General Reference

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 »

Micronesia Stick Map

Micronesians Navigated the Pacific by Using the Stars, Recognizing and Interpreting Different Types of Ocean Swells. They Also Make Stick Maps of These Ocean Swell Patterns.

Ancient Civilization, GPS & Navigation, History, Science, Time & Calendars, Travel /

The Micronesians or Marshallese were able to build vessels known as outrigger canoes and develop their system of piloting and navigation centuries ago. Long before modern mapping and GPS, the Micronesian people relied on their ability to sense the motion of the waves for navigation. But did you know that they also navigated ocean swells?

Micronesians Navigated the Pacific by Using the Stars, Recognizing and Interpreting Different Types of Ocean Swells. They Also Make Stick Maps of These Ocean Swell Patterns. 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 »

Painting Large Eyes on Cows' Butts

Botswana Researchers Discovered that Painting Large Eyes on Cows’ Butts Reduced the Number of Lion Attacks.

Biological Sciences, General Reference, Pets & Animals, Reference, Science, Wildlife /

A new study finds that a colorful method of protecting cattle from predators and predators from people may work. Farmers in northern Botswana allowed their cows to roam and graze during the day, which put livestock at risk from lions, leopards, and other carnivores. The village will often search for the big cat when a

Botswana Researchers Discovered that Painting Large Eyes on Cows’ Butts Reduced the Number of Lion Attacks. 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 »

Valery Khodemchuk

The First Victim of the Chernobyl Disaster was Valery Khodemchuk. He Died as the Reactor Exploded. His Body was Never Found and was Entombed in the Wreckage of the Power Plant.

Business & Industrial, Energy & Utilities, General Reference, History, History, Humanities, Reference /

The worst nuclear accident in history, the Chernobyl Nuclear disaster, occurred on April 25 and 26, 1986, in what is now northern Ukraine, when a reactor at a nuclear power plant exploded and burned. The incident, shrouded in secrecy, was a watershed moment in both the Cold War and the history of nuclear power. Scientists

The First Victim of the Chernobyl Disaster was Valery Khodemchuk. He Died as the Reactor Exploded. His Body was Never Found and was Entombed in the Wreckage of the Power Plant. 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 »

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