• The Real Reason Queen Elizabeth I Never Married

    Queen Elizabeth I of England clung to her title of "The Virgin Queen" and, though some suggest she had lovers, she never married and never produced a direct heir, let alone a spare. But that's kind of the whole point of a queen. So why not? Here's the real reason Queen Elizabeth I never married.

    By Eric Meisfjord March 30th, 2020 Read More
  • How Much Money The Medici Family Really Had

    The Medicis were such a big deal in the Renaissance, they still pop up in pop culture today. Still, as significant as their cultural and historical influence has been, in the end they were bankers. So how much were they worth? Let's take a look at how much money the Medici family actually had.

    By Pauli Poisuo March 30th, 2020 Read More
  • How Many People Were Unemployed During The Great Depression?

    In one week in March 2020, 3.3 million Americans filed unemployment claims. One expert said, "The United States is in the thralls of a catastrophic unemployment crisis, the likes of which we haven't seen since the Great Depression." But how many people were unemployed during the Great Depression?

    By A. C. Grimes March 30th, 2020 Read More
  • The Grim Reality Of Private Fire Departments

    In 2010, Tennessee resident Timothy Cranick paid a visit to the South Fulton firehouse and punched the fire chief in the face, in what can best be described as a case of fighting firefighter with fighter. Why? Cranick wanted payback after the firefighters allowed his parents' house to burn down.

    By A. C. Grimes March 27th, 2020 Read More
  • Who Actually Makes Kirkland Dog Food?

    Dog food, like sausage ingredients and supreme court nominees, is one of those things that you probably don't want to look at too closely. It's a part of everyday life, but you'll stay happier longer if you don't spend too much time thinking about what went into making it.

    By Tom Meisfjord March 27th, 2020 Read More
  • Why Was The 1918 Flu Pandemic Called The 'Spanish Flu'?

    The 1918 flu pandemic that claimed between 50 and 100 million lives worldwide has often been referred to as the "Spanish flu." Yet per the Journal of Translational Medicine, the outbreak most likely began in Haskell County, Kansas ... which, geographically speaking, isn't in Spain.

    By A. C. Grimes March 27th, 2020 Read More
  • The Shady Side Of Hobby Lobby

    Hobby Lobby: depending on your point of view, it's either a pillar of ethical what-have-yous, or the punchline to a middling Bill Maher joke.

    By Tom Meisfjord March 27th, 2020 Read More
  • Why Are Lamborghinis So Expensive?

    There are a few inanimate objects which, when spotted in the wild, hold the high-class, semi-mythic air of, say, a mustachioed UFO or a Wendigo in a floor-length evening dress. But among them are the incredibly expensive Lamborghini.

    By Tom Meisfjord March 27th, 2020 Read More
  • What Happened To Aileen Wuornos's Son?

    If Charlize Theron hadn't played her in a movie (and earned the 2003 Best Actress Oscar for her efforts), would Aileen Wuornos still be remembered? Probably, because Wuornos has the dubious distinction of being one of the few convicted female serial killers in the United States.

    By Eric Meisfjord March 27th, 2020 Read More
  • The Truth About Davy Crockett's Daughters

    David Stern Crockett. King of the wild frontier, as the song goes. By his own count, a hunter and marksman who killed 105 bears in a single season. While he certainly didn't have 105 children, he did have a fair share of both sons and daughters. Here's the story of the fairer half.

    By Eric Meisfjord March 26th, 2020 Read More
  • 'Unbelievable' 5000 Year-Old Sword Discovered In Italian Monastery

    It's a story as old as stories: The young hero, introduced to a more magical world by an older mentor figure, becomes warden to an ancient weapon. Recently in Venice, events have unfolded which echo this monomythic story structure ... just with more reading, paperwork, and other nerd stuff.

    By Tom Meisfjord March 26th, 2020 Read More
  • The Incredible Life Of Robert Smalls

    The son of a house slave named Lydia, Robert Smalls was born behind his owner's house in Beaufort, South Carolina in 1839. He would go on to live a truly incredible life.

    By A. C. Grimes March 25th, 2020 Read More
  • Museum Of The Bible's Dead Sea Scroll Fragments Are Forgeries

    When Green's Museum of the Bible in Washington D.C.opened in 2017, it supposedly showcased 16 pieces of the Dead Sea Scrolls. Unfortunately, "up to 90% of the 75 fragments sold since 2002 could be fakes." And in the case of the Museum of the Bible, it turned out to be 100 percent.

    By A. C. Grimes March 25th, 2020 Read More
  • Why Did Benedict Arnold Really Betray The Americans?

    Benedict Arnold committed his first act of treason alongside George Washington and the revolutionaries in the colonies. Then he switched sides. But Benedict Arnold's reasons for betraying the Americans may have seemed justified in his own mind. So why did Benedict Arnold really betray the Americans?

    By A. C. Grimes March 20th, 2020 Read More
  • How Much Power Does The King Of Spain Really Have?

    King Philip II of Spain took the throne in 1556. His reign marked the start of absolutism, an era characterized by all-powerful, completely unaccountable monarchs. But the Spanish Crown's power has dwindled significantly since then. How much power does the King of Spain really have?

    By A. C. Grimes March 20th, 2020 Read More
  • What Henry VIII Typically Ate In A Day

    As Henry grew into his role as King of England he also grew into -- bigger-sized clothing, topping out with a reportedly 54-inch waist. The man became whopping. After all, he was king -- what would be denied him? Certainly not food. Here's what he typically ate.

    By Eric Meisfjord March 20th, 2020 Read More
  • What Life Was Really Like As A Viking In 800 AD

    When most think of Vikings, the first thing that comes to mind is looting and pillaging. But that's just one aspect of Viking life and culture, and over the years, historians have been able to unravel many more details of daily Viking life. Here's what life was really like as a Viking in 800 AD.

    By DB Kelly March 19th, 2020 Read More
  • The Messed Up Truth About The Tiananmen Square Massacre

    The Tiananmen Square massacre was a horrific event wherein the government slaughtered thousands of protesting individuals in cold blood. In mainland China, information regarding this mass murder has been suppressed for decades. This is the messed up truth about the Tiananmen Square massacre.

    By Nicholas Conley March 19th, 2020 Read More
  • The Real Reason The Titanic's Sister Ship Also Sank

    In 1912, White Star Line vice-president Philip Franklin declared, "There is no danger that Titanic will sink. The boat is unsinkable and nothing but inconvenience will be suffered by the passengers." Given what actually happened, Franklin's words would go down as the height of stupid pride ...

    By A. C. Grimes March 18th, 2020 Read More