The Scandalous Life Of Pope Alexander VI
Like the man said: With great power comes great opportunity. Few families in history understood this better than the Borgias, generations of major players in Italy's political history.
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The Abandoned Olympic Stadium In The Middle Of The Amazon Rainforest
nestled deep within Earth's greenest lungs, there lies a sports arena that the Brazilian government coughed up somewhere around $300 million to build, while taking the lives of three construction workers, and it's ... uh, empty. Abandoned.
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The Mystery Of Carly Simon's You're So Vain
Simon has played out the Who of "You're So Vain" since the very beginning. She auctioned off the answer to benefit a charity, under the condition that the winner was forbidden to reveal the name (or is it names?). (The name -- whichever it is -- has an "e" in it. She said.)
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What Life Was Really Like As Hitler's Food Taster
It's a scene repeated ad nauseam in World War II films. "I'd hardly arrived when the SS showed up at the door and demanded, 'Come with us!'" Margo Wölk's recalls of her experiences, which she recounted to the German magazine Der Spiegel.
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The Hidden Meaning Of The Police's Every Breath You Take
At first listen, you might think the song is an emotional ode to someone you love, but if you go deeper, you'll discover that the song's are actually more about stalking and possessiveness rather than a shiny love story.
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How The Monkees Helped Launch Linda Ronstadt's Career
Nesmith tried to convince the producers to use one of his compositions, "A Different Drum." They weren't interested ("That's not really a Monkees tune," he was told), so, according to Dolenz, Nesmith "gave it to this young girl singer who was kicking around L.A. at the time."
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This Is Why Tears For Fears Broke Up In The 90s
"It may well be our last album," Roland Orzabal mused in Tears For Fears -- The Seeds of Love, Adrian Thrills's 1990 book that covered the story behind every song on the Tears For Fears album The Seeds of Love. Orzabal was considering calling it Famous Last Words.
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The Tragic History Of The Search For The Fountain Of Youth
Throughout history, explorers ventured into uncharted territories to source a body of water that could turn back biological clocks, but how seriously did they take their quests for curing waters? Here is the perplexing, sometimes tragic history of the search for the Fountain of Youth.
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What Life Was Like As A Samurai In Feudal Japan
The way of the samurai: if you saw that Tom Cruise movie or played Ghost of Tsushima, you've probably got your finger on the pulse of the whole shebang, right? Surprise twist: it turns out it's a lot more complicated than that.
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Things The Ancient Aztecs Couldn't Live Without
There were at least three items that defined Aztec life. Without them, the Aztecs wouldn't have been who they were. One was endearing. Another had horrifying implications. And the third ... kind of brings everything together and helps put their culture into sharper focus.
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The Real Reason Weird Al Yankovic Started Playing The Accordion
Al's seventh birthday was auspicious -- or more precisely, the day before, because that's the day that a door-to-door salesman stopped by their house in Lynwood, California, just south of Los Angeles. He was shilling for a music school that offered lessons in guitar and accordion.
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This Is The Worst Year To Have Been Alive According To Science
The whole to-do wasn't started by the plagues or crusades generally associated with the historical ballpark of the millennium in question. In point of fact, this age of cultural and financial stagnation was brought about by the meekest of all the Earth's forces: the humble gigantic volcano.
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Art Rivalries That Took Things Too Far
Feuding artists can behave like reasonable adults, but some pretty big names in art history have been involved in some incredibly petty disputes. Here are some art rivalries that took things too far.
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The Hidden Meaning Of R.E.M.'s Losing My Religion
From the pained emotions running throughout every chord, to the relative ambiguity of the lyrics -- i.e., was R.E.M. singer-songwriter Michael Stipe talking about an actual religion, or a relationship? -- it's no wonder this song has become so timeless.
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The Real Reason David Coverdale Left Deep Purple
While it is known that frequent turmoil between band members and rampant substance abuse plagued the musical group, Coverdale stated that he valued his "sanity" too much and was left "utterly exhausted in every possible way" after three years of playing with Deep Purple.
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You Wouldn't Want To Meet As I Lay Dying's Tim Lambesis In Real Life. Here's Why
As I Lay Dying's Tim Lambesis is a popular and controversial musician in his own right. Some might even call him a "one hit wonder." Literally.
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The Tragic True Story Of The Year Without A Summer
The Year Without Summer, as 1816 was later known as, was caused by a now obscure volcano in Indonesia called Mount Tambora, which erupted with a force that outdid the almost mythic proportions Krakatoa has developed in the imagination.
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Weird Things You Didn't Know About The Smurfs
There are a lot of weird things you don't know about The Smurfs. Prepare to question your most basic assumptions about these mushroom-fixated arboreal ingenues.
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Science Rivalries That Took Things Too Far
Science has had rivalries like any other field, but sometimes, dueling smart people take things too far. People get hurt, careers are ended, and occasionally, the onward march of science is actually hampered by competition instead of bolstered. The following science rivalries took things too far.
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The Real Reason Motley Crue Abandoned Their Personality #9 Album
Vince Neil's absence between 1994 and 1997 resulted in one of the stranger periods in the band's history, when a guy called John Corabi handled the vocal duties ... and the band ended up throwing away an entire album. Let's take a look at why Mötley Crüe abandoned their Personality #9 album.
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Here's How Much Lucille Ball Was Worth At The Time Of Her Death
Everybody loves Lucille Ball. And her pocketbook showed it. Here's how much she was worth.
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The Truth About The Real-Life 'Dexter' Killer
"He has 71 confirmed murders to his name, although this could be just the tip of the iceberg in terms of his kill count. The vast majority of these victims were criminals themselves." One more time for the cheap seats -- "the vast majority." Not all.
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Dee Snider Has Great News For AC/DC Fans
As Johnson explained to The Sunday Times in a 2018 interview, the doctors informed him that he should quit performing or else risk going completely deaf. Johnson admitted that his hearing was already impeding his performances: "The way I look at it, I had a great run."
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The Untold Truth Of Davy Jones' Locker
Who was Davy Jones? And why did he keep a locker if his work kept him out at sea so often? Wouldn't a storage unit be a more realistic option? Skim a few websites for historical societies and you'll notice that the answers are varied, evocative, and bizarre.
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The Rise Of Empress Cixi, China's 'Shadow Queen'
Empress Cixi, known as the Shadow Queen and the Dragon Lady, is a controversial figure in Chinese history. At once revered, feared, and hated, she worked to consolidate power even as rebellions broke out across her empire.
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Mysteries And Secrets Of The Shroud Of Turin
The Shroud of Turin is arguably the most famous Christian relic in the world. Devotees claim that it shows the authentic Holy Face of Jesus, while skeptics claim that it's nothing but an impressive and puzzling forgery. Read on for some mysteries and secrets of the Shroud of Turin.
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Mike Tyson Vs Floyd Mayweather: Who Would Win?
Without further ado, ladies and gentlemen: Mike Tyson vs. Floyd Mayweather. Who would win?
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