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Biography & Personal Stories

A collection of 198 issues

Let 'er Rip: The Story of Leslie Nielsen's Perfectly Comedic Final Curtain Call

Leslie Nielsen's funeral was a fitting tribute to his comedic genius. The 'Naked Gun' theme played as his casket was carried, and his epitaph, 'Let 'er rip,' immortalized his favorite fart machine prank, ensuring his final act was as hilarious and irreverent as his life.

Entertainment & Media Biography & Personal Stories

The French Lawyer Who Crowned Himself King: The Bizarre, True Story of the Kingdom of Patagonia

In 1860, a French lawyer named Antoine de Tounens declared himself king of the indigenous Mapuche people in South America. His bizarre Kingdom of Araucanía and Patagonia, complete with a constitution, lasted just two years before he was arrested and declared insane by Chilean authorities.

History Biography & Personal Stories Geography & Places

Derailed Dream: Why Walt Disney's Famous Backyard Train Ran for Only 3 Years

Walt Disney's legendary Carolwood Pacific Railroad, a 1/8th-scale live steam train in his backyard, was a direct inspiration for Disneyland. Yet, despite its fame and meticulous construction, a minor safety incident led Disney to shut it down permanently after just three years of operation.

Biography & Personal Stories History Entertainment & Media

Bytes and Banter: How the First Apple Mac in Europe Forged a Lifelong Friendship Between Douglas Adams and Stephen Fry

A shared passion for technology led author Douglas Adams and comedian Stephen Fry to purchase the first three Apple Macintosh computers in Europe. This singular event wasn't just an early adoption; it was the silicon spark that ignited one of modern culture's most beloved friendships.

Biography & Personal Stories Technology & Innovation Entertainment & Media

Echoes of the Void: The Day Nikola Tesla Believed He Heard from Mars

In 1899, inventor Nikola Tesla detected rhythmic signals at his Colorado lab. Believing they were too orderly to be natural, he famously speculated they were an intelligent message from another world, possibly Mars, making him a pioneer in the search for extraterrestrial intelligence.

Science & Nature History Biography & Personal Stories

Less Talk, More Pay: The Story Behind Schwarzenegger's $1,293-Per-Word 'Terminator' Salary

Arnold Schwarzenegger's role in 'The Terminator' is legendary for its efficiency. With a $75,000 salary for just 58 words, he earned a staggering $1,293 per word, proving that in Hollywood, a powerful screen presence can be worth far more than a lengthy script.

Entertainment & Media Biography & Personal Stories

Before the Jumpsuit: The Earthmover Wheelie That Plunged a City into Darkness

Long before he was a world-famous daredevil, a young Evel Knievel was fired from his copper mining job after an audacious stunt went wrong. He attempted a wheelie in an earthmover, severed a major power line, and accidentally blacked out the entire city of Butte, Montana.

Biography & Personal Stories History

An Appointment with Death: The Bizarre Coincidences of King Umberto I and His Doppelgänger

King Umberto I of Italy met his doppelgänger, a restaurateur. They shared a name, birthday, birthplace, and wife's name. On July 29, 1900, the king learned his double was shot and killed. Hours later, the king himself was assassinated. Their parallel lives ended in parallel deaths.

History Biography & Personal Stories

From the Schoolyard to the Stratosphere: Billie Eilish's Forgotten Life as a Movie Extra

Before she was a global pop icon, Billie Eilish was an uncredited extra in films like 'Diary of a Wimpy Kid' and 'Ramona and Beezus.' It was a brief foray into acting that she found so unenjoyable it solidified her true passion for music.

Music Entertainment & Media Biography & Personal Stories

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