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The Times Square Ball Drop Started With Sailors. Naturally, Things Got Out of Hand

The Times Square Ball Drop Started With Sailors. Naturally, Things Got Out of Hand

Every New Year’s Eve, millions watch the Times Square ball drop. But the tradition’s origins have nothing to do with celebrating the new year. Discover how a nineteenth-century invention designed to help sailors navigate the oceans became one of the world’s most famous celebrations.

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October 10, 2026

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  • The Hitler Diaries Hoax: How Forged Journals Nearly Rewrote Nazi History

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    The Hitler Diaries hoax fooled journalists and historians in 1983. A look at the forged journals, the trial, and how skepticism took a day off.

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  • Kokura: The Japanese City That Was Almost Nuked

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    Kokura was almost the second atomic bombing target. A last-minute switch, a forgotten city, and a massive invasion plan tell the fuller story.

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  • Kid Nation: The Shocking Reality TV Show That Let Children Run a Town

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