Steve McQueen (1930-1980) may have been known as the “King of Cool” during the height of his Hollywood popularity, but before that, he had a less than stellar career with the U.S. […]
Steve McQueen’s Less-Than-Cool Beginning with the Marines
Churchill and the Foiled Plot of the Exploding Chocolate
Given Winston Churchill’s well-known fondness for food, it stands to reason that doctors warned him about the health risks of eating too many sweets. Little did they know just how dangerous certain […]
Parisian Parrots Protect People From Planes
During World War I, citizens of Paris were quick to contribute to the war effort in any way possible. Parisians of all walks of left chipped in, whether poor or rich, young […]
This Honor Would Be the Death of Him
Captain John Kendrick’s life was filled with excitement and surprise. So was his death.
Visit the Island Where Rabbits Reign
Readers of this site know that rabbits can be fearsome creatures that have struck terror in the hearts of the President Jimmy Carter and Napoleon Bonaparte. Most people, however, think of rabbits […]
What Happened to Cause the Doomsday Phone to Ring Off the Hook?
The red phone rang repeatedly. It was The Phone — the phone designated for calls that went well beyond the classification of “urgent.” This phone was used to signal the end of […]
How Did An Upstart Teenager Transform a Comic Book Legend?
It sounds like the plot to a comic book story. A teenage kid takes a shot at something no one ever expected to remember. He messes around with something way bigger than […]
USS William D. Porter: The Navy’s Unluckiest Ship
When a new ship is commissioned, those associated with the vessel always have high hopes that it will be remembered. For those connected with the USS William D. Porter, that goal was […]
How Lawrence of Arabia’s Death Led to the Use of the Crash Helmet?
T.E. Lawrence, known around the world as “Lawrence of Arabia,” died on May 19, 1935. His death, 6 days after a tragic motorcycle accident, seemed an inglorious end to the life of […]
The Prickly Reason Behind Scotland’s National Flower
When it comes time to look for a flower to represent an entire nation, few would consider choosing a weed. Scotland’s choice of the thistle as its national emblem is due to […]
Tamerlane and the Towers of Severed Heads
If you are looking for someone who exemplified the art of subtlety, don’t spend a lot of time studying Tamerlane (1336-1405). He was also known by the name Timur the Lame, but […]
Learn About the Day a Hydrogen Bomb Was Accidentally Dropped on Albuquerque, New Mexico
As the bomber’s sole bomb descended upon the city below, a feeling of unbelief and dread filled the hearts of the plane’s crew. Part of their apprehension was due to the unexpected […]
Did George Washington’s Glasses Save American Democracy?
It is impossible to overstate the impact of George Washington. His willingness to give up power when he resigned his commission as Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army and his decision to step […]
Want to Storm Area 51? Here’s What You Can Anticipate
At this writing, more than 1.6 million people have signed up on a Facebook-driven event to storm Area 51 on September 20, 2019. If you are considering being one of those who […]
The Elephants Were Safe, But the General Should Have Ducked
General John Sedgwick (1813-1864) saw his final combat at the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House on May 9, 1864. Confederate sharpshooters were about 1,000 yards (900 m) away, and their shots caused members […]
