Fantasmagorie: Celebrating The Strange Origins of Cartoons
Animation didn’t start with Disney, or even Mickey Mouse. Its roots trace back to optical illusions, experimental artists, and…
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From icy slides to jaw-dropping loops, the roller coaster’s history
Today’s roller coasters twist, loop, and launch riders at breakneck speeds, but their roots are much older, and stranger,…
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Left-handed? History hasn’t always been kind
For centuries, being left-handed wasn’t just unusual, it was controversial. From superstition to stigma, history hasn’t always been kind…
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Enid Blyton Still Matters: 10 Reasons Her Children’s Stories Stand the Test of Time
Enid Blyton may have penned her first book nearly a century ago, but her influence on children’s literature is…
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10 recently banned books by Queer & POC authors— and where they’re getting pulled
Books open minds—but some want them closed.Across the country, a rising tide of book bans is silencing stories that…
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How Back-to-School in the 70s Was Way Cooler Than Today
Heading back to school in the 1970s was not just about sharpening pencils. It was an entire experience. Before…
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Why Andy Warhol Still Matters: 10 Things You Didn’t Know About the King of Pop Art
He painted soup cans, turned celebrities into icons, and once predicted we’d all be famous—for 15 minutes. Andy Warhol…
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10 Famous Last Words in History—Including Amelia Earhart’s Eerie Final Transmission
Some words echo through history, not because of what they said, but when they were said. Whether whispered on…
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Black Inventors Who Changed Everyday Life: Innovations That Still Shape Our World
Many of the everyday conveniences we rely on today—from essential household tools to critical safety devices—were made possible by…
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Putin & Napoleon: A True Story of Overreach, Hubris, and the Contemptible Betrayal of Paupers Passing Themselves off as Princes
This essay is part of “(There is Nothing New) Under the Sun“ A monthly column of random, historical vignettes…
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Is That Old Jewelry or Art Worth Something? How to Find Out Without Getting Scammed
Have you ever stumbled across a piece of old jewelry in your grandmother’s attic or found an old painting…
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15 Historical Events That You Will Not Believe Happened At The Same Time. Nope. Nope. Nope.
History often presents us with surprising juxtapositions of events that occurred simultaneously but seem worlds apart. We saw something…
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Grandma, Freddie Is Coming Parcel Post! Mailing Children: A Strange Chapter in U.S. Postal History
In the early 20th century, a peculiar trend emerged in the United States: parents sending their children through the…
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10 Interactive Immersive Museum Exhibits You Don’t Want to Miss
In the evolving world of museums, interactive and immersive exhibits have redefined how we engage with art, history, and…
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The Hidden History Behind Santa Claus’s White Beard and Red Coat
Santa Claus is one of the most enduring and recognizable figures in global culture, especially in the context of…
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Mattel Accidentally Puts Porn Website on Wicked Doll Packaging
This commentary is a repost from “Sex on Wednesdays” by Martha Kempner on Substack. Find her other articles on The Queen…
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MATGA (Make Aqua Tofana Great Again): A Poison’s Resurgence As Resistance
The resurgence of Aqua Tofana, a deadly poison from 17th-century Italy, as a metaphorical symbol in modern social media…
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Comedy Under Scrutiny: How Woke Culture is Redefining Stand-Up
In recent years, comedians have found themselves walking a delicate line, balancing humor with the evolving sensitivities of modern…
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Unfulfilled Promise: The Inspiring but Tragic Tale of President James Garfield
This essay is part of “(There is Nothing New) Under the Sun“ A monthly column of random, historical vignettes demonstrating that…
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10 Ways BookTok Is Revolutionizing Gen Z Reading and The Publishing Industry
One might think that TikTok and reading are at odds with each other, but that’s not true. BookTok is…
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10 Men We Were Shocked to Learn Were Dangerous to Women
It’s impressive how someone can hide the dark parts of themselves. Many celebrities cultivate public personas that seem at…
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Meet The First Female White House Chef: Cristeta Comerford’s Journey, Influence, and Legacy
The White House has always been a symbol of American tradition, history, and politics. Within its hallowed halls, it…
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How Hollywood Treats Older Women: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
Hollywood, as an industry, has long been a reflection of societal norms, shaping and being shaped by culture. Its…
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11 Things You Didn’t Know Had Racist Origins
Some things are so obviously and inherently racist that no one can deny it. However, some things are so…
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20 Everyday Words Constantly Mispronounced by Americans
Americans often struggle with pronouncing certain words, leading to widespread mispronunciations that have become commonplace in everyday speech. From…
