where I've seen him before. Stupid deaths!

[cacian]

I'm so glad you brought up Horrible Histories.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R6JczvS1PL4

And yes, that's where I've seen him before.

Amasing that makes me think of ''Horrid Henry''. There is obviously a direct reference to Henry the Eight here. It does amuse me to no ends.

[prendrelemick]

Did someone mention Henry the Eighth?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iSXl_kNJuDg


Right I'll stop now .

[cacian]

Did someone mention Henry the Eighth?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iSXl_kNJuDg


Right I'll stop now .

Funny I just remembered. I use to think Henry the Eight had eight wives. I still sometimes do. It felt right because of his name. Go figure.

Of course, there was a time when first choice for such a programme would have been somebody like Sir Mortimer Wheeler but we have progressed since then: or so I'm often told.

Isn't that Clark Gable only old?

[Sancho]

Didn't Henry VIII challenge Louis XIV to a wrestling match at some point? Hey, I'm all for the heads of state (or realm) fighting out their differences amongst themselves instead of dragging the whole country into it, but I'm not quite sure it rose to the level of Henry V at Agincourt. Wonder why Shakespeare didn't cover that fight in his histories. Seems to me it would've made for great theater - two sweaty monarchs duking it out in a cage match - two kings enter, one king leaves.

Okay, I'm done.

[cacian]

Didn't Henry VIII challenge Louis XIV to a wrestling match at some point? Hey, I'm all for the heads of state (or realm) fighting out their differences amongst themselves instead of dragging the whole country into it, but I'm not quite sure it rose to the level of Henry V at Agincourt. Wonder why Shakespeare didn't cover that fight in his histories. Seems to me it would've made for great theater - two sweaty monarchs duking it out in a cage match - two kings enter, one king leaves.

Okay, I'm done.

Nah I would have thought Louis would have chickend out in view of Henry the Eight size and viguor. Louis a weak figure against a tycoon such as Henry. Fat chance. Doubt it would have taken place. Maybe Louis' excuses were he was too busy powdering his nose and face. They did like a bit of thick white make up powder as a shrine of their impending superiority. Go figure.
I do not think Henry would have enjoyed that on his expensive clothing.

[prendrelemick]

Yes they did and (whisper it quietly) Louis won ( he was called Francis tho). That was in the field of the cloth of gold. Henry was not as young and fit as he thought he was.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_U4GwgTSipw



now I really will stop.

[TheFifthElement]

now I really will stop.

Nah don't stop (best programme on TV)

[Sancho]

Yeah, there's some good info in those horrible histories.

Also, leave it to a Louis to fight dirty. Probably tripped him by kicking him in his gouty foot. That right there would bring down a big fella.

[Ecurb]

Didn't Henry VIII challenge Louis XIV to a wrestling match at some point? Hey, I'm all for the heads of state (or realm) fighting out their differences amongst themselves instead of dragging the whole country into it, but I'm not quite sure it rose to the level of Henry V at Agincourt. Wonder why Shakespeare didn't cover that fight in his histories. Seems to me it would've made for great theater - two sweaty monarchs duking it out in a cage match - two kings enter, one king leaves.

Okay, I'm done.

Given this method of solving international disputes, who would have been our (the U.S.'s) greatest president? I've actually spent some time mulling over this issue. The contenders:

Abraham Lincoln: the "railsplitter" used to wrestle all comers in his youth. He was in his 50s by the time he became president, and was 6'4", although thin. He might be the leading contender.

Teddy Roosevelt: He was the youngest President, 40 or 41 when he took office. He was also an outdoorsman and athlete who used to spar while in the White House.

William Taft: His 300 pound bulk would have made him formidable.

Gerald Ford -- An all-American football star, albeit 60 by the time he took office.

Andrew Jackson -- The tall, thin Indian fighter killed a man in a duel once, for calling his wife a bigamist (she was a bigamist, but unintentionally. Her divorce hadsn't been finalized when she married Andy, but in snail mail days, they thought it had).

I'd say those are the leading contenders, although the Bushes (the father was an all-American baseball player at Yale; the son was still in his 40s, and worked out a lot); U.S. Grant (for sheer pugnacity, although the years of hard living had taken a physical toll); Bill Clinton (has youth and bulk on his side, but is a little too friendly); and Kennedy (young and athletic, but had that bad back) might have contended.

Any votes? (I hope we don't elect Hillary if we are going to this new system.)

[Sancho]

I'm gonna have to go with T Rex, in a fair fight anyway - Teddy was a sportsman. As I was reading up on Henry VIII and Louis XIV, T.R. crossed my mind more than once. In a no-holds-barred fight, Andy Jackson all the way. He'd sucker punch you just as soon as look at you. I mean, look at a Twenty Dollar Bill, he's got those crazy eyes, and his hair - it frightens me.

Gotta agree with you about Hillary. She could take 'em all and not even break a sweat. Case in point, last week's Senate hearings on Benghazi.

[Gilliatt Gurgle]

Funny I just remembered. I use to think Henry the Eight had eight wives. I still sometimes do. It felt right because of his name. Go figure.
...

Cacian, you're thinking of Peter Noone...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZG0NZviGvA

------

Not sure if there's any relation to Richard III, but it was 426 years ago to the day (Feb 8) that a head fell from a red wig at Fotheringhay Castle.

[prendrelemick]

That's a perfectly revelant link Gilliat, Richard the Third was born at Fotheringhay Castle!



And it was FRANCIS I, the wrestler,- although Louis has come to mean any old French King.


As for the wrestlers send who ever you like, Mrs Thatcher 'll take em. She kept a house brick in that handbag.

[Lokasenna]

Given this method of solving international disputes, who would have been our (the U.S.'s) greatest president? I've actually spent some time mulling over this issue. The contenders:

Abraham Lincoln: the "railsplitter" used to wrestle all comers in his youth. He was in his 50s by the time he became president, and was 6'4", although thin. He might be the leading contender.

Teddy Roosevelt: He was the youngest President, 40 or 41 when he took office. He was also an outdoorsman and athlete who used to spar while in the White House.

William Taft: His 300 pound bulk would have made him formidable.

Gerald Ford -- An all-American football star, albeit 60 by the time he took office.

Andrew Jackson -- The tall, thin Indian fighter killed a man in a duel once, for calling his wife a bigamist (she was a bigamist, but unintentionally. Her divorce hadsn't been finalized when she married Andy, but in snail mail days, they thought it had).

I'd say those are the leading contenders, although the Bushes (the father was an all-American baseball player at Yale; the son was still in his 40s, and worked out a lot); U.S. Grant (for sheer pugnacity, although the years of hard living had taken a physical toll); Bill Clinton (has youth and bulk on his side, but is a little too friendly); and Kennedy (young and athletic, but had that bad back) might have contended.

Any votes? (I hope we don't elect Hillary if we are going to this new system.)

Have you by any chance come across the hypothetical Presidential knife-fight scenario? If not, then: http://faceintheblue.wordpress.com/2...d-win-and-why/