How Capone Got His Scars, the Joint Chiefs’ Treasonous Plan Rejected by Kennedy, and More, in Yet Another 10 Fascinating Quick Facts

Quick Fact 851: On March 13, 1962, the chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Lyman Lemnitzer, submitted a proposal to the Secretary of Defense, Robert McNamara, developed by the Joint Chiefs and the Department of Defense outlining plans to, among other things, commit various acts of terrorism on U.S. soil and then frame the Cubans for it […]

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This Day in History: December 19th- Poor Richard

This Day In History: December 19, 1732 Ben Franklin was, by all accounts, a busy guy. Throughout his life, he made a name for himself as a printer, postmaster, author, scientist, satirist, inventor, diplomat and statesman. Aside from his indisputable political influence on the fledgling United States, his most memorable contribution to American culture was Poor Richard’s Almanack. Not only […]

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Podcast Episode #299: Tinkle Bells

In this episode, you’re going to learn about the origin of the Christmas staple, “Silver Bells,” and how the duo who wrote it tried everything they could to get out of having to compose it in the first place. [TRANSCRIPT] Don’t miss future episodes of this podcast, subscribe here: iTunes | RSS/XML You can also find more episodes by going […]

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The Archives of Terror

On December 22, 1992, former school teacher Martin Almada discovered thousands of documents that detailed the systematic repression of Paraguayans under the government of dictator General Alfredo Stroessner. Almada stumbled upon what has come to be known as Paraguay’s Archives of Terror in the basement of a police station in the capital city of Asuncion while working with a judge, […]

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Podcast Episode #298: The Invention of Eggnog

In this episode, you’re going to learn about how the practice of mixing a cow’s udder excretions with the product that came out of a chicken’s cloaca ultimately led to Eggnog. You’re also going to learn why the drink is called that and what the traditional ingredients to the drink are. [TRANSCRIPT] Don’t miss future episodes of this podcast, subscribe […]

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The Connection Between Saddam’s and Hitler’s Bunkers, Why Your Friends are Likely to Have More Friends Than You, and More, in Yet Another 10 Quick Facts

Quick Fact 841: If you’ve ever felt like your friends are more popular, happier, and wealthier than you… well, on average, you’re probably right.  This all comes down to something known as the Generalized Friendship Paradox.  The Friendship Paradox was first proposed in 1991 by sociologist Scott L. Feld, who demonstrated that your friends, on average, will have more friends […]

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The Real “Doc” Holliday

In the 1993 movie Tombstone, Doc Holliday (portrayed by actor Val Kilmer) is depicted as a good guy at heart, helping Wyatt Earp to keep order and law in the dangerous old west town of Tombstone, Arizona. As is the case with Earp, there is a mound of evidence that the real Doc Holliday wasn’t nearly so squeaky clean.  Here […]

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The Anonymous Publishing of “The Night Before Christmas,” and Other Interesting Christmas Staple Origins

Aiko S. asks: Who wrote Twas the Night Before Christmas? On December 23, 1823, the poem A Visit from St. Nicholas, better known today as The Night Before Christmas was first published. The poem first appeared in the New York Sentinel with no author listed, having been delivered for publication by a friend of Clement Clarke Moore, who was a […]

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