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Academic books and essays about movies use lofty phrases and multi-layered interpretations to make the fact the authors have watched movies too many times seem like an insightful and meaningful practice. Anyone who has spent much time on a movie set realizes that’s usually giving filmmakers a bit too much credit. In fact, as we’ll [...]

Obviously, soldiers have amongst the most dangerous jobs in the world. When it’s not the enemy, friendly fire, weather, or disease that gets them, their commanding officers step in to endanger them through stupidity. Now imagine being one of the soldiers under the commanders who ordered things this stupid: 10. Build Those Defenses… Backwards! The [...]

Ever since mankind first began building structures out of wood rather than stone, fire has been a part of the learning process. In fact, so common have these infernos been throughout history that nearly every major city in the world has been largely burnt to the ground at one time or another in its history. [...]

The world is full of unique objects, creatures, and world events.  Many foods are naturally radioactive and bananas contain a particularly high dose of radiation.  The banana equivalent dose is a scale used to measure radiation exposure.  The scale is based on the radiation levels humans receive by eating a single banana.  In fact, bananas [...]

Mardi Gras in New Orleans isn’t just a reason for locals and tourists alike to party in the streets. The carnival season is surrounded by mystery, secrets and traditions that go back hundreds of years. From the colors of the costumes, to the riders on the floats to King Cake, everything that takes place during [...]

Life is uncertain.  Eat dessert first. (Ernestine Ulmer) Sure it’s great to have a nice hearty meal, but what’s a nice meal without the perfect dessert to end the night? There’s nothing better than being able to enjoy something sweet and tasty: cake, cookies, pie, pudding, or anything else- as long as it has sugar [...]

Let’s face it; in a world that is heavily reliant upon technology, especially the Internet, none of us are entirely safe from running into an online scam. There are literally thousands of them, and even though you may consider yourself “e-smart,” the people who set up these scams may be looking to target those who [...]

When Adolphe Sax made the first saxophone in 1841, he could never have imagined how popular it would become.  As the guitar is the main instrument of rock and roll, the saxophone is seen by many to be the main instrument of jazz.  Its players have frequently been some of the most progressive and experimental [...]