T.R. Roosevelt was an American politician. He advocated for a “strenuous life” of upstanding moral character, great physical effort, and an extensive education. In his case, this was achieved in no small part through his pursuit of boxing. A Homeschooled New Yorker Theodore Roosevelt Jr. was born and raised in Manhattan. He was the second […]
Teddy Roosevelt: President, World Traveler, and Boxer Read More »
Paul Reubens, aka “Pee-wee Herman,” was a man of profound contradictions. On one hand, he was the quirky-but-talented creator of the phenomenally successful cult classics, Pee-wee’s Big Adventure and Big Top Pee-wee. Also, the highly successful TV series, Pee-wee’s Playhouse. But on the other hand, he was the infamous celebrity caught masturbating in an adult
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Charles Joughin was an acclaimed chef. He was best known for being the head baker on the RMS Titanic. Although the extravagance of the voyage is well known, the pastries that Joughin was responsible for creating are not why he is remembered. Instead, Joughin is best known for his remarkable survival in the face of
Charles Joughin: How Whiskey Saved The Head Baker of the Titanic Read More »
Every few generations, a sportsperson comes along and transcends the boundaries of their arena to become a bonafide cultural icon. These elite athletes represent the pinnacle of sporting excellence and the hopes and dreams of their legions of adoring fans. They become larger than life. Their legends persist long after their time in the spotlight
Muhammad Ali: The Boxer Who Chose His Name and Charted His Destiny Read More »
Today, Dutch painter Vincent Van Gogh is considered second only to Rembrandt in raw talent and sheer genius. His striking use of color, forceful brushwork, and the contoured forms of his work effectively redefined Expressionism in modern art. In short, he is considered the master painter’s master. Ironically, Van Gogh sold only one painting in
The World’s Most Famous Synesthete: Vincent Van Gogh Read More »
She was beautiful and a warrior. Many thought she was too good to be true. Was Lagertha real? Lagertha is one of the most popular characters in Scandinavian legend. She was not a real person and she was thought to be inspired by the Amazons in Greek mythology. However, her story still made a massive
Lagertha: Maiden With the Courage of a Man Read More »
There are heavyweights in wrestling, and then there’s the McGuire Twins. Billy and Benny McCrary amassed 1,598 lbs. In the Guinness Book of World Records, that’s enough to make them the “world’s heaviest twins.” At their peak, Billy came in weighing 784 lbs while Benny was 814. The two men were born premature. Their weight
McGuire Twins: “World’s Heaviest Twins” of the Wrestling World Read More »
Judith Love Cohen was an aerospace engineer who worked on projects such as the Hubble Space Telescope and the Apollo Space Program. In popular culture, she’s better known as the mother of musician and actor Jack Black. From Brooklyn to Los Angeles Judith Love Cohen was born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1933. Her father
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If you’re someone who loves role-playing games, whether it be tabletop or video games, then you owe a lot to the man who pretty much invented the genre. Gary Gygax is known as the father of the RPG for his role in co-creating the phenomenon known as Dungeons & Dragons (D&D). This game, with its
Gary Gygax: Original Dungeon Master and the Mind Behind D&D Read More »
The story of Karolina Olsson is one of the biggest mysteries that has perplexed doctors and people of all ages. How can a young girl fall asleep and not wake up for another 32 years? Or did she really sleep? Olsson was raised in Okno, Sweden. One day in 1876, she slipped on ice and
Karolina Olsson: The “Real” Sleeping Beauty Read More »
