http://www.historyofthings.com History of Things, Facts and Stuff Thu, 04 Mar 2010 09:39:04 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en The famous Leaning Tower of Pisa captures the imagination of everyone who visits it. The structure sits in the Piazza dei Miracoli (Cathedral Square) located in the city of Pisa, Italy. Visitors to the monument who may not know its history may wonder why such a large undertaking ... http://www.historyofthings.com/history-of-the-leaning-tower-of-pisa A country’s national debt is the money owed by the government to third parties. When a country runs for consecutive years at a deficit (which means it is spending more money than it is earning), the debt grows and has to be financed by loans, as it is in the ... http://www.historyofthings.com/history-of-the-national-debt An Executive Order is a powerful regulation first used by President George Washington on June 8, 1789. It carries the full force of the law when based on the president’s constitutional power, and Congress passed said order into law. Executive orders direct federal agencies and officials in their implementation of ... http://www.historyofthings.com/history-of-presidential-executive-orders Invented by Dean Kamen, the Segway Human Transporter (HT) electric vehicle has a two-wheeled, self-balancing design. Popular Science honored the Segway HT as one of the world’s most outstanding breakthroughs with an award in Best of What's New Award in a general technology category. Its name, an Italian homophone of ... http://www.historyofthings.com/history-of-the-segway The Titanic is probably the most legendary ship in recent history due to the scale of the project, its reflection of early 20th century injustices, and of course its ultimately tragic fate. The Titanic unfortunately remains famous one of the biggest maritime disasters in history. It continues to fascinate generations ... http://www.historyofthings.com/history-of-the-titanic Prime Minister of the United Kingdom for a decade, Tony Blair served an unprecedented three terms as Labour Member of Parliament for Sedgefield. He assumed responsibility during his term to change the focus of the Labour Party image and make it more electable. Blair became well-known when he risked his ... http://www.historyofthings.com/history-of-tony-blair Nothing says delicious quite like a sweet, juicy watermelon. The thought of one for many people brings back memories of summer picnics where you could bite into the bright, mouthwatering flesh of this thirst-quenching treat. A popular fruit enjoyed around the world, the watermelon provides nutrients to those who eat ... http://www.historyofthings.com/history-of-watermelon Will Smith is one of the most prominent powerhouses in Hollywood. He has been named as one of the wealthiest and most influential actors in the world. To younger generations, Will Smith is an established movie star known for his charisma and charm and who averages one major film a ... http://www.historyofthings.com/history-of-will-smith Many people enjoy South American Native American art and jewelry. Some examples include the elegant turquoise and coral squash blossom necklaces the Zuni craft and the Kachina dolls and intricate baskets the Hopi craft. Many of the patterns and symbols on these objects are exceptional and familiar to many collectors ... http://www.historyofthings.com/history-of-kokopelli The Eiffel Tower is one of the most recognizable man-made monuments in the world. Standing 312 meters high to the tip of its flagpole, the figure cuts an imposing view on the Parisian skyline. The tower's powerful mixture of spare grace, sheer size and complexity make it a breathtaking attraction ... http://www.historyofthings.com/history-of-the-eiffel-tower