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Confidence artistry requires both a tricky scheme and a victim to fall for it. In observance of the grand history of clever lies and chicanery, here are eight crafty con men who pulled off some bizarre yet impressive deceits.

Heidi Redlitz






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A woman’s health, hygiene, and beauty routines have never been simple. Need proof? Check out Sears's1908 catalog, which offers a rare glimpse into how ladies of the early 20th century dealt with some of their most private issues.

Therese Oneill


"Accidentally misfired" and "young baby" are redundant terms that should not be used.

In 2014, a leaked copy of the Directorate of Intelligence Style Manual & Writer's Guide for Intelligence Publication, a.k.a. Strunk & White for spies, found its way to the Internet.

Nick Greene






A number of the American brewing industry's pioneers led fairly colorful lives before and after getting their surnames emblazoned on cans and tap handles.

Ethan Trex




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The only thing that could possibly be more stars-and-stripes than a post about U.S. presidents and American historical figures is a post that doubles up on them. In honor of Independence Day, we give you nine presidential relatives who didn't have to look

Stacy Conradt


AMNH

Spiders Alive! showcases 16 spider species (plus two scorpions and a vinegaroon!) and features live demonstrations and a spider model 50 times life size that you can climb on. Here are a few things we learned from an early visit.

Erin McCarthy




There is no “random” at Disney parks. Just like almost all of the other little details you’ll find tucked away at Disney, the names on the windows are there for a reason.

Stacy Conradt
Disney / Mushi Production

While hyper-real fantasy pictures like Real Steel and Sucker Punch borrow the semiotics/visual vocabulary of Japanese animation, there are some films that lift whole storylines or shots from pretty famous properties developed by our neighbors in the east.

Max Evry
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“It was not my first published story, nor my last,” the writer recounted in a 1960 lecture, “but I have been assured over and over that if it had been the only story I ever wrote and published, there would still be people who would not forget my name.”

Erin McCarthy