Errata #2
in which we own up to some more mistakes
Errata for The Hot House; French Leave; The Icelander; "I'm the Naughty Boy"; What-Is-It?; Moron or Madman?; Suffer Little Children; and more.
"civil law"
Charles Dickens once said “The law is a ass.” We once said that he used the wrong indefinite article in that sentence.
More Lovely and More Temperate
poor estate planning, a daring art theft, and a brief history of Anglo-Irish relations
In which two Irish art students commit a daring daylight museum heist with virtually no planning, and somehow get away consequence-free.
Run the World
who really deserves the title of "America's first woman governor?"
Both Texas and Wyoming lay claim to America's first woman governor. But who really deserves the honor?
Normalating
let me tell you about the healing power of color
The idea that color has healing power is a relatively modern (and utterly fallacious) one. We discuss its development through the 19th and 20th centuries.
French Leave
a baseball superstar, an irate owner, and a clever workaround
In 1902 baseball player Nap Lajoie was prohibited by law from entering the state of Pennsylvania. How did this weird state of affairs come to pass?
Pleadings from Asbury Park
a fake marriage, a dead baby, and 21 absinthe frappes
The amazing story of Laura Biggar, the Anna Nicole Smith of 1901, and her crazy plot to steal an inheritance that may or may not have been rightfully hers.
That No Man Take Thy Crown
the rise and fall of the Harmony Society (1803-1905), the richest communists in the world [Part 2]
The Harmony Society managed to survive the death of its founder, but could it survive the twin ravages of time and greed?
Hold Fast What Thou Hast
the rise and fall of the Harmony Society (1803-1905), the richest communists in the world [Part 1]
An unusual cemetery leads us to the story of the Harmony Society (1803-1905), the richest communists in the world, and the saga of their rise and fall.
Goodnight, Irene
an icon finally gets her due
The story of the "weeping icon" has it all - a 102-year-old flying nun, the Gulf War, armed robbery, John Gotti, religious schism, and insurance fraud. Hear the amazing truth in this week's episode, "Goodnight, Irene"!