Author: Christopher Warner

Christopher Warner is an actor and freelance writer. His articles have appeared in several magazines and websites across multiple genres, including Military History Matters, Portland Monthly, WWII Quarterly, Nostalgia Digest, and bootsnall.com

Some folks have all the luck. Such as anyone born on Halloween. Cake, candy, and costumes — all in one night!  The festive holiday dates back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, in which people lit bonfires and wore costumes to ward off ghosts. In the 8th century, Pope Gregory III designated November 1…

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By outward appearances, Howard Hughes lived a charmed life. Rich. Handsome. Successful. As the saying goes, men wanted to be him, and women wanted to be with him. But underneath the surface revealed a much darker — and bizarre — picture.  Here’s a look at one of the best-known but least understood public figures of…

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Whether used to perpetrate evil or break free from the chains of tyranny, warfare has played an integral role in the human story. Examining this truth — despite the unpleasantness and atrocities often associated with combat — is necessary to help understand the past, present (such as what’s happening in Ukraine), and immediate future.  For…

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Ireland is world renowned for many things, including lush green meadows, lively traditional music, and the ever-popular, life-affirming ‘black stuff’ — better known as Guinness stout. In addition to the endless charm and unrivaled beauty, the Emerald Isle also features an enormous maritime graveyard along its scenic shores. According to the Shipwreck Inventory of Ireland,…

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Earlier this year, we shined a spotlight on celebrities doing things they probably wished they hadn’t. As it turns out, there’s no shortage of famous fiends running afoul of the law. Such as… 10. Ozzy Osborne Long before his relegation to reality TV, Ozzy Osborne embraced the life of a debauched rock star full throttle.…

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Romantic comedies — better known as ‘rom-coms’ — have long been a Hollywood staple, typically serving up light-hearted fare to love-starved audiences. But the genre is also guilty of perpetuating toxic stereotypes and encouraging unhealthy behaviors. Moreover, the chances of these trends changing anytime soon are as likely as Harvey Weinstein getting out of prison…

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It’s been said that all narrative is a manipulation of the truth. By necessity, the storyteller must choose what to leave out and what receives more attention. War films are no different, typically balancing fact and fiction while keeping the audience engaged and not falling asleep. Although achieving historical accuracy can be a bridge too…

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Romantic comedies — better known as ‘rom-coms’ — have long been a Hollywood staple, typically serving up light-hearted fare to love-starved audiences. But the genre is also guilty of perpetuating toxic stereotypes and encouraging unhealthy behaviors. Moreover, the chances of these trends changing anytime soon are as likely as Harvey Weinstein getting out of prison…

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Buildings go up. Buildings come down. Such is the cyclical nature of urban development. While construction projects often involve long hours of painstaking labor, sometimes those efforts are rewarded. Let’s start digging. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FdvfnEyBZeA This is an encore of one of our previous lists, as presented by our YouTube host Simon Whistler. Read the full list!

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Beginning with The Great Train Robbery in 1903, the Western has been one of Hollywood’s most definitive genres. These so-called “oaters” (cheaply-made films as common as oats for horses) would soon become the predominant staple for movie audiences over the next five decades. At its core, Westerns usually depict life on the frontier during the…

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Beginning with The Great Train Robbery in 1903, the Western has been one of Hollywood’s most definitive genres. These so-called “oaters” (cheaply-made films as common as oats for horses) would soon become the predominant staple for movie audiences over the next five decades. At its core, Westerns usually depict life on the frontier during the…

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Buildings go up. Buildings come down. Such is the cyclical nature of urban development. While construction projects often involve long hours of painstaking labor, sometimes those efforts are rewarded. Let’s start digging.  10.  Holiday in Britannia With its craggy shoreline and tranquil beaches, the seaside resort town of Scarborough, England, is a popular UK vacation…

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After barely surviving the Middle Ages (aka ‘The Dark Ages’), an era decimated by the infamous Black Death, Europeans saw the dawning of a new epoch celebrating ancient Greco-Roman ideals. This “rebirth” came to be known as ‘The Renaissance’, launching an intellectual and cultural movement that would forever change the world.  10. Body of Work…

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Ancient history can often become a snooze fest when presented within the confines of a stuffy classroom. Mesopotamia, for instance, a historical region known as the “Cradle of Civilization,” is typically blunted and overlooked in favor of Egyptian, Greek, and Roman culture. The name ‘Mesopotamia’ means the land between the rivers (Tigris and Euphrates) in modern…

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Famous people, just like everyone else, make dumb mistakes. The only difference between those in the spotlight and your drunken, idiot uncle is the deluge of media coverage that accompanies these ill-advised blunders. Such is the price of fame.  Here’s our top 10 list of celebs who made headlines for all the wrong reasons.  10.…

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Humans, like cats, are naturally curious creatures. Fortunately, the world is full of museums to explore, presenting a vast assortment of interests and themes. Here’s a list of some of the quirkier destinations to stimulate the senses.  10. Big Mac Museum https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B5p8HunBgJM Anyone growing up in the 1970s will undoubtedly remember McDonald’s ubiquitous jingle, “two…

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Ancient history can often become a snooze fest when presented within the confines of a stuffy classroom. Mesopotamia, for instance, a historical region known as the “Cradle of Civilization,” is typically blunted and overlooked in favor of Egyptian, Greek, and Roman culture.   The name ‘Mesopotamia’ means the land between the rivers (Tigris and Euphrates) in…

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The difference between a “cult” and “religion” is often a blurred line marked by either membership size or length of existence. Tragically, people in search of spiritual guidance or solace during difficult times can become easily victimized by those who prey on the vulnerable.  More often than not, a charismatic leader with a messiah complex…

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Criminals condemned to die are typically granted one last meal of their choice. The long-standing tradition invariably begs the question: what would your order be? While you decide, take a look at the selections of these notorious killers. 10.  Richard “Bruno” Hauptmann The case would become known as “The Crime of the Century.” Richard Hauptmann, a…

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Death can be messy. Not like blood-splattering, flesh-eating zombies, but rather something much, much worse: lawyers. At some point, we all have to die. However, before the big sleep, it’s best to have prepared a legal testament to ensure your final wishes are carried out, thus avoiding any post mortem mayhem. 10. Janis Joplin For…

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Throughout so-called civilization, people have expressed their discontent in a number of ways. Whether spurred by the delusions of a mentally ill sociopath or merely reacting to the outcome of a sporting event, men and women of all stripes and hues continually prove that our species is doomed for extinction.  Here’s proof… 10. The Cup…

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