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Vampires have nothing on the sinister blood-drinking fairies who inspired them Long before Dracula ever hit the shelves, Scottish folklore painted the first image of a vampire-like creature and it was terrifying.
Ever wonder when the first imaginary, blood-sucking, bat-shifting creature stepped into the light? Believe it or not, it wasn’t in Stephanie Meyer’s Twilight… but it also didn’t start with Dracula. So, where did the vampire originate? The cheesy modern day vampires These days, the vampire narrative is pretty worn out. Ever heard of a little heartthrob movie called Twilight? What about The (cuddly) Count on Sesame Street? Heck, even Hotel Transylvania turned a bruting vampire into a caring, overprotective dad with an agenda to ruin his daughter’s love life. Big whoop. So, what happened to the terrifying vampire tales of the past? Bram Stoker’s Dracula certainly jarred the world when it was first released, and inspired some fairly scary…
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The stomach-turning online world of ‘popping’ We examine an online subculture forming around the world's worst boils, zits, recluse spider bites, and exotic skin conditions. Disgusting images ahead!
The American obsession with Cherokee heritage Miley Cyrus, Johnny Cash, Cher, and Elizabeth Warren have all claimed the same thing — and it's a lie.
The incredible technologies and inventions now lost to history Some may be nothing more than legends, while others are well documented or even surviving as unexplained curios to this day.
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The dark origins of our favorite Disney stories The fairytales Disney based their classics on certainly weren't PG-13.
We grew up singing their songs, we cosplayed their outfits, and we took pictures with them in “Happiest Place on Earth.” But, what if there is more than just a “happily ever after?” Fairytales were usually written with a hidden truth or a moral lesson and over the years it’s been candied and reduced to a Walt Disney feature. Behind the veil of smiles, prince charming, and being a princess, there’s a darker truth that lingers in a fairy tale and we can say this much: no one is laughing at the end. Don’t believe me? Read on… Snow White Walt Disney’s empire was built on the back of his…
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How to successfully disappear and start a new life Vital do's and don't for when it comes time to flee the sometimes unpleasant scene that is real life.
The 15 red flags that reveal you’re about to get fired It's better to have quit than having been fired. Look out for these signs that definitely mean your company wants you gone.
Colonial Americans were pretty much always drunk The American Revolution was built on a foundation of booze, led by tavern addicted Founding Fathers who could drink any frat boy under the table.
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The urban underground: Secrets under today’s modern cities Many cities have rich histories that date back millennia, and the source of that history lies right below the structures and streets that make their modern versions.
Modern cities have rich histories that can date back millennia, and the source of that history lies right beneath the structures and streets that make their modern versions. Abandoned subway tunnels, secret compartments, and rivers run underneath the worlds sprawling metropolis’s, and when unearthed reveal secrets to the past that have been long forgotten. Seedy members of society have used subterranean realms to their advantage, while others used them as shelters while enemy armies laid siege. Many have been forgotten over time only to be rediscovered, and each tells a story of the city that resides on top. Paris, France Paris is another city that was founded by the Romans,…
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10 ridiculously creepy child preachers Ten of the creepiest child preachers currently being groomed to lead congregations in years to come. Be afraid. Be very afraid.
Too freaky to fake? 5 legendary TV curses One might be tempted to dismiss this as the inevitable result of an industry that attracts famewhores and the mentally ill. Then again...
The rise and fall of the Vanderbilts—America’s wealthiest family The Vanderbilts were arguably the most prominent family of the Gilded Age, but time has slowly eroded their fortune and legacy.
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From rites of passage to hipsters: The evolution of tattoos Whether it's a classic “MOM” on your arm or distinctions of class and social hierarchy, tattoos have always been around—and probably always will be.
