Stories

Chrysippus, a 3rd-century BCE Greek Stoic philosopher, reportedly died after witnessing a donkey eating his fermented figs. He joked that the animal should be given wine to wash them down and then, overcome with laughter, collapsed and passed away, as noted by Diogenes Laërtius.

Flak-Bait was a Martin B-26 Marauder, delivered to the U.S. Army Air Forces in 1943. It was assigned to the 449th Bombardment Squadron of the 322nd Bombardment Group, operating from England during World War II. Its name reflected its frequent encounters with anti-aircraft fire.

In 1941, Emmett Ashford was asked to fill in as an umpire for a semi-pro baseball game when the scheduled umpire didn’t show up. Initially reluctant, Ashford discovered his talent for the role, blending skill with showmanship. His flamboyant style of calling balls and strikes captivated audiences and set him apart.

In 1904, Germany opened the first outdoor school in Charlottenburg, near Berlin, to combat tuberculosis. Designed by health officials and educators, it provided open-air classrooms, activity areas, and a “cure gallery” for sunlight exposure. Tuberculosis killed one in seven people, and poor ventilation and overcrowding in schools worsened the problem.

On July 6, 1930, Fred Newton, a 27-year-old from Clinton, Oklahoma, stepped into the Mississippi River in Minneapolis. He set out to become the first person to swim its full length, aiming to reach New Orleans in 90 days. His brother Byron followed in a rowboat, carrying supplies and documenting the journey.

In the 1960s, archaeologists unearthed a remarkable find in Athens: 8,500 shards of pottery, known as ostraca, used as ballots for a unique purpose. Instead of electing leaders, Athenians used these to vote on exiling a fellow citizen for ten years.

In 17th-century England, public drunkenness was not just frowned upon—it was punished in unusual ways. One of the most peculiar forms of punishment was the “Drunkard’s Cloak,” a device designed to shame offenders into reforming their behavior.

Crown Prince Sado, born in 1735, was the son of King Yeongjo of Joseon, Korea. From a young age, he displayed troubling behaviors that strained his relationship with his father. Reports suggest he suffered from mental illness, which worsened over time.

Around 165 A.D., a terrifying new disease spread through the Roman Empire. Smallpox arrived, causing fever, black pocks, and internal scabbing, which left survivors scarred for life. Over 10% of the population—about 7.5 million people—died as the disease ravaged cities.

The assassination of Robert F. Kennedy on June 5, 1968, sent shockwaves through the United States. As a father of 11 and a vocal advocate for children’s welfare, Kennedy’s death intensified concerns over violence in media, including Saturday morning cartoons.