How The (English) Alphabet Became A Thing, Part One: Writing Stuff Down Is A Bonkers Idea
Let's be honest: the concept of writing stuff down is both brilliant and insane. Right now, all around the world, countless people are scrawling or typing messages that may last long after the writer ...
10 Dec 202432min
CLASSIC: The Story of Max, South Africa's Famous, Crime-fighting Gorilla
When confronted with a home invasion, Max the gorilla brought international fame to the Johannesburg Zoo and briefly became the city's most famous crime fighter. He received numerous endorsements, and...
7 Dec 202452min
History's Famous Mistranslations, Part Two: Life on Mars, the Cold War, and FARTFULL
Did a mistranslation lead to theories of life on Mars? What exactly was Khrsuschev trying to say at that big U.N. meeting? Language is amazing -- and it's also pretty complicated. As a result, transla...
5 Dec 202436min
Neckties are Utterly Ridiculous
It's easy to look at history and think one idea or another is ridiculous -- but we also have to remember modern civilization has its own vast collection of cartoonish concepts. You know, the sort of s...
3 Dec 202441min
CLASSIC: How Santa Anna Lost His Leg Twice, and Held a Funeral for It
Often called "The Napoleon of the West", mainly by himself, Santa Anna was a legendary, larger-than-life politician, general and exile. While hundreds of stories have been told about this man, one in ...
30 Nov 202442min
The History of the Super Bowl Halftime Show, Part Two: A World-Class Show
What began with marching bands all those decades ago has evolved past all expectations - and even if you don't particularly follow football, you'll probably tune in for the Super Bowl Halftime show. I...
28 Nov 202446min
The History of the Super Bowl Halftime Show, Part One: From Marching Bands to Celebrities
Whether or not you consider yourself a die-hard football fan, you've almost certainly watched a halftime show. Over the past few decades, these performances have almost become their own entertainment ...
26 Nov 202448min
CLASSIC: That Time Chewbacca Needed Bodyguards
Inarguably the most well-known Wookie in the Star Wars universe, Chewbacca also bears a strong resemblance to another popular creature in American culture -- the towering, hirsute cryptid known as Big...
23 Nov 202441min
