curiosities

22 Photos That Pioneered Lolcats And Animal Memes A Century Ago

American photographer Harry Whittier Frees made a career out of perfectly crafted cute animal photography starting in 1906. Frees used his novelty photos for postcards, calendars, and children’s books. Frees dressed the animals and posed them in human situations with props. He used his own cats as models as well...

By All That's Interesting • Jun 26, 2016

22 Photos That Pioneered Lolcats And Animal Memes A Century Ago

American photographer Harry Whittier Frees made a career out of perfectly crafted cute animal photography starting in 1906. Frees used his novelty photos for postcards, calendars, and children’s books. Frees dressed the animals and posed them in human situations with props. He used his own cats as models as well...

By All That's Interesting • June 26, 2016

33 Vintage Cigarette Ads That Are Now Hilariously, Tragically Absurd

Though hilariously and tragically absurd today, these vintage cigarette ads helped keep the tobacco industry booming just a few decades ago.

By All That's Interesting • Jun 24, 2016

33 Vintage Cigarette Ads That Are Now Hilariously, Tragically Absurd

Though hilariously and tragically absurd today, these vintage cigarette ads helped keep the tobacco industry booming just a few decades ago.

By All That's Interesting • June 24, 2016

Inside The Troubled Lives Of America’s Blind Bluesmen

Given the time and place from which they hailed, it’s not too surprising that many of the best blues musicians were blind. As it happens, blindness was just the beginning of their problems. Racism, hunger, oppression, random bouts of syphilis — the life of a typical 1920s blues guitarist was...

By All That's Interesting • Jun 22, 2016

Inside The Troubled Lives Of America’s Blind Bluesmen

Given the time and place from which they hailed, it’s not too surprising that many of the best blues musicians were blind. As it happens, blindness was just the beginning of their problems. Racism, hunger, oppression, random bouts of syphilis — the life of a typical 1920s blues guitarist was...

By All That's Interesting • June 22, 2016

The Human Cost Of A Century Of Chemical Warfare

Chemical weapons have given people nightmares for the past 100 years — those who are lucky enough to survive them, that is. Chemical weapons hold an especially dark place in the history of warfare. Bullets, bombs, and landmines all have their own terrors, but there’s nothing quite like an invisible...

By Richard Stockton • Jun 21, 2016

The Human Cost Of A Century Of Chemical Warfare

Chemical weapons have given people nightmares for the past 100 years — those who are lucky enough to survive them, that is. Chemical weapons hold an especially dark place in the history of warfare. Bullets, bombs, and landmines all have their own terrors, but there’s nothing quite like an invisible...

By Richard Stockton • June 21, 2016

Inside Yulin Festival, China’s Controversial Dog Meat Eating Festival

Despite protests including a petition containing 11 million signatures, China’s Yulin festival will see about 10,000 dogs and cats killed over the next ten days so that they can be eaten. Each year, the city of Yulin in China’s southern Guangxi region celebrates this enormously controversial event. “It’s been a...

By All That's Interesting • Jun 21, 2016

Inside Yulin Festival, China’s Controversial Dog Meat Eating Festival

Despite protests including a petition containing 11 million signatures, China’s Yulin festival will see about 10,000 dogs and cats killed over the next ten days so that they can be eaten. Each year, the city of Yulin in China’s southern Guangxi region celebrates this enormously controversial event. “It’s been a...

By All That's Interesting • June 21, 2016

The Indonesian Ritual That Takes Place On An Active Volcano

The Yadnya Kasada Festival at Mount Bromo has worshipers toss goods into a volcano, but not many sacrifices make it to the bottom.

By Erin Kelly • Jun 21, 2016

The Indonesian Ritual That Takes Place On An Active Volcano

The Yadnya Kasada Festival at Mount Bromo has worshipers toss goods into a volcano, but not many sacrifices make it to the bottom.

By Erin Kelly • June 21, 2016

Six Of The Worst Fathers In History

Not all father figures conjure images of Ward Cleaver and Atticus Finch. But no matter what daddy issues you might have, be thankful you don't have to call these men "dad."

By Elisabeth Sherman • Jun 18, 2016

Six Of The Worst Fathers In History

Not all father figures conjure images of Ward Cleaver and Atticus Finch. But no matter what daddy issues you might have, be thankful you don't have to call these men "dad."

By Elisabeth Sherman • June 18, 2016

Three Of The Most Ruthless, Powerful Gangsters Alive Today

Al Capone was pretty bad, but modern prohibition and global terrorism have bred a new crop of infamous gangsters that would have him running for cover.

By Richard Stockton • Jun 16, 2016

Three Of The Most Ruthless, Powerful Gangsters Alive Today

Al Capone was pretty bad, but modern prohibition and global terrorism have bred a new crop of infamous gangsters that would have him running for cover.

By Richard Stockton • June 16, 2016

14 Places That Probably Stole America’s Flag — And The One America Stole From

Betsy Ross didn’t design the American flag. Neither did George Washington, Ben Franklin, or anyone else you’ve ever heard of (unless you’ve heard of Francis Hopkinson). Nor was the flag’s design handed down by the gods to some mythical steward in a moment of dramatic inspiration. It was instead crafted...

By All That's Interesting • Jun 14, 2016

14 Places That Probably Stole America’s Flag — And The One America Stole From

Betsy Ross didn’t design the American flag. Neither did George Washington, Ben Franklin, or anyone else you’ve ever heard of (unless you’ve heard of Francis Hopkinson). Nor was the flag’s design handed down by the gods to some mythical steward in a moment of dramatic inspiration. It was instead crafted...

By All That's Interesting • June 14, 2016

3 Famous People You Never Knew Had Agoraphobia

Agoraphobia keeps its victims anxious and often alone. But a fear of public spaces doesn’t necessarily mean agoraphobes won’t make an impact on public life. Mental illness does not discriminate. No matter your achievements or upbringing, the course of your life can be forever changed by “abnormal” amounts of chemicals...

By All That's Interesting • Jun 9, 2016

3 Famous People You Never Knew Had Agoraphobia

Agoraphobia keeps its victims anxious and often alone. But a fear of public spaces doesn’t necessarily mean agoraphobes won’t make an impact on public life. Mental illness does not discriminate. No matter your achievements or upbringing, the course of your life can be forever changed by “abnormal” amounts of chemicals...

By All That's Interesting • June 9, 2016

21 Weird Sex Facts That You Really Don’t Want To Know

From barbed penises to strange fetishes to your grandparents' horniness, these weird sex facts may keep you out of the bedroom for a while.

By All That's Interesting • Jun 7, 2016

21 Weird Sex Facts That You Really Don’t Want To Know

From barbed penises to strange fetishes to your grandparents' horniness, these weird sex facts may keep you out of the bedroom for a while.

By All That's Interesting • June 7, 2016

15 Great White Shark Facts That Will Shatter Your Assumptions

These fascinating great white shark facts will have you reconsider everything you thought you knew about the ocean's apex predator.

By Elisabeth Sherman • Jun 3, 2016

15 Great White Shark Facts That Will Shatter Your Assumptions

These fascinating great white shark facts will have you reconsider everything you thought you knew about the ocean's apex predator.

By Elisabeth Sherman • June 3, 2016