Keep in mind that it is the Year Of Our Lord 2012 as you’re reading this. The incident described here happened in the Spring of 2011… but it might as well have been 1963. Continue reading
History
152 posts
Ok, wipe the drool off your screen. The glorious house you’re looking at is Highclere Castle, being used as Downton Abbey in the tv series you might have heard of.
The current castle was built in 1842 by Sir Charles Barry, the architect who designed the Houses of Parliament in London. The property has been owned by the Carnarvon family since 1679. The site has had one house or another on it since at least 1086 – the date of completion of the famed Domesday Book, which records a house being situated there. Today, the Hampshire estate covers 1,000 acres. Continue reading
Another installment in our series on abandoned places in the world. Continue reading
Another installment in our series on abandoned places in the world. Continue reading
Today, December 6, is Canada’s National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women. Every year on this day, Canada commemorates a terrible act of violence directed at women solely because of their gender. Continue reading
Another installment in our series on abandoned places in the world. Continue reading
In 1959 John F. Kennedy wrote an essay for TV Guide. A year later, Kennedy would face off against Richard Nixon in the U.S.’s first nationally televised debate. Kennedy looked, well, presidential. Nixon looked at best like some schlep off the street, and at worst like a minor mob henchman. Continue reading
In honor of the Crasstalk Day of Womanly Things, here is a list of the ten American women who are the epitome of female badassery. What makes a woman a badass? Her smarts, fearlessness and ability to be a pain in the ass of those who would keep her down. Feel free to criticize my picks in the comments and add your own. Continue reading
Caution: This tale is morbid and not for the faint at heart. Read at your own discretion.
The use of animals in public performances, whether it be at Sea World or a Circus, is a taboo subject. I have no qualms with saying I’m against it, outright. The stories of abused and neglected animals in these situations are a plenty, but the following tale of Mary the elephant is far more morbid than anything I’ve ever read. I’ve cautioned you once about the content of this article, and I’ll do it one more time: this is not a story with a happy ending; it is one of disgusting injustice. Continue reading
Polio was one of the most feared diseases of the 20th century. In 99% of cases, it causes no symptoms or very mild symptoms and may go effectively unnoticed, making it easy for people to be unwitting carriers and spreaders of the virus and leading to an explosion of polio epidemics in the early 20th century as transport improved, population density in cities increased and it became easier for a virus like polio to reach a critical mass of people. Meanwhile, in that last 1% of sufferers polio infects the spinal cord, leading to paralysis or death. Even worse, young children tends to be particularly susceptible, leading to polio becoming known in some areas as infantile paralysis disease. There is still no known cure for polio.
In 1952 in the United States alone, polio caused 3,145 recorded deaths and 21,269 recorded cases of mild to disabling paralysis.