Reconstruction after the Civil War was an attempt to reconstruct everything about Southern life and politics. But after an auspicious start, Reconstruction slowly collapsed under the weight of political reality and short-sighted decisions. Here's the messed-up truth about the Reconstruction era.
Read MoreIf you've flown in the last 20 years, you'll no doubt recollect, you will have been reminded in monotonous tones and relentless cadence that laptops must be removed from bags.
Read MoreAs Union forces captured Confederate territory, the slaves they encountered would be freed. Which raised the next question: If slavery is finally abolished everywhere, what happens to all of these thousands of people, formerly enslaved, but now free?
Read MoreHave you ever known for sure something happened but when you look it up, you find out that you were wrong? Say, for example, thinking the children's book was called Berenstein Bears and not Berenstain Bears? If you have, then you've fallen victim to the Mandela Effect.
Read MoreSadly, the Grateful Dead ultimately broke up in 1995, but it was not because they wanted to stop making music and touring together.
Read MoreLike all wars, the Iraq War was filled with heroes, villains, and mistakes both harrying and hilarious. These are some messed up things that happened during the Iraq War.
Read MoreIt was June 27th of 1965 when Johnny Cash stumbled out of a burning ring of fire in California's Los Padres National Forest. That the Man in Black was responsible for the conflagration has been established by everyone from the FBI to Cash himself, but five decades later, the details remain murky.
Read MoreColossal is now available for streaming on Hulu. If a movie that combines Godzilla and Lost in Translation with a generous slice of Being John Malkovich is up your alley, do yourself a favor and give it a whirl.
Read MoreIn June 1941, Britain was well into World War II when the puppy was brought home to a delighted seven-year-old boy, Barrie Railton. Soon Khan would be enlisted to serve his country.
Read MoreEverybody is tired of being oversold on products. Everyone had that moment during childhood when they purchased an Amazing Sea Monkeys kit, expecting to own a colony of sentient new mer-buddies just like the ones in the ad. So, the name "Midnight Terror Cave" is probably a bit dramatic, right?
Read MoreThere are two kinds of people in this world: those who divide everyone into two groups, and those who don't. Another two kinds: Those who love Shakespeare, and those who would rather binge watch Friends -- again. But Shakespeare may have been even less real than friends.
Read MoreBrian Jones, the founding guitarist of the Rolling Stones, was found at the bottom of his pool on July 3, 1969 -- at the age of 27.
Read MoreThe origins of mythical monsters can be hard to pin down, but it becomes even harder when people start describing different beings in interchangeable terms. Consider the case of the siren and the mermaid. Most people think they're the same, but honestly? They couldn't be more different.
Read MoreFor decades, the story of Kitty Genovese has served as a point of fascination to first-year sociology students, an example of the "bystander effect" to anyone cornered by said students at a party, and a finger-wagging expository homily to viewers of The Boondock Saints.
Read MoreColonel Tom Parker was a doughy human rabbit hole of shadowy weirdness. And he may even have been a murderer.
Read MoreGiovanni Aldnini had a question: If you can make a deceased frog dance, could you bring a deceased human back from death?
Read MoreThe Wright brothers -- Wilbur, born in 1867, and Orville, born in 1871 -- were best friends growing up. And they live to achieve some pretty remarkable things -- like flying. Here's how Wilbur died.
Read MoreSocks or spats, the patter of white paws across the room requires either a musical accompaniment or an appropriate choir of "awws." But why white? Surely any cat in the wild would shun such attire, opting instead for something more camouflaged. So where did all these white-footed cats come from?
Read MoreAh, zombies. The archetype of the shambling undead minion has left a meaty trail across the length and breadth of pop culture worldwide. But is zombification actually a thing? And if so, how does it happen?
Read MoreWe know that Viking berserkers wore a lot of fur, and were probably deep into hallucinogens. That's right -- the ultimate Germanic iron age warrior was basically just a light-up pacifier away from being EDM club trash.
Read MoreFor a long time, Keith Richards seemed to have a bone to pick with Prince.
Read MoreIt's hard to imagine what it must feel like to miss out on being in an iconic band.. It's a feeling that English singer-songwriter Stephen Duffy is familiar with, having departed from '80s new romantic staple Duran Duran in 1979 shortly before the band signed with EMI in 1980.
Read MoreHuman beings have been inhabiting Easter Island since somewhere around 400-700 CE. But something led to a collapse in its once balanced civilization.
Read MoreIn the context of the films, James Bond's backstory is intentionally murky. If he smacks of an aging man's power fantasy, though, there's a solid explanation.
Read MoreSting is rich. He has to be, after such a long time in the spotlight. More surprising than that, though, is how much he's worth ... and who's going to inherit it.
Read MoreJudas Priest's Painkiller tour ended poorly. Even though Rob Halford, as Ultimate Classic Rock enthused, had "never sounded more like a demented Dalek" on the album they were promoting.
Read MoreThe thing about ancient Egypt? If you're trying to figure out who the meanest ruler was, there's a lot of stiff competition.
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