Alcohol: Just another ploy by the white man!

It's National Collegiate Alcohol Awareness Week, and alcohol is on my mind. So, I thought I'd share this amusing story I found on the CNN website about the origins of New York City. Seems our nation's largest city might not even exist if the "white man" hadn't been handing out drinks.

In 1609, the Dutch sent English explorer Henry Hudson westward for a third attempt at finding the fabled Northeast Passage. A near mutiny forced him southward, and upon reaching land, he encountered members of the Delaware Indian tribe.

To foster good relations, Hudson shared his brandy with the tribal chief, who soon passed out. But upon waking up the next day, he asked Hudson to pour some more for the rest of his tribe. From then on, the Indians referred to the island as Manahachtanienk -- literally, "The High Island."

And not "high" as in "tall;" high as in "the place where we got drunk." That island is what's now known as Manhattan.