Sailor Jerries, tramp stamps, and cheesy tribal designs — tattoos have either been on the butt (literally) of every joke or renowned for their originality and incredible artwork. Since ancient history, tattoos have risen and fallen in the stigma of beauty and distaste. However, despite the negativity surrounding tattoos, many men and women have sat in the artist’s chair and have gotten their badges of honor. Whether it’s a classic “MOM” tattoo or twin swallows stamped on your collarbone, tattoos are here to stay, and it was thanks to the may varied cultures who keep the trend alive. The tatt assumption We often think of tattoos as a symbol of…
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10 types of weirdos you’ll find in an adult bookstore There's something in an adult bookstore for everyone, right? Unfortunately.
10 lesser-known cryptid monsters that turned out to be hoaxes A lot of these are silly as heck, too. Don't get caught believin'.
The most notorious insane asylums in history Gothic palaces of abuse and neglect that will send a chill down your spine.
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Man brings ancient Greek music to life and the result is amazingly avant garde Discoveries and breakthroughs de-mystify the actual sound of ancient Greek music.
Music speaks to your soul. No matter what language you speak, you can enjoy “Kung Fu Fighting” as much as the next person. When it comes to ancient Greece, there has been a lot of mystery around what their music sounded like. In 1932, musicologist Wilfrid Perrett told an Royal Musical Association audience that “Nobody has ever made head or tail of ancient Greek music, and nobody ever will. That way madness lies.” Luckily, there have been some breakthroughs in that arena since that time. Kids won’t appreciate these tunes While they weren’t U2’s level, ancient Greece did have their own rockstars. Composers such as Athenaeus and Philotas delivered some popular jams…
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7 hilariously stupid self-defense systems that will get you killed dead As long as there’s an Internet, there’ll be people utterly incapable of defending themselves – especially against people saying “Buy this, it’ll totally help you defend yourself!”
Being a hobo was hard—’Hoboglyphs’ made it easier Sketched with coal or chalk in places where migrants were likely to pass, hoboglyphs – the secret code of hobos – were pointers for other travelers.
The urban underground: Secrets under today’s modern cities Many cities have rich histories that date back millennia, and the source of that history lies right below the structures and streets that make their modern versions.
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The most badass Latin phrases Latin's utility has long since faded, but there's still something inherently awesome about it.
There’s something delightfully pretentious about Latin. It is, despite what the classics majors will tell you, a very dead language. And yet its use alludes to an era that many in the West naturally revere — the Bronze Age. These days, Latin is, more often than not, relegated to legal terms or mottos. These have an air of permanence about them. And while Latin’s utility has long since faded, there’s still something inherently awesome about uttering a phrase in Latin. Here are some of our favorites. Ad astra per aspera “A rough road leads to the stars” Apollo 1 was the US first real disaster in the space program. Three…
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The stomach-turning online world of ‘popping’ We examine an online subculture forming around the world's worst boils, zits, recluse spider bites, and exotic skin conditions. Disgusting images ahead!
6 mental ways to have sex like an ancient Roman Age-old inspiration to put chariots of fire in your loins and give your erection a new direction.
I’m a Lyft driver and asked riders to tell me their deepest confessions You'd be surprised what people told me over the course of my 60 day experiment.
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Hollywood blockbusters with glaring historical inaccuracies Hollywood has a knack for embellishing the truth, especially when the movie comes with the label "based on a true story."
“Based on a true story” can mean a variety of things, but in most cases, it translates to: “we promise a nugget of truth, somewhere.” What’s important is that it makes for a good story, right? You decide. Ridley Scott and Burt Reynolds’ Gladiator (2000) “Are you not entertained?” Clearly not if you’re a history buff. Though much of the public had no qualms over Russell Crowe’s portrayal of a tragic sword-wielding hero, there were many who noticed that the film had it’s share of inaccuracies. Don’t get us wrong — the film was great (not to mention the awesome soundtrack). But there were some scenes that didn’t quite match…
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How one man blew a 500k settlement on booze and prostitutes The story of how I got hit by a Dodge minivan and pissed away 500k on booze, whores, and designer furniture in an epic adventure.
