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Tossed Popcorn, Part 1: The Wizard of Oz and the Titanic
It's no secret that Hollywood has been home to numerous lurid, disturbing -- and, sometimes, ridiculous -- tales over the decades. In the first part …
4 years, 2 months ago
Peter Freuchen: Explorer, Raconteur, Movie Star and War Hero
You may not have heard of Peter Freuchen, but in his day he was one of the world's most well-known polar explorers. He also wrote prolifically about …
4 years, 2 months ago
Did Honduras and El Salvador Really Go to War over Soccer?
If you read the international headlines in 1969, you'd think the Central American countries of Honduras and El Salvador loved football (soccer, for t…
4 years, 2 months ago
The US Literally Had Nazi Summer Camps
For many adults, the idea of 'summer camp' conjures up fond, nostalgic memories of childhood. And most folks see these outfits as great opportunities…
4 years, 2 months ago
The Emperor of the United States
When San Franciscan businessman Joshua Norton lost his fortune in a Peruvian rice deal gone sour, he temporarily disappeared from the public eye. Not…
4 years, 2 months ago
The Trans-Saharan Ostrich Expedition of 1911
Most people haven't met an ostrich in person, but everyone knows what they are: the large, flightless birds have been around since before the rise of…
4 years, 2 months ago
That Time Everyone Tried To Outlaw War
War is ugly, horrific and, according to some, a necessary part of human civilization. Yet in the 1920s, world powers recovering from World War I soug…
4 years, 3 months ago
CLASSIC: Who Solves Murders in Antarctica?
Antarctica is home to one of the most brutal climates on the planet, and the few humans living on this continent face profound isolation and cramped …
4 years, 3 months ago
The Lil Ice Age Was Way Less Cute Than It Sounds
You've probably heard of the Ice Ages -- long periods of reduction in Earth's temperature, triggering massive expansion of glaciers and so on -- but …
4 years, 3 months ago
Nub City: Florida's Infamous Amputation Scam
As towns go, Vernon, Florida is pretty tiny -- it has a small population, has struggled with economic depression, and doesn't get a ton of tourists. …
4 years, 3 months ago