The first known ha-ha in England was made in 1694 at Levens Hall, Cumbria, and was cut to open up a prospect from the highly formal, walled, topiary-stuffed garden to the wild landscape beyond, a revolutionary and not particularly appreciated concept at that time. One critic sniffed that the design opened up the civilized garden to the "horrid crags". From The Pleasure Garden by Anne Scott-James and Osbert Lancaster: http://books.google.com/books?id=IbhwIo3m3mQC&client=safari
@violet: speaking of kick-ass mottos, if you hop across the river you'll find "Thus Always to Tyrants!" (picture a stern Virtue standing on the neck of a recumbent Tyranny). Attributed to Brutus as he slew Caesar, suggested by George Mason as a good motto for Virginia, and shouted by John Wilkes Booth after he shot Lincoln.
@Andrew: I agree that would be a great story for This American Life. It reminded me of a parody of This American Life by the Kasper Hauser crew, who also produced that Sky Maul book. Here's their take-off and This American Life; even the music is perfect: http://www.kasperhauser.com/this_am_life.html
I've seen this before but I love it! I didn't realize Mr. Burns' estate is so close to Mayor Quimby's, but it makes sense. Nice to find out where Rommelwood military academy really is (motto: A Tradition of Heritage). I love Eatie Gourmet's, the Potholder Barn, Just Chloroform, Alternative Knifestyles. and the Turn Your Head and Coif hair salon.
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2008/12/081222-squid-sex-weird.html
From The Pleasure Garden by Anne Scott-James and Osbert Lancaster:
http://books.google.com/books?id=IbhwIo3m3mQC&client=safari
Thanks Alex for sharing this map.
http://www.kasperhauser.com/this_am_life.html
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2008/06/080602-titanic-secret.html