History.icu
History.icu
James Dykstra
These are the weird bits of history that you have never heard about, but that you really want to know about. These are short bits, about 5 to 10 minutes long that tell about quirky events that often had far reaching consequences. How much land get you get in a box of cereal? What happens when you throw your leaders out the window?
E24 San Francisco and the Mask
Episode Notes You hate wearing masks? You're not alone. A lot of people had the same problem over 100 years ago. Find out more. Music by JJStiano on Looperman.
Nov 24, 2020
9 min
E23 You can't always get what you want
How do you explain it when a place on the map should be there, but isn't and another shouldn't be there, but is? Today's story is about the island of Bermeja, and the hamlet of Aglo. The music is courtesy of JJStiano, and the image of the beach being washed away is kordi_vahle.
Nov 3, 2020
5 min
E22 Halley's Comet Panic of 1910
What do you do when a comet comes? Find out how many reacted when Halley's Comet made a visit in 1910. Image courtesy of Buddy_Nath at Pixabay. Theme music is, as always, courtesy of JJStiano at Looperman.
Oct 20, 2020
6 min
E21 The Art of Drawing Attention to Yourself, aka Goldfish Swallowing
People will eat strange things, but in order to draw attention to themselves, it might surprise you what people will do. Music from JJStiano at Looperman. Goldfish picture by Dina263 at Pixabay.
Aug 18, 2020
5 min
E20 The Death of Franz Ferdinand
This is the story of the unlikely death of one man. Music courtesy of jjstiano at Looperman. Image of the gun used in the assassination from Daniel R. Blume.
Jul 28, 2020
6 min
E19 Operation Paul Bunyan
If they won't let you cut down a tree in Korea, does it make a sound? This is is the weird tale of a tree pruning operation in the Korean demilitarized zone in 1976. Music is courtesy of jjstiano at Looperman.
Jul 15, 2020
6 min
E18 Operation Manna
When the odd are down and enemies actually collaborate for the greater good to make food fall from heaven, what can it be but a miracle?Music by JJStiano at Looperman. Image of the Lancaster bomber is in the pubic domain and can be found on Wikipedia.
May 19, 2020
5 min
E17 Mary Mallon, aka Typhoid Mary, and Cold Desserts
The tale of Typhoid Mary is a famous one, but how was it that Mary Mallon managed to spread typhoid in New York? The tale is stranger than you think.Music, as always, is by jjstiano, at Looperman.Image from Lupo 09:59, 24 March 2006 (UTC) - According to http://www.newsday.com/community/guide/lihistory/ny-history-702b,0,3017376.photo?coll=ny-lihistory-navigation[dead link] this is an illustration that appeared in 1909 in The New York American. (According to http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/typhoid/mary.html, the precise date was June 20, 1909)., Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=689799Notes go here
May 7, 2020
5 min
E16 The 38 Minute War
The Anglo-Zanzibar War, at 38 minutes is the shortest war in history. Yet enough brief events can be of lasting significance. The music is from jjstiano and the photo of the HMS Philomel comes from Wikipedia.
Mar 31, 2020
5 min
E15 USS Seadragon
The story of the USS Seadragon, its voyage under the ice, and the world's strangest baseball game. Image from Wikimedia Commons and the music is from jjstiano at Looperman.
Mar 3, 2020
5 min
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