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The Architecture of Spite, Part Two: Macy's and The Skinny House
At its best, architecture is a kind of poetry made tangible, frozen in time for generations to come. But, as it turns out, architecture can also be a tremendous avenue for all sorts of less cool emot…
Published on 2 years, 4 months ago
The Ridiculous History of Intellectual Property, Part 2: When Things Get Weird
Who owns an idea? Who should -- or should not -- profit from a concept? In part two of this special two-part series, Ben, Noel and Max explore the modern history of intellectual property... including…
Published on 2 years, 4 months ago
The Ridiculous History of Intellectual Property, Part 1: The Ancient Past
Today the concept of intellectual property, or IP, is pretty well-established. And this notion of ownership over some often intangible concept, brand or idea may seem like a product of the modern age…
Published on 2 years, 4 months ago
World War II's Alaskan Front: The Aleutian Island Campaign
Alaska is known for its stunning beauty, harsh climate, and remoteness -- but it was also the site of an intensely strange series of battles between the Japanese and US militaries. In today's episode…
Published on 2 years, 4 months ago
Micronations: The Amazing Story of Vatican City
Despite the name, Vatican City is an independent, sovereign nation -- and its history may surprise you. In today's episode, Ben, Noel and Max explore the story of the Vatican from its origins all the…
Published on 2 years, 4 months ago
The FBI versus Hip-Hop
Nowadays, hip-hop is everywhere -- this genre informs countless aspects of modern music around the world. Shortly after its creation, power structures in the United States sought to suppress this mus…
Published on 2 years, 4 months ago
The Inventor of the Saxophone Had Some of the World's Worst Luck
Today the saxophone is a well-known musical instrument, popular across the planet. But, when you learn the story of its inventor Adolphe Sax, you quickly learn it's amazing he survived long enough to…
Published on 2 years, 4 months ago
Animals On Trial, Part 2: Legal Personhood "Goes Wild"
Given that more and more evidence shows all kinds of non-human animals are capable of experiencing grief, loss, joy and pain, should they not have some of the same legal rights guaranteed (in theory,…
Published on 2 years, 5 months ago
Animals On Trial, Part 1: Tons of Animals Went to Kangaroo Courts
While the the concept of a court system is an entirely human invention, it turns out non-human animals have been in some sort of court not once, but countless times across the span of history. In the…
Published on 2 years, 5 months ago
Broken Arrows, Part 2: In Which Actions Have Consequence
In part two of this special two-part series, Ben, Noel and Max dive further into the (objectively disturbing) truth about just how many nuclear weapons are currently MIA. The gang speculates on the i…
Published on 2 years, 5 months ago