“People in the 18th century were trying to find the beauty in wood. People in the 17th century were trying to hide it.” — Jennie Alexander, one of authors of Make a Joint Stool from a Tree (great book, BTW).
From Lost Art Press.
Some surprising (to me, anyway) information about the history of the Golden Ratio. Also a cool animation of how to construct a pentagon by straight-edge and compass, and also (by cheating) a heptagon.
I loved them both.
Make a Joint Stool from a Tree: An Introduction to 17th-century Joinery
The Woodwright’s Shop: Elizabethan Joint Stool with Peter Follansbee and Megan Fitzpatrick (Why didn’t PBS list her?). As you might expect, there are several references to Shakespeare in the video.
The site’s gallery offers viewers a peak at Einstein’s high school certification, which he received upon finishing high school at 16 in 1896. It turns out Einstein was an excellent student, not a terrible one, as often said. However, according to the archives, he left because he couldn’t handle the strict discipline and authority.
From the Einstein Archives Onle.
A history of Ireland in 100 objects
… by the 1420s the area called the “land of peace” – that is, under secure English administration – was confined to Dublin, Meath, Kildare and Louth. By the 1470s, this area was being referred to as the Pale.
“My Observations During the Explosion at Trinity on July 16, 1945”, by Enrico Fermi
From Stalingrad’s Madonna.
From Hilbert Space to Dilbert Space, and beyond 
