The UK Reality Show “Shattered” Was Essentially A Sleep Deprivation Contest On TV
Twenty years ago today, Channel Four in the UK first aired "Shattered," a show where contestants tried to stay awake the longest to win a grand prize.
During The Burryman’s Parade, A Scottish Dude In A Suit Made Of Burrs Walks Around Drinking Whiskey
The second Friday in August is an exciting time in the Scottish community of South Queensferrry. That’s when the town holds an event that takes some explaining: the Burryman’s Parade.
The Legend Of Blanche Heriot, Who Saved Her Love’s Life By Keeping A Bell From Ringing
Today in 1455, it's said that the Wars of the Roses began in England. The civil wars over who should be king led to mostly battles but also the legendary story of Blanche Heriot, who found a creative way to keep her love from being executed.
How Insects, World War I, Golf Balls And Halloween Candy Helped Lead Us To Daylight Saving Time
Daylight Saving Time begins early this Sunday. People have been complaining about the time change, or the lack thereof, since it first came up. So how did it first come up?
The American Warship That Accidentally Launched A Torpedo At FDR
Today in 1943, a US Navy ship almost caused a gigantic tragedy, by inadvertently launching a torpedo at the president of the United States.
The “Parcel Post Bank” Was Mailed To Its Construction Site, A Few Bricks At A Time
This day in 1916 was an important day in US Postal Service history - a rule change that came after the community of Vernal, Utah basically had a bank mailed to them, in installments of bricks.
Each Year, London Pays Rent To The Crown For Land That’s… Somewhere
The UK has lots of traditions. Here's another one: once a year, sometime between about now and mid November, the city of London pays rent to the Crown for several pieces of land in what’s called the Ceremony of Quit Rents.
Carlton Fisk’s Home Run Wave Changed TV Sports, But It Almost Didn’t Get Filmed At All
Today in 1975, game 6 of the World Series between the Cincinnati Reds and the Boston Red Sox. The iconic clip of Carlton Fisk waving his game-winning home run fair was caught by the camera kind of by accident.
There’s A Farm In The Middle Of A British Highway
Stott Hall Farm is an unusual place; on either side of the place, there's the UK's M62 highway. We'll explain how it happened.
The Guy Who Traded A Paper Clip And Ended Up With A House
This week in 2005, Kyle MacDonald of Montreal had a red paperclip. This week in 2006, MacDonald had traded away the paperclip, and, after a few more trades, ended up with a house.