Biographies & Quotations

Wirkus

Faustin E. Wirkus, a United States Marine Corps Sergeant Who was Stationed in Haiti, was Proclaimed “King of La Gonâve” in 1926 After He Saved the Queen from Drowning.

Ancient, Ancient Civilization, Biographies & Quotations, General Reference, History, History, Humanities, Reference, Royalty /

La Gonâve is a sparsely populated island off Haiti’s Gulf Coast, stretching westward from Port-au-Prince Bay, 40 kilometers from Cabaret or Léogâne. The island coexists with the La Gonâve Arrondissement, one of Haiti’s original arrondissements. But did you know a US Marine Corps sergeant was proclaimed king of the island? Faustin E. Wirkus, a United […]

Faustin E. Wirkus, a United States Marine Corps Sergeant Who was Stationed in Haiti, was Proclaimed “King of La Gonâve” in 1926 After He Saved the Queen from Drowning. Read More »

Sadam Hussein

During the Gulf War, Saddam Hussein Built a Defensive Line Filled with Trenches and Tunnels. This was Patterned with Trench Warfare in World War I. The US Forces were Charged with Modified Bulldozers, and Several were Buried Alive.

Biographies & Quotations, General Reference, History, History, Humanities, Reference, War, World War /

During the First Gulf War, Saddam Hussein’s Iraqi Army learned the hard way. The United States Army, famous for having fewer horses and bayonets than it once did, chose not to fight the war as Saddam had hoped. But did you know what military strategy Hussein employed during the gulf war? During the Gulf War,

During the Gulf War, Saddam Hussein Built a Defensive Line Filled with Trenches and Tunnels. This was Patterned with Trench Warfare in World War I. The US Forces were Charged with Modified Bulldozers, and Several were Buried Alive. Read More »

The Story of Christopher Columbus’ Ships

Christopher Columbus’ Smaller Two Ships were Not Really Named The Niña and The Pinta. The Niña was actually The Santa Clara, While The Original Name of The Pinta was Forgotten.

Biographies & Quotations, Business & Industrial, General Reference, History, History, Humanities, Reference, Transportation & Logistics /

The story of Christopher Columbus and his historic voyage across the ocean is taught in most schools. The story has evolved to portray the journey in a more realistic and practical light. People used to believe that Columbus thought the world was flat. But there is one aspect of the story that not enough people

Christopher Columbus’ Smaller Two Ships were Not Really Named The Niña and The Pinta. The Niña was actually The Santa Clara, While The Original Name of The Pinta was Forgotten. Read More »

Socrates

Socrates Did Not Write Anything. All That is Known About Him Has Been Inferred from Accounts by Plato, Xenophon, and Aristotle.

Ancient Civilization, Biographies & Quotations, General Reference, History, History, Humanities, Myth & Folklore, Reference /

Socrates was a well-known and controversial figure in his native Athens, so much so that he was frequently mocked in comic dramatists’ plays. But did you know that he never actually wrote anything? Socrates left no writings. Everything we know about him comes from accounts by members of his circle, primarily Plato and Xenophon, as

Socrates Did Not Write Anything. All That is Known About Him Has Been Inferred from Accounts by Plato, Xenophon, and Aristotle. Read More »

Frank Sinatra

The Original “New York, New York” Song was Released by Liza Minnelli in 1977. Frank Sinatra Just Covered It.

Arts & Entertainment, Biographies & Quotations, Classical Music, Country Music, General Reference, Music & Audio, Music Equipment & Technology, Music Reference, Reference /

Frank Sinatra recorded Theme from New York, New York, in 1979 for his album Trilogy: Past Present Future, which became one of his signature songs. But did you know he was not the original singer of the song? Frank Sinatra’s “New York, New York” song was a cover. Liza Minnelli released the original in 1977.

The Original “New York, New York” Song was Released by Liza Minnelli in 1977. Frank Sinatra Just Covered It. Read More »

Odette Sansom Hallows

Odette Sansom Hallows was a Special Operations Executive During World War II. She was Captured by the Gestapo, Interrogated, Tortured and Sentenced to Death Twice. She Survived the War and was the First Woman to be Awarded the George Cross.

Adult, Biographies & Quotations, General Reference, History, Humanities, Reference, World War /

The Geheime Staatspolizei, or Gestapo, was Nazi Germany’s and German-occupied Europe’s official secret police. Hermann Göring established the force in 1933 by uniting Prussia’s multiple political police units into one organization. But did you know about the Special Operations Executive (SOE) agent that the Gestapo captured during World War II? Odette Sansom Hallowes was an

Odette Sansom Hallows was a Special Operations Executive During World War II. She was Captured by the Gestapo, Interrogated, Tortured and Sentenced to Death Twice. She Survived the War and was the First Woman to be Awarded the George Cross. Read More »

Mozart

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Unexpectedly Died at 35. Rumors say That He was Poisoned by Antonio Salieri. While This was Proven Untrue, the Rumors Contributed to Salieri’s Nervous Breakdown.

Arts & Entertainment, Biographies & Quotations, Classical Music, General Reference, History, Reference /

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was an influential, famous, prolific classical composer. He wrote nearly 600 works, including some of the most well-known and beloved symphonic, chamber, operatic, and choral works. He was born into a musical household in Salzburg. But did you know Antonio Salieri was blamed for his death? When Mozart died unexpectedly at age

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Unexpectedly Died at 35. Rumors say That He was Poisoned by Antonio Salieri. While This was Proven Untrue, the Rumors Contributed to Salieri’s Nervous Breakdown. Read More »

Chad Vance

In 2009, an American Tourist Clung to the Outside of a Transcontinental Australian Train After Almost Being Left Behind.

Biographies & Quotations, News, Public Safety, Rail Transport /

The Ghan is a passenger train service that runs between Australia’s northern and southern coasts, passing through Adelaide, Alice Springs, and Darwin on the Adelaide-Darwin rail corridor. But did you know about the American tourist who clung to the Ghan after almost being left behind? An American tourist was nearly left behind by his transcontinental

In 2009, an American Tourist Clung to the Outside of a Transcontinental Australian Train After Almost Being Left Behind. Read More »

Strom Thurmond

Strom Thurmond Resigned from the US Senate Six Months Before His Death.

Biographies & Quotations, General Reference, Jobs, Law & Government, Law Enforcement, Public Safety, Reference /

Before being chosen to serve in the South Carolina state senate in 1932, James Strom Thurmond worked as a city and county attorney. Thurmond fought in the military in the Pacific and European theaters of World War II, where he took part in the D-Day assault of Normandy and was awarded the Purple Heart. From

Strom Thurmond Resigned from the US Senate Six Months Before His Death. Read More »

Heinrich Kubis

Heinrich Kubis, the First Flight Attendant in the World, Started Working as a Waiter on a Zeppelin in 1912. He was also Aboard the Hindenburg but Survived the Disaster.

Aviation, Biographies & Quotations, General Reference, History, History, Humanities, Reference /

The most common stereotype in aviation is that pilots are only for men, while flight attendants are only for women. But did you know that the first flight attendant in the world was a man?  Heinrich Kubis, the world’s first flight attendant, began working as a waiter on a zeppelin in 1912, was on board

Heinrich Kubis, the First Flight Attendant in the World, Started Working as a Waiter on a Zeppelin in 1912. He was also Aboard the Hindenburg but Survived the Disaster. Read More »

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