The Soviet Union decided the best way to show up the West was to build the biggest version of any given object. The following are just seven of the largest examples. 1. A Palace for the... READ ON
by Maggie... READ ON
Behind every good war are many good women. Using their feminine (and in at least one case masculine) wiles, the following five spies would make James Bond proud. 1. Mata... READ ON
EPA/ERIK S. LESSER /LANDOV Tonight's Mega Millions jackpot is up over $500 million—the biggest lottery prize ever. Whether you call it the poor man’s dream, a casino without walls, or a tax on the stupid, the lottery has deep and widespread roots. Here’s a look at three quick stories about the numbers game. Lotteries of Yore Lotteries have been around as long as arithmetic. According to the Bible, God ordered Moses to use a lottery to divvy up land along the River Jordan (it’s in the Book of... READ ON
This past weekend, some daring criminals sauntered into the Marina del Rey Ritz-Carlton hotel and absconded with an original drawing by Rembrandt estimated to be worth $250,000. After a tip, the 17th-century sketch turned up in an Encino church about 20 miles away. Since art heists are on the brain, here are six instances where the best of human artistry brought out the worst of human trickery. 1. When Greeks Lose Their... READ ON
Military turncoats come in all shapes and sizes, motivated by all sorts of considerations: power, revenge, disillusionment, and, most often, the sound of a little extra coin. But not every turncoat seems to bear the tarnished rep old Benedict Arnold came away with. The following are some of history's lesser-known traitors, but ones who were pleased with the results. 1. Flavius Josephus (ca.... READ ON
Here's a formula for fun: Arm two superpowers to the teeth with thousands of nuclear warheads. Make sure they are deeply hostile and suspicious of each other. Now, cut off diplomatic communication, stir in about 50 smaller countries with their own agendas on each side, and you've got yourself a cold war! 1. Suez Crisis On November 5, 1956, during the Suez crisis, the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) received warnings that seemed to indicate that a large-scale Soviet attack was under... READ ON
Every once in a while, a proud little community will sprout up just to let the world know how Utopia should be run. With chins raised almost as high as ideals, the community marches forth to be an example of perfection. But in most cases, all that harmonious marching gets tripped up pretty quickly. Here are four "perfect" communities that whizzed and sputtered thanks to human nature. 1. Brook Farm (or, Ripley's Follow Me or... READ ON
The Heene family's Balloon Boy hoax is still lingering in the news this week. Will charges be filed? Is a reality show in the works? Do you really care? We're guessing you don't. So instead, let's look back at four historical hoaxes. 1. The "Computer" That Outsmarted... READ ON
Note from Jason: My wife gave me a very nice Lacoste watch for my birthday, which led to a 'What's the difference between IZOD & Lacoste?' discussion. If your significant other gives you a very nice Lacoste watch on your birthday and the conversation takes a similar path, here's what you need to... READ ON
5 Questions: Yoga Poses
Troy McClure Film or Actual Terrible Movie?
The dot of the letter "i" is called a tittle.
