The Philosophy of Conspiracy Theories
Conspiracy theories boil down to a rejection of the absurdity, meaninglessness, and randomness of life and history.
This Doc Was Really Nuts
Nuts! is a new documentary about John R. Brinkley, whose claim to fame was transplanting goat testicles into men in the 1920s.
The Irish Were Way Ahead of the Soda Water Trend
Soda water is a popular beverage now, but it was once considered a cure, among other things.
The Moral Threat of Bicycles in the 1890s
The bicycle craze of the 19th century, in which both men and women participated, was seen as a moral affront by church leaders.
The Love Birds of Valentine’s Day
A little history behind the love birds that inspired Chaucer to invent Valentine's Day, the well-known celebration of love.
When San Diego Hired a Rainmaker a Century Ago, It Poured
After Charles Hatfield began his work to wring water from the skies, San Diego experienced its wettest period in recorded history.
Considering the Sweet Potato
The sweet potato is a New World food that spread around the world, including across the Pacific before the Europeans got there.
Electric Cars… of The 1890s
Electric cars were first introduced in the late 1890s, but they didn't catch on.
