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How The (English) Alphabet Became A Thing, Part One: Writing Stuff Down Is A Bonkers Idea
Let's be honest: the concept of writing stuff down is both brilliant and insane. Right now, all around the world, countless people are scrawling or t…
1 year, 3 months ago
CLASSIC: The Story of Max, South Africa's Famous, Crime-fighting Gorilla
When confronted with a home invasion, Max the gorilla brought international fame to the Johannesburg Zoo and briefly became the city's most famous cr…
1 year, 4 months ago
History's Famous Mistranslations, Part Two: Life on Mars, the Cold War, and FARTFULL
Did a mistranslation lead to theories of life on Mars? What exactly was Khrsuschev trying to say at that big U.N. meeting? Language is amazing -- and…
1 year, 4 months ago
Neckties are Utterly Ridiculous
It's easy to look at history and think one idea or another is ridiculous -- but we also have to remember modern civilization has its own vast collect…
1 year, 4 months ago
CLASSIC: How Santa Anna Lost His Leg Twice, and Held a Funeral for It
Often called "The Napoleon of the West", mainly by himself, Santa Anna was a legendary, larger-than-life politician, general and exile. While hundred…
1 year, 4 months ago
The History of the Super Bowl Halftime Show, Part Two: A World-Class Show
What began with marching bands all those decades ago has evolved past all expectations - and even if you don't particularly follow football, you'll p…
1 year, 4 months ago
The History of the Super Bowl Halftime Show, Part One: From Marching Bands to Celebrities
Whether or not you consider yourself a die-hard football fan, you've almost certainly watched a halftime show. Over the past few decades, these perfo…
1 year, 4 months ago
CLASSIC: That Time Chewbacca Needed Bodyguards
Inarguably the most well-known Wookie in the Star Wars universe, Chewbacca also bears a strong resemblance to another popular creature in American cu…
1 year, 4 months ago
How Emergency Call Lines Became A Thing
In most of the modern world, the average person has an astonishing resource for any disastrous situation: you find a phone, then dial 3 numbers to be…
1 year, 4 months ago
Are the Vikings to Blame for Cats?
House cats are astonishing, fascinating, and at-times frustrating little creatures -- yet they've made a comfortable home with humans, spreading in s…
1 year, 4 months ago