Did you know that the phrase “the real McCoy” was inspired by Elijah McCoy? McCoy was an inventor and mechanical engineer who developed many devices that improved the efficiency of locomotives and other machines. He is best known for inventing the steam engine lubricator, which ensured that machines ran smoothly. Perhaps one of the most […]
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Africa is a continent with a rich and varied history. From the ancient kingdoms of Kush and Meroe to the modern nations of Nigeria and South Africa, Africans have played a significant role in world events. These men ruled their countries with authority and made a lasting impact on their people and their region. This
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Marilyn Monroe was one of the most iconic actresses of all time, but she was also known for her tumultuous personal life. Monroe had three marriages that ended in divorce, and all of them were highly publicized. Her first marriage to James Dougherty was annulled after becoming a star. She then married Joe DiMaggio, but
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Baldwin IV of Jerusalem was one of the most interesting and tragic figures of the 12th century. Born in 1161 and diagnosed with Leprosy at age nine, Baldwin IV became king of Jerusalem at thirteen when his father, Almaric, passed suddenly of dysentery. Although he was a child, Baldwin was a brave and determined ruler
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Frank Lucas was a prolific heroin dealer in New York in the 1970s, going toe-to-toe with the mafia and rumored to be making up to $1 million a day at some points. But how did the man with humble beginnings become such a gangster boss? It is often difficult to nail down facts about Lucas’s
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Walter Summerford, a British officer, was struck by lightning four times. That’s right, four times! Many would consider this man the unluckiest man alive but living through each of these strikes was nothing short of a miracle. How does a person survive being hit by lightning four times? What are the odds of getting struck
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In 1844 one of France’s most well-known and popular books was published in serial format. Les Trois Mousquetaires, better known in the Anglophone world as The Three Musketeers, was written by the French novelist Alexandre Dumas. Based in the 1620s during the reign of King Louis XIII of France, it tells the story of a young man
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In 1807 the Emperor of France, Napoleon Bonaparte, might be said to have reached the pinnacle of his power. He had just defeated the two great nations of Central Europe, Austria and Prussia. Then, with the Treaty of Tilsit with Tsarist Russia, France became the dominant power in Europe. The borders of the French Empire
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Maria Victoria Henao was the wife of one of the world’s most notorious criminals, Pablo Escobar. They were married for 17 years. While she admits that she was unaware of her husband’s criminal dealings through the first few years of their marriage after she found out, she remained married to him until his life ended
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Gucci, the word today, evokes the concept of high-end fashion as soon as one hears it. Few people aren’t familiar with the Italian luxury handbag and footwear company. Indeed, today the company has approximately 500 outlets worldwide and generates over ten billion dollars in sales annually. And the family behind it has even become the
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