46 things I learned from being gulaged Varlam Shalamov spent much of the period from 1937 to 1951 gulaged in the arctic cold of Kolyma. These are the 46 things he learned from the experience.
10 of the most useless superpowers ever created Canonical, and downright silly.
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The origins of common (and not-so-common) superstitions Make sure all containers in the room you are reading this are tightly sealed, or you'll be cursed with nightmares for the next three years.
Black cats. Walking under ladders. Opening umbrellas indoors. Broken mirrors. Throughout history and across the world, superstitions have crept their way into the human consciousness. Here are some you probably haven’t heard of. But first…make sure all containers in the room you are reading this are tightly sealed, or you will be cursed with nightmares for the next three years. No? Okay…but you’ve been warned… Evil spirits lurk in brussels sprouts Have you ever noticed someone cut a cross-shape in a stalk of Brussels sprouts before cooking them? Your mom might tell you it helps the sprouts cook better. But she’s wrong. Your dear mother is probably unsuspectingly practicing a…
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These are the haunting last words of doomed airplane pilots Black boxes record everything going on in the cockpits of crashing planes. These are the last words of their doomed pilots.
Deadliest Place on Earth: Disneyland rides with blood on their tracks “The Happiest Place on Earth” is littered with the ghosts of fallen visitors.
These are the most Instagrammed tourist attractions in the world Tourist destinations ranked based on the number of times they were tagged on Instagram.
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Gates of Hell: The real places said to be entrances to the underworld Hell, Hades, Guinee—the names are different but they all describe an underworld that many believe can be accessed through real gateways.
Religious teachings may vary, but a common concept embraced by many is that the souls of those who committed terrible acts in life will be forced to suffer in the afterlife. Hell, Hades, Guinee—the names are different but they all describe an underworld that many believe can be accessed from Earth through gateways across the globe. The Acheron, Greece The Acheron, prominently depicted in classical mythology, is an actual river that flows through northwest Greece and is also known as the River of Woe. The ancient Greeks believed there were several entrances into hades, one of which was at the ancient Greek temple of necromancy Necromanteion of Ephyra on the banks…
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The tragic story of a Victorian swindler and his spectacular underwater fantasy world Upon first glance, Britain's Witley Park in Surrey is just like any other extravagant Victorian mansion. But look closer.
5 reasons Santa Claus is clearly a villain When you take an investigative lens to his seemingly flawless image you find more than a few bone-chilling pieces of evidence to the contrary.
6 incredibly stupid cons that actually worked You are being hunted by polish priests and need to pay the CIA $160k to protect you. These are the cons that make Nigerian 419 scammers look like Ocean's Eleven.
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The rise and fall of the Vanderbilts—America’s wealthiest family The Vanderbilts were arguably the most prominent family of the Gilded Age, but time has slowly eroded their fortune and legacy.
The Vanderbilts is an American family of Dutch origin who became the wealthiest and arguably the most prominent family of the Gilded Age. Their success began with the shipping and railroad empires of Cornelius Vanderbilt, and the family expanded into various other areas of industry and philanthropy. Cornelius Vanderbilt’s descendants went on to build grand mansions on Fifth Avenue in New York City; luxurious “summer cottages” in Newport, Rhode Island; the palatial Biltmore House in Asheville, North Carolina; and various other opulent homes. But time has slowly eroded their fortune and legacy. The Commodore The legendary wealth of the Vanderbilt family had its origins with Cornelius Vanderbilt. He left school…
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Deadliest Place on Earth: Disneyland rides with blood on their tracks “The Happiest Place on Earth” is littered with the ghosts of fallen visitors.
Why pro wrestling is better than your “real sports” Wrestling. Isn’t. Fucking. Fake. What goes on on-screen is only part of the fun.
Being a hobo was hard—’Hoboglyphs’ made it easier Sketched with coal or chalk in places where migrants were likely to pass, hoboglyphs – the secret code of hobos – were pointers for other travelers.
