In much of the Western world, Santa “brings” presents to children on Christmas. What about Jewish kids? No such fanciful legend—parents give gifts during Hanukkah. Enough was enough, thought the writers of Saturday Night Live in the ‘80s. Hanukkah Harry first appeared on SNL in 1989. In one of the episode’s sketches, Santa Claus (Phil […]
This Christmas tradition is only about a decade old. In 2004, inspiration struck for Carol Aebersold and her daughter, Chanda Bell. For years, their family had enjoyed a Christmas tradition that involved placing a toy elf named Frisbee on a shelf to keep an eye on their kids during the holidays. Kids were told the […]
What does one do with an old public bathroom when it’s no longer needed (or collapses during a hurricane)? Turn it into something else, of course! The Attendant (London) This underground, Victorian-era bathroom is located in London’s trendy Soho district. Originally constructed around 1890, it was abandoned in the 1960s before being converted into a […]
While seats are getting more cramped in economy class, modern air travel has become better than ever for those willing to shell out some extra dough. Singapore Airlines Suites First class passengers on Singapore Airlines can enjoy what is likely the fanciest cabin in the skies on the company’s A380 jets. They can choose between […]
That spooky instrument you hear in old horror and sci-fi movies? That’s a theremin, one of the strangest musical instruments ever created. The sound is familiar, even if the name isn’t. The warbling melody in the Beach Boys’ “Good Vibrations,” the electronic keening that underscores 1950s sci-fi movies—it’s a tone somewhere between a slide whistle […]
Today is the 35th anniversary of the assassination of John Lennon. But instead of dwelling on that tragedy, let’s take a look at Lennon’s wife and partner, conceptual artist Yoko Ono. In 1966, Ono mounted a show in the Indica Gallery in London. John Lennon opted to attend, and he got to get in early—VIPs […]
Star Wars: The Force Awakens is released in cinemas later this week. Here’s how a few fans are celebrating the film (and the Christmas season too). The TIE Fighter Light Display Maxwell DeLorm of Munnsville, New York, decided to decorate his house with something other than jolly Santas this year. Instead, he and his friends […]
Getting all the way to a sport’s championship round is a major achievement, even if you don’t win. Here’s a look at the teams in pro baseball, basketball, football, and hockey that have gone the longest between title runs. It’s probably the best-known championship drought in sports history: The Chicago Cubs haven’t won a World […]
One of the Disney company’s most popular movies is Frozen. But was the company’s founder and namesake also frozen after he died? On what would have been Walt Disney’s 114th birthday, we put some ice on the story. Contrary to the urban legend, Walt Disney was not cryogenically frozen. First of all, the technology to […]
Leonardo DiCaprio will play this fearless frontiersman in the upcoming film The Revenant. Here’s how his adventures back in the 19th century helped turn him into a legend. It’s difficult to separate fact from fiction when it comes to his many adventures. In 1806, 26-year-old Glass was reportedly kidnapped by the crew of pirate captain […]
As they learn more about a disease (or respond to public misconceptions), doctors and scientists may change the name of familiar, widespread conditions. SEID Also known as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, the official name for this difficult to understand condition in which those afflicted experience long bouts of otherwise unexplainable tiredness is myalgic encephalomyelitis. According to […]
One of music’s biggest mysteries has finally been revealed. Carly Simon was one of the 1970s’ biggest pop stars. Her memoir Boys in the Trees just released, and to tease and promote it, she told People the answer to the one question they’ve been asking her for years that she’s never quite answered: the identity of […]
It’s like The Longest Yard in real life: professionals pitted against prisoners. The Sing Sing Black Sheep New York state’s Sing Sing is one of the most notoriously tough prisons in America. In 1931, Lewis E. Lawes was running Sing Sing and the decision was made to start a prison football team as a form […]
The West Coast burger chain In-N-Out enjoys a rabid following for its almost mythically good “double doubles” and fries. (They just opened one near BRI headquarters and Uncle John has moved his office to a booth in the back.) People want an In-N-Out near them so badly they’ll believe anyone who tells them there’s one […]
It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Here are some odd holidays happening in the month of December.
Most professional sports stadiums used to be named after the teams that played there (Dodger Stadium, Tiger Stadium) or a person (Wrigley Field, Joe Robbie Stadium). But over the last 20 years or so, teams have developed a source of revenue by selling “naming rights” to their stadiums for millions of dollars. A corporation gets a stadium named after itself as a form of advertising…but what happens when that company goes out of business?
Stuck in an afternoon slump and you can’t go get a cup of coffee, and the boss has asked you to stop taking naps at your desk? Here are some alternatives. There’s a yoga pose/stretching technique called the “fish pose” that adherents say stimulates the body. Lie flat, on our back, and hold your hands […]
Here are a few really weird news stories…that could only have happened in Canada.
