Hurricane Fred was the easternmost Atlantic hurricane to form in the tropics, and the first to move through Cape Verde since 1892. The second hurricane and sixth named storm of the 2015 Atlantic hurricane season, Fred originated from a well-defined tropical wave over West Africa in late August 2015. How…
The UN replaced the ineffective League of Nations, which had failed to prevent the outbreak of the Second World Warthe Second World WarThe war in Europe concluded with the liberation of German-occupied territories, and the invasion of Germany by the Western Allies and the Soviet Union, culminating in the fall…
In fact, Transylvania never was a kingdom and never had a queen. Transylvania was a principality and now is a region into the center of the Republic of Romania. Does Transylvania have royalty? Transylvanian monarchs used the following style and titles: “His Excellency, by the grace of God, Prince of…
In February 1981 (six months after Columbia’s desire for a Close Encounters follow-up had been fulfilled by Close Encounters of the Third Kind: The Special Edition), Columbia put the Night Skies/E.T. project in turnaround. How many versions of Close Encounters of the Third Kind are there? Steven Spielberg’s classic film…
He remains the only President to be elected from Pennsylvania and to remain a lifelong bachelor. Tall, stately, stiffly formal in the high stock he wore around his jowls, James Buchanan was the only President who never married. Which President was never married? In his personal life, Buchanan never married,…
Because of the repeated melting of the rocks on the Earth’s surface, no Earth rocks from this time have survived. The Hadean Era lasted about 700 million years, from around 4.5 billion years ago (bya) to around 3.8 bya. As you might imagine, no life could have survived the Hadean…
Prominent crops in Mesoamerica eventually included avocados, cacao, chili peppers, cotton, common beans, lima beans, corn, manioc, tomatoes, and quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa). Did Mesoamerica focus on farming? Around 7,000 years ago, agriculture emerged in Mesoamerica, including the domestication of maize, beans, and squash, causing major changes in the plants that…
The thermopolium was a place of refreshment in ancient Rome, a sort of snack bar where drinks and hot food were served. At that time, in fact, like today, it was not unusual to have lunch outside the house. Did Rome have fast food? The thermopolium, or fast food restaurant,…
Cosmetics in the 1920s were characterized by their use to create a specific look: lips painted in the shape of a Cupid’s bow, kohl-rimmed eyes, and bright cheeks brushed with bright red blush. What was makeup like in the 1920s? The classic 1920s makeup look has a smooth, natural complexion…
Both publications applauded the krewes and the denizens of New Orleans for their decision to stage Mardi Gras just six months after Hurricane Katrina, in spite of incredible obstacles, more than a little local opposition and almost universal criticism from outside the city. Did New Orleans have Mardi Gras after…