The specific relevant content for this request, if necessary, delimited with characters: Jean-Eugène Robert-Houdin was a fraud, and Erik was determined to prove it. The whole world might think that Robert-Houdin was […]
Promising Not to Forgive Henry Symeonis (Whoever That Is)
There is a long tradition that connects advanced educational degrees to solemn oaths. Recipients of medical degrees take the Hippocratic Oath, promising to do no harm. Nurses take the Florence Nightingale Pledge […]
Dying For the Right to Remain Silent
If you think the primary objective of a criminal trial is the pursuit of the truth, think again. It’s understandable if you make that mistake. After all, witnesses solemnly swear to tell […]
The Boy Who Rejected His Right to be King
What do you make of someone who renounces his birthright — especially when that means renouncing the right to be King? The story has played out before, triggering the expected media firestorm. […]
Making the Most of Paused Ambitions
Benjamin was forced to pause his career plans. If there’s one thing he hated, it was that pause. Like so many young men, he was ambitious, and he was certain he knew […]
The Brilliant Plan to Sell Wallpaper Cleaner to Children
Wallpaper cleaner and children. The only apparent connection between the two is that the more you have of the latter, the more likely you will need the former. With appropriate supervision, you […]
Major Bambi, USMC
Let’s just acknowledge something right off the bat: there’s nothing unmanly about liking the Disney movie Bambi. While we’re on the subject, we don’t think anything less of anyone who gets emotional […]
This School’s Most Famous Student Never Existed
Georgia Institute of Technology is a research university based in Atlanta, Georgia. Since its establishment in 1885, Georgia Tech has awarded degrees to tens of thousands of students. None of them have […]
Henry’s Invention That Transformed Warfare
Henry was an ambitious officer. He had his sights set on greatness. He wanted his name to be remembered by future generations. He got his wish. This is the story of why […]
The Famous Ship That Was Named By Mistake
One of the most magnificent passenger liners of the 20th century was the RMS Queen Mary. Its name became synonymous with luxury travel. Its name was also a mistake.
The Surprising Legacy of the Man Who Betrayed Al Capone
In the world of organized crime, there were few more respected and feared than Easy Eddie. His intellect, business savvy, and ruthlessness made him a natural for Chicago’s underworld crime syndicate. Anyone […]
How a 10th-Century Viking King Is Responsible for Technology You Use Today
Perhaps you are wearing wireless earbuds at the moment. You might have your phone paired with your watch. You could be using a wireless mouse, keyboard, or speakers. In short, there’s a […]
Is it Kitty-Corner or Catty-Corner?
Suppose a friend asks you for directions to the nearest coffee shop. Your friend knows how to get to the grocery store on the corner of Main Street and Oak Avenue. You […]
A Sailor, A Prayer, and a Purposeful Life
Lieutenant King heard the alarm and rushed to duty. It was December 1944. His ship was facing its biggest battle of World War II. The mighty USS Monterey had been in service […]
Measuring By the Meter, Foot, and Smoot
If you are accustomed to the metric system, imperial units can be perplexing. There is logic in the fact that there are 1,000 meters in a kilometer or ten centimeters in a […]