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BEGGING ! Truly a wonderful shot. :   Hans isn't begging for life, but for bucks.Once upon a time ~2006 A.C., when Hans coudn't pay his MEDICARE-B anymore, he got in some troubles because they billed him for doctors, dentists, medicaments and everthing in full. Hans is a born Swiss, and old man you may say, since 2000 an US citizen. I need for now at least $261 to pay for MEDICARE-B ... please.Once upon a time ~1200 A.C., when the were no U.S.A. and also no Social Security, when people lived on the mercy of their Kings, Governors and other from God given authorities, when a life wasn't much worth, children unprotected, and often under awful circumstances, like their parents and every one else who didn't have money.A man from the Canton URI got in some troubles with the governor named Gessler (from Austria). He rejected to salute the hat of the governor which was placed in the village square of Altdorf in Helvetia, the name of Switzerland then.Tell protested in vain, begging him for God's sake not to require him to do this."I would rather die," he said."Thou and thy child shall both die if thou wilt not obey," replied Gessler.So Tell was led out into the village square. His son was placed before a tree, and an apple was laid on the child's head. All the people looked on in pity and fear, and murmured against the tyrant for this cruel plan.Tell prayed fervently to God to protect him and his loved boy. Then he took his crossbow, drew it, and placed the arrow upon it, put another into his jerkin, and shot at the apple. And behold! the apple was cleft clean in two, the arrow lodged in the tree behind, and the child stood forth unhurt. Truly that was a wonderful shot.
BEGGING ! Truly a wonderful shot.
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One Good Turn: A Natural History of the Screwdriver and the Screw : Only a mathematical genius like Archimedes could have describe the geometry of the helix in the first place, and only a mechanical genius like him could have conceived a practical application for this unusual shape. If he invented the water screw as a young man in Alexandria, and - as I like to think - later adapted the idea of the helix to the endless screw, then we must add a small but hardly trifling honor to his many distinguished achievements: Father of the Screw.
One Good Turn: A Natural History of the Screwdriver and the Screw
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