The North African campaign during World War II was a battle of supply. Between 1940 and 1942, both the Axis powers and the Allied powers achieved significant victories, which allowed them to continue their campaign for hundreds of miles and across many countries. Inevitably, the supply tether was reaching its limits, and the advances ground […]
Battles of World War II: The Battle of El Alamein Read More »
There exists a wondrous, magical creature in ancient mythology. It has captivated the human imagination for centuries – the Phoenix. With vibrant plumage in bright hues of red, orange, and gold, this majestic bird has been reimagined time and time again throughout history. While other mythical birds like the Roc, Griffin, or Simurgh all have
Death and Rebirth: A History of the Mythological Phoenix Read More »
In the late 1960s, amid the so-called “Hippie” counterculture movement taking place in the US, a charismatic minister named Duane Pederson came onto the scene. He preached Christianity to the generation known for promiscuous sex, mind-expanding drugs, and pulsating Rock music. A self-described “Jesus Freak,” Pederson drew comparisons between the Hippies’ message of peace and
The Jesus Freaks: Origins of the Religious Countercultural Movement Read More »
The Florence Supermax prison, known as the “Alcatraz of the Rockies,” is what one former prison warden called a “clean version of hell.” It’s a massive complex that houses the world’s most dangerous criminals. Anyone from Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzman to Ted Kaczynski can be found in this concrete cage nestled in a remote part
Inside One of the Roughest Prisons in the World: Florence Supermax Prison Read More »
Rats can be a real nuisance. They get into our food, our trash, and even our homes. But when applied in the right (or rather, wrong) ways, they can turn into something far more sinister: a form of torture so cruel that the very mention of it can be enough to compel someone to spill
Rat Torture: One Of History’s Most Barbaric Torture Methods? Read More »
50 years of conquest saw Mongol armies at the gates of Hungary, Persia, and along the Yangtze facing the last remaining Chinese resistance. The Mongols thought they were invincible and with good reason. A succession of aggressive leaders started with Genghis Khan in 1211. This extended to their last truly expansionist ruler, his grandson Kublai
Cooperation vs. Chaos: The Mongolian Invasions of China and Japan Read More »
In the deep, shadowy depths of American history, few organizations have captured the public imagination, stirring up fear and apprehension, quite like the Pinkerton Detective Agency. Whether its agents were tracking down notorious outlaws in the Wild West, infiltrating unions, backroom negotiations, or working to protect the life of the President, the Pinkertons were a
The History of the Pinkerton Detective Agency: America’s Premier Private Detectives Read More »
You may have read about Arthur Conan Doyle’s fictional monstrous hound in the famous Sherlock Holmes story titled, “The Hound of the Baskervilles.” But in the 18th century, a real-life bloodthirsty beast terrorized Gévaudan, an ancient Southern French county that today lies in the Department of Lozère. Known as La Bête du Gévaudan or the
The Beast of Gévaudan: Terror of the French Countryside Read More »
If you’ve ever seen the Batman movies, you’re probably familiar with the Joker’s leering, painted-on grin. It’s a bloody smile that stretches far beyond the corners of his mouth, making it evident that his cheeks have been sliced open from ear to ear. What you may not realize, is that this was an actual form
The History of the Glasgow Smile Read More »
Blood, guts, and glory. The Viking Age was a time of brutal conquest and even more brutal executions. Perhaps none are more shrouded in controversy and intrigue than the notorious blood eagle ritual. Legend has it that the Vikings were ruthless to their enemies. If you found yourself at the hands of a murderous Viking,
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