The Strange History of SPAM: From Wartime Staple to Hawaiian Icon
Discover the strange history of SPAM, from its 1937 origin and wartime fame to Hawaii’s devotion, Khrushchev’s praise, Monty Python, spam email, and SPAM theft.
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The Strange History of SPAM: From Wartime Staple to Hawaiian Icon
Read more: The Strange History of SPAM: From Wartime Staple to Hawaiian IconDiscover the strange history of SPAM, from its 1937 origin and wartime fame to Hawaii’s devotion, Khrushchev’s praise, Monty Python, spam email, and SPAM theft.
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Corpse Medicine: The Grisly History of Eating the Dead to Stay Alive
Read more: Corpse Medicine: The Grisly History of Eating the Dead to Stay AliveFor centuries, Europeans used human remains as medicine, from powdered mummies and skull tinctures to blood from executions. Welcome to the grisly history of corpse medicine.
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General Edward Lansdale and the Vampire Psyop: The Cold War’s Darkest Psychological Warfare
Read more: General Edward Lansdale and the Vampire Psyop: The Cold War’s Darkest Psychological WarfareEdward Lansdale used folklore, fear, and covert psychological warfare during the Cold War. His vampire psyop raises unsettling questions about propaganda, morality, and war crimes.
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How the Constitutional Convention Barely Survived the Summer of 1787
Read more: How the Constitutional Convention Barely Survived the Summer of 1787The Constitution nearly collapsed before it was written. Explore the tense 1787 Constitutional Convention, Franklin’s prayer speech, and the compromise that saved America’s government.
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Albert K. Bender: The UFO Investigator Who Helped Create the Men in Black Legend
Read more: Albert K. Bender: The UFO Investigator Who Helped Create the Men in Black LegendAlbert K. Bender founded one of the first UFO investigation groups, tried to contact aliens by telepathy, and helped launch the Men in Black legend.
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The Prophetic Titanic Cat: The Strange Legend of Jenny and the Kittens Who Escaped
Read more: The Prophetic Titanic Cat: The Strange Legend of Jenny and the Kittens Who EscapedDid Jenny, the Titanic cat, really predict disaster? Explore the strange legend of her kittens, Jim Mulholland, Violet Jessop, and the story behind the sinking.
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World’s Fairs: Where Nations Showed Off, Inventors Got Famous, and the Future Sold Souvenirs
Read more: World’s Fairs: Where Nations Showed Off, Inventors Got Famous, and the Future Sold SouvenirsExplore the strange, spectacular history of world’s fairs, from the Crystal Palace and Eiffel Tower to Ferris wheels, futuristic pavilions, inventions, oddities, and modern expos.
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William Walker and the Original Filibuster: When the Word Meant Invading Countries, Not Talking Forever
Read more: William Walker and the Original Filibuster: When the Word Meant Invading Countries, Not Talking ForeverBefore a filibuster meant endless Senate speeches, it meant private military adventurers invading foreign countries. William Walker made the old meaning infamous.
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Amos Atkinson and the Hostage Siege That Ended When Police Called His Mother
Read more: Amos Atkinson and the Hostage Siege That Ended When Police Called His MotherAmos Atkinson took hostages in a Melbourne restaurant and demanded Chopper Read’s release. Police ended the siege by calling his mother. Sherlock Holmes would have nodded.
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Oregon’s Black Exclusion Laws: The Free State That Tried to Ban Black People
Read more: Oregon’s Black Exclusion Laws: The Free State That Tried to Ban Black PeopleOregon banned slavery before statehood, but its early laws also tried to exclude Black people entirely. Explore the disturbing history of Oregon’s Black exclusion laws.
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La Salle: The Explorer Who Found the Mississippi, Lost the Mississippi, and Then Lost Everyone’s Patience
Read more: La Salle: The Explorer Who Found the Mississippi, Lost the Mississippi, and Then Lost Everyone’s PatienceRené-Robert Cavelier de La Salle found the Mississippi, claimed Louisiana for France, then missed the river completely and doomed his Texas colony.
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Writer’s Block Explained: The Strange Science Behind the Blank Page
Read more: Writer’s Block Explained: The Strange Science Behind the Blank PageWriter’s block may feel like laziness with better branding, but science says writing trouble can involve anxiety, perfectionism, brain function, aphasia, agraphia, dysgraphia, and hypergraphia.
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Buster Keaton: The Stone-Faced Genius Who Nearly Died for Every Laugh
Read more: Buster Keaton: The Stone-Faced Genius Who Nearly Died for Every LaughDiscover the astonishing life of Buster Keaton, the silent film genius who risked death for comedy, revolutionized filmmaking, survived Hollywood disaster, and became one of cinema’s greatest legends.
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The USS O’Bannon and the Great Potato Attack of World War II
Read more: The USS O’Bannon and the Great Potato Attack of World War IIThe USS O’Bannon allegedly attacked a Japanese submarine with potatoes during World War II. Here’s the real story behind one of the Navy’s strangest legends.
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Professional Farters: The Weird Career Path Your Guidance Counselor Never Mentioned
Read more: Professional Farters: The Weird Career Path Your Guidance Counselor Never MentionedExplore the strange true history of professional farters, from Roland the Farter and medieval court entertainment to Le Pétomane, the Moulin Rouge, Japanese fart battles, and Mr. Methane.
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