The Great Fire of London (1666): Strange Facts Behind the Famous Disaster
The Great Fire of London wasn’t just a disaster—it was full of odd decisions and strange moments. Here are the quirkiest facts from 1666.
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Take a Shot at Guessing Why Picasso Carried a Gun
Read more: Take a Shot at Guessing Why Picasso Carried a GunNo one wants to be misunderstood, and being a great artist does not give you an exemption from this rule. Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) had a particularly-memorable way of discouraging anyone from questioning the meaning of his works.
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Steve McQueen’s Less-Than-Cool Beginning with the Marines
Read more: Steve McQueen’s Less-Than-Cool Beginning with the MarinesSteve 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. Marines. McQueen had failed to find his calling during the first 17 years of his life. In 1947 he decided to join the…
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Tongue Tied Over Tie Tying Types?
Read more: Tongue Tied Over Tie Tying Types?Half Windsor, full Windsor, bow-tie, four-in-hand…. If you recognize these as different types of necktie knots, you are substantially ahead of most guys, who struggle to master one style. Some of us may dare to attempt to learn a different style, only to give up after a few choke-inducing twists of fabric. At this stage,…
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Winston Churchill and Hitler’s Foiled Plot of Exploding Chocolate
Read more: Winston Churchill and Hitler’s Foiled Plot of Exploding ChocolateGiven 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 chocolate might prove to be for the prime minister.
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Relativity: the Ultimate Youth Serum
Read more: Relativity: the Ultimate Youth SerumMankind has been seeking a way to slow down aging since the very beginning. As it turns out, the best way to slow time is to move faster.
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Pulgasari: the Crazy Story of North Korea’s Godzilla Rip-Off
Read more: Pulgasari: the Crazy Story of North Korea’s Godzilla Rip-Off“Pulgasari” is a North Korean film created by kidnapped director Shin Sang-ok as a rip-off of “Godzilla.” It follows a monster born from rice that grows to immense size, ultimately consuming both liberators and their tools. The film reflects North Korea’s oppressive regime and was later released internationally under Kim Jong-il’s oversight.
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What is the Shortest Poem?
Read more: What is the Shortest Poem?There is some debate about which poetic work has the distinction of being the shortest poem on record. Take a look at the two leading contenders. Fortunately, it won’t take you very long to read them both and decide for yourself.
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The Unsolved Mystery of the Last Words of Albert Einstein
Read more: The Unsolved Mystery of the Last Words of Albert EinsteinExplore the enigma of the last words of Albert Einstein, spoken in German and left untranslated. Discover the story of his last moments and their lasting mystery.
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Meet the Man Who Proposed the First Mission to the Moon… in 1638!
Read more: Meet the Man Who Proposed the First Mission to the Moon… in 1638!Dr. John Wilkins was definitely a man ahead of his time. When he proposed the first manned mission to the moon, he knew he would have to wait for technology to catch up to his ideas. It’s unlikely, however, that he ever imagined the wait would be 331 years.
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Michelangelo’s Last Judgment on an Unwelcomed Critic
Read more: Michelangelo’s Last Judgment on an Unwelcomed CriticNo one enjoys receiving criticism. Even the greatest artists in history dislike critiques. Unlike the rest of us, great artists have a way of getting even that should give all of us a moment’s pause before offering an unsolicited judgment of someone else’s work.
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The Wackiest Medical Codes for the Strangest Conditions
Read more: The Wackiest Medical Codes for the Strangest ConditionsDiscover the strangest ICD-10 medical codes—from being struck by a duck to injuries in prison swimming pools. Explore the weird, funny, and baffling side of healthcare bureaucracy.
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The 1956 Olympic Torch Hoax
Read more: The 1956 Olympic Torch HoaxThe Olympic torch is one of the most recognizable and time-honored symbols in the world. Whenever it appears in a city, it is a time of rejoicing as we honor the international cooperation of athletic competition. There was one time, however, when the torch evoked laughter and ridicule. The occasion went down in history as…
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The Deathly Serious Queen Mary of Teck
Read more: The Deathly Serious Queen Mary of TeckIt is not an exaggeration to say Queen Mary of Teck (1867-1953) took things very seriously. One could even say her attitude was deathly serious.
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Parisian Parrots Protect People From Planes
Read more: Parisian Parrots Protect People From PlanesDuring 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 or old. Although their contribution does not fill many pages in the history books, even the birds lent a hand — well, a…
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Michelangelo and the Foul Footwear
Read more: Michelangelo and the Foul FootwearMichelangelo, despite being a legendary creative genius, had poor personal hygiene habits. His biographer Ascanio Condivi described how he often slept in his clothes and boots due to cramp, leading to skin issues. Giorgio Vasari remarked that his long-worn dog-skin buskins were so bonded to his legs they became part of him.
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A Buttload is an Actual Unit of MeasurementFebruary 5, 2020
