Not everyone is a fan of cats. Some might even joke that they are Luciferian in nature. There was a point at which the Catholic Church fueled this belief. Pope Gregory IX has not left a positive image of himself to posterity. The institution of the Papal Inquisition is generally considered the defining feature of his tenure. In fact, it was his zealous pursuit of … Continue reading The time the Catholic Church declared cats satanic
While not possessing ears, the evening primrose can still detect certain sound frequencies that vibrate their petals. Continue reading The flower that can hear
The modern tradition began over 3,000 miles from the Emerald Isle. Continue reading The first parade honoring St. Patrick wasn’t in Ireland
When people outside North America imagine the habitat of coyotes, it is possible that they concoct a picture painted by the Road Runner and Wil E. Coyote cartoons. This would lead to an impression that the animal is relegated mainly to the western part of the United States, particularly in the Southwestern deserts. At the time those animated cartoons were created, that was a fairly … Continue reading The best way to ensure a coyote population increase is by killing them
Russia seems to have a different national pastime. Continue reading In one year, Russians bought half a million baseball bats but almost no baseballs
Henry Clay is one of the most revered figures in American political history. The storied “Great Compromiser,” who, in addition to being a vaunted attorney, served as a U.S. Senator from Kentucky, Speaker of the House, Secretary of State, a lead negotiator of the Treaty of Ghent, and in many other roles. Clay had a head-spinning political resume. Famously, the only political position he couldn’t … Continue reading Henry Clay: The Illegitimate Senator?
The sixth President of the United States advocated for a polar expedition to reach the globe’s epicenter. Continue reading John Quincy Adams and the Journey to the Center of the Earth
The first month of the modern Gregorian calendar owes its name to a Roman god. Continue reading How January got its name
Planned obsolescence is an annoyance to many consumers. The conventional wisdom, that consumer goods were once produced using material that would ensure longer-lasting durability than those today, is based upon solid evidence. What many may not know, however, is that the plethora of cheaper, less durable items lining the shelves of today’s stores is the culmination of several generations. Among the earliest, and perhaps most … Continue reading The Phoebus cartel: Lighting the way for planned obsolescence
Robert May, an advertising copywriter for Montgomery Ward, thought up Santa’s most trusty reindeer in 1939. Continue reading Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer was created by a department store ad man
