The Origin of the World Map
What did people used to think the world looked like? From the beginning of human history to right before the age of exploration, how were world maps created? [Jeremy Shuback]
Category Archives: Culture
The Screwed-Up History of English Spelling
The English spelling system is a MESS… arguably more than any other language. How did it get this way? [Storied]
People Will Never Change: Fans Getting Offended by Keaton Being Cast as Batman in 1989
TV news magazine segment with Adam West weighing in on the controversy then brewing around the casting of Michael Keaton in Tim Burton’s Batman movie, which would be released the following summer. [BetaGems Lost Media on Youtube]
The Dark History of Zombies
Zombies have a distinct lineage— one that traces back to Equatorial and Central Africa. For three centuries, African people were enslaved and brought to the Caribbean Islands. There, a religion known as vodou developed, along with the belief that a person’s soul can be captured and stored, becoming a body-less zombie. Christopher M. Moreman uncovers […]
Video Game Music Comes To BBC Proms
The Proms, one of the world’s longest-running series of classical music concerts, will hold a dedicated gaming music night on August 1. The event is part of the annual summer series organised and broadcast by the BBC from the Royal Albert Hall in London. Prom number 21 this year is titled “Gaming Prom: From 8-Bit […]
The Myth of Hades and Persephone Retold [Animation]
One day, Persephone was frolicking in a meadow with the nymph, Cyane. As they admired a flower, they noticed it tremble in the ground. Suddenly, the earth split, and a terrifying figure arose. It was Hades, god of the underworld. He wrenched Persephone from Cyane, dragged her into his inky chariot, and blasted back through […]
ZX Spectrum Home Computer Turns 40
Today marks the 40th anniversary of a truly important date in computing history: the release of the ZX Spectrum. The Spectrum was by no means the first home computer. It wasn’t the first home computer that came pre-assembled in an affordable package. It wasn’t the first home computer that allowed children to develop programming skills. […]
Star Trek: The Next Generation: The Animated Series [Video]
Check out this absolutely amazing fan video from Gazelle Automations taking a look at what Star Trek: TNG would have looked like as a retro-style animation, just like the one released by Filmation for Star Trek: TOS in 1973. I’ll also include a short segment from the old show below as well. Amazing, right?
Castle Warfare Expert Rates 8 Castle And Fortress Scenes In Movies And TV
Medieval-fortification expert Michael Fulton looks at nine fortress defense scenes from popular TV shows and movies and rates them based on realism. [Insider]
Funny Stories About People Speaking Different Languages
Here are a few funny stories about people speaking multiple languages in situations where they had to speak a second tongue to make themselves understood, not realizing that the other peson they were talking to was doing the same. [Via MC]