Garden gnomes have been a part of popular culture for over a century, and their history is as fascinating as their presence in gardens and outdoor spaces is enduring. These small statues or figurines, typically depicting small bearded creatures wearing traditional clothing and often carrying tools such as fishing rods or watering cans, have become […]
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In 1876, the world witnessed one of the most bizarre crimes in history. Graverobbers attempted to steal the corpse of Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States. Lincoln had died over ten years before, raising several important questions. Why would anyone try to steal his body after such a long time? Why did
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For those of us living today, it seems impossible that there was ever a time before factories produced all the goods we use in our daily lives. In reality, the factory’s rise is relatively recent regarding the scope of human history. For much of human existence, people made goods and grew food. Only the very
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On October 2, 1950, a relatively unknown cartoonist named Charles M. Schulz introduced America to the comic strip world of Peanuts, initially inhabited by just three kids: Charlie Brown, Shermy, and Patty. Two days later, however, on October 4, a fourth character, an unnamed dog, joined the little gang. Though remaining unnamed until the November 10
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The life of Rosemary Kennedy, the eldest sister of President John F. Kennedy, is a tragic and often overlooked chapter in the Kennedy family history. Rosemary’s life has been overshadowed by her brother’s fame and significant accomplishments and the fact she was considered the “problem child” of the family. Her parent’s efforts to “fix” her
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Agatha Christie is considered one of the greatest mystery writers of all time. After the Bible, her novels are the most translated books of all time, existing in over 100 foreign languages. Some of her best creations were Miss Marple, a short story collection of 14 books, and the iconic Hercule Poirot. Less known than
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Rube Goldberg was an American cartoonist, inventor, and engineer, whose name has become synonymous with complex machines that perform simple tasks in an overly complicated way. He used his cartoons to satirize the excesses of technology and the bureaucracy that often accompanied it. In 1955, he entered the National Cartoonists Society Hall of Fame and
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Napoleon is one of the most well-known characters in history. He is famous for many things, but interestingly, his height is one of the most notable discussion points. Even in his day, Napoleon was often referred to as a man of small stature. However, much of the discussion of his height was likely related to
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The 1950s and 1960s were the proverbial heydays for behavioral psychology experiments in the United States. Harry Harlow’s Rhesus Monkey Experiments tested the effects of maternal separation and social isolation. The Solomon Asch Conformity Experiments tested the power of conformity in groups. Finally, the New York Child Development Center’s Child Development Twin Study examined the effects of twins raised apart. These
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While it’s virtually impossible to trace the origin of this curious legend, it’s quite evident that famed adventure, sci-fi, and fantasy writer Edgar Rice Burroughs was instrumental in bringing the “elephant graveyard” to popular culture through this heroic character, Tarzan. First in his Tarzan adventure novels (beginning in 1912), then through film adaptations (starting in
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