Tag: Germany

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Jakob Mierscheid, The Imaginary Member Of Germany’s Real Parliament

You don’t have to be a real elected official to have a real effect on politics.

To Make A Cold War Documentary, NBC Funded An Escape Tunnel Under The Berlin Wall

NBC's documentary "The Tunnel" came at a pivotal moment in the Cold War.

When Boris Yeltsin “Overslept” And Missed A Diplomatic Visit To Ireland

Back in 1994, Irish leaders were set to give a warm welcome to Russian President Boris Yeltsin, only his plane just circled above the airport for an hour, for complicated reasons.

Lennie Gwyther Made A 600 Mile Solo Trip On Horseback At Age Nine

Today in 1932, the start of a road trip you don’t see too often: a nine year old and his horse set off through Australia by themselves for more than 600 miles.

“Dinner For One,” The British Comedy Sketch That’s A New Year’s Eve Tradition In Germany

Watching TV on the last night of the year? That's fine; in fact, there’s a tradition on German TV of showing a classic comedy sketch every December 31.

Ina Koenig Saved A Kid Who Fell Into A Mine Shaft By Keeping His Head Above Water

Around this time in 2012, a teacher in Germany saved a young student's life, literally keeping the three year old's head above water after falling into an abandoned mine shaft. 

Berlin’s Jazz Age Nightclubs Let People Message Each Other Through Pneumatic Tubes

In our time there are lots of apps and other programs that help people who are looking to date. Back in the 1920s, some clubs in Berlin let singles flirt using pneumatic tubes and tableside telephones!

The Zeitpyramide Is An Art Project That Will Take 1,200 Years To Build

This month in 1993, the start of a project that is going to take a while: the Zeitpyramide, a 120 block art installation that’s being built at the rate of one block every decade. 

Patrick Combs Cashed A $95,000 Promotional “Check” And Actually Got The Money

This month in 1995, the conclusion of a very odd saga involving one Patrick Combs, who deposited a promotional check from a piece of junk mail and actually got the money! 

Betsy Ross May Not Have Made The First Flag, But She Really Did Make Flags

Today in 1752, the birthday of the woman known today as Betsy Ross. The legend goes that after meeting with General George Washington, Mrs. Ross put together the very first version of what would become the flag of the United States. Historians are pretty sure that’s just a legend, but there are reasons why the story came to be.

The “McBarge” Was A Floating Wonderland Of Fast Food

It's National Fast Food Day, and here's the story of an uncommon fast food restaurant: the Friendship 500, a floating McDonald's restaurant in the 80s nicknamed the "McBarge."

Two Families Escaped East Germany In A Homemade Hot Air Balloon

Today in 1979, a story that sounds like it came straight out of a movie: two families in Communist East Germany escaped to the West by making and flying a hot air balloon.