Have you ever undergone a “trial by fire”? In its modern use, this refers to any ordeal meant to test one’s strength, endurance, or resolve. Originally, however, the “trial by fire” was a much more literal term, and was one of the many categories of “trial by ordeal” that permeated the judicial system of Europe, Asia, Africa, and colonial America.... READ ON

Although the sideshow has mostly disappeared from the American landscape today, we can still look back on the performers of yesteryear and see how they became the icons of the American circus culture. But the stories of the real-life people behind the legends are sometimes just as interesting as what they could do on stage.... READ ON

Last month, Walt Disney Studios officially announced that the entertainment industry juggernaut had been gradually shutting down its hand-drawn animation department. But did you know that the department also, briefly, employed the world’s most famous surrealist?... READ ON

Constant improvement is what we do. So how amazing is it that there exist a handful of objects that, though 100 years old or more, are still perfect?... READ ON