What's the Origin of "The Finger"?
The finger of honor in England is indicated by two fingers (when displayed with the palm inward). This…
Lavoisier, Persona Non Grata, During the Reign of Terror
Lavoisier, also known as The Father of Modern Chemistry, was guillotined on May 8, 1794 (during the Reign…
The Hidden Dangers of Cannonballs
During 18th-century naval battles it was not the cannonballs themselves that posed a danger, but the explosion of…
A Castle’s Spiral Staircase Was a Defensive Measure
In medieval times, a castle’s spiral staircase were usually made of stone and rose in a clockwise fashion…
Do You Know Why August has 31 Days?
An apocryphal story explains it this way when Augustus Caesar claimed control of the Roman Empire. He wanted…
US Military Thought They Were Destroying a Submarine - Not Even Close!
In 1986, the US military forces bombarded what they believed to be a Libyan submarine off the coast…
Sweeney Todd - A Movie Based on True Crimes of London and Paris
Tim Burton’s movie, Sweeney Todd, found its inspiration in a sordid story in London in the 19th century.…
The Old-Fashioned Way to Detect Diabetes
In the old days, doctors were sometimes forced to taste the urine of their patients to confirm their…
The Navajo Language During the World War II
During this time the American Army used the Navajo language as a secret code to transmit messages: the…
The Relationship Between New York City and the City of Angouleme in France
New Angoulême was the name given by the Italian explorer Giovanni da Verrazano to the site of what…
God Save The King Was Created For The King Of France
The French Marquise de Créquy wrote in her book "Souvenirs", that the song ''Grand Dieu Sauve Le Roi'',…
Dewey Defeats Truman - A Famous False Headline
"Dewey Defeats Truman" was a famous banner headline on the front page of the Chicago Tribune on November…