My son Ty, was named after Tycho Brahe, the man who invented the first telescope. Tycho was an interesting man. He was also the King of Frances drinking buddy. The King built him a lab on an island in the middle of a river in France for them to party at away from the Queen. During one such drinking bout, Tycho puts a glove across the face of one of the best swordsmen in the Kings guard. The King lets the man know in no uncertain terms, nothing is to become of his pal. As they cross swords, the guard cuts off the tip of Tycho’s nose. The fight is over. The next day, Tycho shows up with a SILVER nose. When people would comment about his duel, he would stand errect and pronounce, “I only lost by a nose”!

In this same court was a jester that always made the King laugh. One night, he went a bit overboard insulting a part of the Queens anatomy and the King orders him put to death. The next morning, what to do? The King couldn’t go back on a royal edict. He tells the dwarf jester, the best he could do was let him choose his own death. The jester nodded. An hour later, he came back before the King under guard with a long rope. He informs the King he has chosen hanging as his way to go. The dwarf leads a procession to a tree in the courtyard of the Queen. He then puts the noose around his neck, then ties the other end to a two foot tall oak tree. The King and court stare at each other. The King then says, “This is your tree? I’ts too small”! The jester replied, I’ll wait for it to grow taller sire”! When the King laughed, he was off the hook…