For children growing up in the late ’60s and early ’70s, there was one television staple that opened their eyes to the magic of life under the ocean’s surface: “The Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau.” Over the course of nine seasons, renowned sea explorer, Jacques-Yves Cousteau, took viewers on adventures around the world in his …
Jacques Cousteau: The Man Who Brought the Ocean Into Our Homes Read More »
We would like a word with our fifth-grade teachers. How is it that so many supposedly educated adults still believe that Benjamin Franklin discovered electricity when his kite was struck by lightning, and that Columbus discovered America while trying to prove that the world was round? It can’t be because we’re ignorant, or gullible, or …
Ever notice how young adults and middle-aged people often seem to tower over some of their older relatives, like their great-great-grandmothers? More often than not, it appears older adults are short. While this loss of stature is attributed partially to shrinking bones and the other physiological effects of aging, some researchers say this is no …
More words have been written about Napoleon Bonaparte than almost any other historical figure. But for those with limited time resources, here’s a short primer on the wildly ambitious French military leader with help from Peter Hicks, historian and manager of international affairs for the Fondation Napoléon in Paris. Advertisement Born in Corsica, Arrives in …
A Short History of Napoleon, the Ambitious, Charismatic Emperor of France Read More »
As far as iconic Paris landmarks go, it’s a toss-up between the Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triomphe. If the Eiffel Tower boasts more T-shirts and wall art bearing its image, the Arc de Triomphe has given us some great film scenes with cars circling (and circling) it. That’s because it’s located within a …
How Napoleon’s Arc de Triomphe Became a Symbol of Paris Read More »
More words have been written about Napoleon Bonaparte than almost any other historical figure. But for those with limited time resources, here’s a short primer on the wildly ambitious French military leader with help from Peter Hicks, historian and manager of international affairs for the Fondation Napoléon in Paris. Advertisement Born in Corsica, Arrives in …
A Short History of Napoleon, the Ambitious, Charismatic Emperor of France Read More »
More words have been written about Napoleon Bonaparte than almost any other historical figure. But for those with limited time resources, here’s a short primer on the wildly ambitious French military leader with help from Peter Hicks, historian and manager of international affairs for the Fondation Napoléon in Paris. Advertisement Born in Corsica, Arrives in …
A Short History of Napoleon, the Ambitious, Charismatic Emperor of France Read More »
Sometimes an animal just captures the collective imagination in a way that, while sensational, might not be entirely justified. Take the piranha, a toothy South American freshwater fish that has been the subject of not one, not two, but five Hollywood horror movies. Sure, they’ve got big teeth, but are they really as ferocious as …
From the first time she appeared on the scene as the beautiful “Shy Di,” through her “fairytale” wedding to Prince Charles, their bitter divorce and her tragic death, Diana, Princess of Wales, fascinated the world. Here are five things that you may not know about her. Advertisement 1. She Had a Brother Who Died as …
Queen Elizabeth II passed away peacefully at the age of 96 on Sept. 8, 2022. Her death meant that her son King Charles inherited the throne and he was crowned on May 6, 2023. But there is a long list of royal relatives behind him in line for the throne, most of whom won’t get …
The Tangled Line of Succession to the British Throne Read More »
Queen Elizabeth II passed away peacefully at the age of 96 on Sept. 8, 2022. Her death meant that her son King Charles inherited the throne and he was crowned on May 6, 2023. But there is a long list of royal relatives behind him in line for the throne, most of whom won’t get …
The Tangled Line of Succession to the British Throne Read More »
Fifty years before Bob Marley brought reggae music to the world, there was Rastafari. Part religion, part sociopolitical movement, Rastafari defies easy categorization and represents far more than chilling in the Jamaican sunshine, smoking ganja and feeling “irie.” First of all, the proper term is Rastafari, explains Jahlani Niaah, a lecturer with the Institute of …
He’s been called many things: a reggae ambassador, a Third World prophet, and one of the world’s richest dead celebrities. Here are some lesser-known facts about this Jamaican superstar. Advertisement 1. He Once Was a Lab Assistant at DuPont During a lean early period in Jamaica, Bob Marley decided to move to America and earn …
Grooming your body hair can seem like cutting the grass in the summertime. You devote an afternoon to the chore, and the next thing you know, the grass has shot up and you’re hauling the lawn mower outside again. When landscaping your body, there are eyebrows to tweeze, mustaches to trim and coiffures to condition …
While there have always been wealthy people living the life of leisure on money they have inherited, the term trustafarian refers to a particular subset of the wealthy. A combination of the terms trust fund and Rastafarian, the trustafarian is a 20th-century phenomenon, though it’s not known exactly who coined the term. The word has …
He’s been called many things: a reggae ambassador, a Third World prophet, and one of the world’s richest dead celebrities. Here are some lesser-known facts about this Jamaican superstar. Advertisement 1. He Once Was a Lab Assistant at DuPont During a lean early period in Jamaica, Bob Marley decided to move to America and earn …