Articles

Many today still refuse to allow a black cat to cross their paths, and even if killing a ladybug is considered highly unlucky, most believe it’s not very nice to begin with. Whether they increase a person’s luck or rudely rip it away, there are countless superstitions still floating about in the zeitgeist. Though nowadays,

In the past, people who had difficulty fitting into mainstream society because they were mentally ill or developmentally challenged were often hidden away in institutions or elsewhere by their families. Because of the stigma that was attached to psychiatric problems and intellectual disabilities, sometimes, the more prominent a person was, the more anxious they were

The 1990s brought us some of the greatest one-hit wonders in all of popular music. Of course, the 1980s can say the same thing, with hair metal bands and synthesizers all the rage. But by the early ’90s, all that was on its way out, and grunge, punk, and retro rock were back in style.

As many as 180,000 slaughtered. Two cities burned to the ground, including London. All thanks to a failed rebellion against Roman rule led by the British warrior queen Boudica, sometimes spelled Boadicea. Yet this woman is revered by the British, a key part of their national lore. There’s even a massive bronze statue of her

The Appalachian Mountains are a region rich in folklore and legends, with numerous tales of mysterious creatures and supernatural entities. From the Virginia Devil Monkey to the Flatwoods Monster, the lore of Appalachia is full of cryptids and otherworldly beings that have captivated the imaginations of locals and tourists alike. These creatures have been the

All over the world, people love movies. Film is not only one of the biggest international industries there has ever been, but it’s also been that way for about a century. Movies like The Godfather, Gone With the Wind, and Casablanca are known by millions as outstanding cinematic achievements. They take our breath away every

Listen up, Marvel fans! We all know that the Marvel Cinematic Universe is bursting at the seams with superheroes. But let’s be real. There’s always room for more. Whether you’re a die-hard comic book fan or a casual moviegoer, there’s one question on everyone’s mind: who’s next? Well, fear not, citizens! We’re here to save

New Orleans has a reputation for being a particularly dark city. Its battles with yellow fever, the high crime rate, and being in the direct line of many hurricanes have led it to accumulate one of the highest death rates in United States history. Many know of the above-ground tombs that appear throughout the city

Do you remember the toys that changed your childhood? They sparked imagination, promoted creativity, and offered endless hours of fun. But not all toys are created equal. Some have been the subject of controversy, causing arguments among parents, educators, and child safety advocates. From the classic Barbie doll to the more recent Hatchimals and even

The hieroglyphic writing of the ancient Egyptians has fascinated outsiders for millennia. One ancient Greek visitor to Egypt left a graffito on the tomb of Ramses V that complained, “I cannot read the hieroglyphics.” Using pictorial images called hieroglyphs, the Egyptians carved, painted, and wrote a vast number of texts. But for almost 1500 years,

Since the earliest days when the new-fangled movie industry was inventing itself, talented women have played significant roles in developing both the art and craft of telling stories on the screen, breaking new ground, and defying gender norms along the way. Many who were artistically and technically influential in their time are all but forgotten

Money will forever be a topic of debate. Some claim it can buy happiness. Others argue the opposite. In reality, the impact of money on living the good life is (a little bit) more nuanced. For many, it depends on how it is acquired. Some people become wealthy through their professional success, hard work, or

History is the way that humanity understands its past. In fact, the word breaks down quite easily into two others: his story. And history is just that. The history we are told about the past rarely comes from firsthand or even secondhand accounts. Instead, stories are passed on, sometimes modified and embellished, and eventually, history

Firearm-related offenses are no laughing matter. Understandably, law enforcement takes firearm offenses seriously, given the danger to human lives. People who are at risk of being caught in the act of these crimes often go to desperate measures to hide the instruments involved with the criminal offense. This means some people have hidden their guns

Prince Harry has finally published his long-awaited memoir, Spare, and as one can expect from anything slathered with royal honey, it’s selling like hotcakes. The book is supposed to tell his side of the story, how his family’s rule has shaped him, his time at war, and his well-documented exit from royalty hand in hand

The death penalty has been a controversial aspect of American history for centuries. With it, California’s San Quentin State Prison has been the country’s most well-known death row for many years. The first execution of a prisoner took place in the prison way back in 1893. For the next several decades, San Quentin was the

Hollywood media thrives on sensationalism, exaggerating common human experiences and much of the world around us into something exciting, fun, and sometimes scary. This isn’t inherently a bad thing—entertainment is meant to entertain. That fact, alongside some natural human biases, did, however, cause many of us to look at much of North America’s not-too-dangerous fauna

It isn’t uncommon for words to lose a portion of their meaning over a long enough period of time. When an idiom enters common usage, the darker backstory that brought it into existence often fades with time. Here are 10 examples of phrases we use today with origins far darker than their current meaning. Related:

Millions of book lovers and moviegoers worldwide love seeing their favorite books and graphic novels come to life on the big screen. Roughly 70% of the top-grossing films in the last twenty years have been based on pre-existing literature. Sometimes, these adaptations are monumental successes like The Godfather. Despite having to cut out many parts

You might be actively looking for a new property or just browsing; whichever category you fall into, you’ve probably used Zillow. With revenues of $8.1 billion in 2021 and information on roughly 110 million properties in the United States, Zillow has become a main platform for people looking to buy, rent, or sell properties. Their