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1 week ago | 
ravallirepublic.com | Phil Connelly
In the hills of eastern Kentucky, near a stream called Troublesome Creek, lived a family whose story would eventually capture the attention of doctors, scientists, and curious minds across the country. Known as the Blue Fugates, this Appalachian family became famous for one unusual reason: Many of them had strikingly blue skin. The story begins in the early 1800s, when a French orphan named Martin Fugate settled in the remote area of Knott County, Kentucky.
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2 weeks ago | 
ravallirepublic.com | Phil Connelly
The Tucker Telephone is a notorious example of a modern torture device used in the United States during the 20th century, specifically in the Arkansas prison system. Despite its benign-sounding name, the Tucker Telephone was a brutal tool of punishment and control, designed to inflict intense physical pain through electric shock. It was named after the Tucker State Prison Farm, located near Pine Bluff, Arkansas, where it was reportedly developed and used extensively during the 1960s.
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3 weeks ago | 
ravallirepublic.com | Phil Connelly
David Godwin, a pioneering leader with the U.S. Forest Service during the early 20th century, played a foundational role in shaping modern wildland firefighting in the U.S. Though not as well known outside professional firefighting circles, Godwin’s work following the tragic Blackwater Fire of 1937 profoundly impacted how the federal government prepares for and responds to wildfires.
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1 month ago | 
ravallirepublic.com | Phil Connelly
The tradition of popes taking new names upon their election is one of the most recognizable customs in the Roman Catholic Church. This practice dates back more than a millennium and carries deep symbolic meaning related to the identity, mission and spiritual focus of the new pope. The earliest recorded case of a pope changing his name occurred in 533 AD.
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1 month ago | 
ravallirepublic.com | Phil Connelly
Hernán Cortés, the Spanish conquistador, is best known for leading the expedition that brought about the downfall of the Aztec Empire in 1521. While his military prowess is often the focus of his legacy, another important aspect of his encounter with the Aztecs was the introduction of cochineal, a valuable commodity that would play a significant role in European art, fashion, and trade for centuries.
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1 month ago | 
ravallirepublic.com | Phil Connelly
George McJunkin (1851–1922) was an African American cowboy, rancher and amateur archaeologist whose extraordinary discovery transformed the understanding of prehistoric human history in North America. Rising from humble beginnings as an enslaved child, McJunkin became a respected figure in the American West and an inspiring example of how curiosity and determination can leave a lasting impact. McJunkin was born into slavery in Midway, Texas, in 1851.
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1 month ago | 
ravallirepublic.com | Phil Connelly
This week, we're looking at the history of product names. Pepsi was originally called “Brad’s Drink” in 1893 by pharmacist Caleb Bradham. It was renamed Pepsi-Cola in 1898, derived from dyspepsia (indigestion), which it was marketed to relieve. "Cola” was added to reflect its main flavoring. Häagen-Dazs was invented in the Bronx in 1960 by Reuben and Rose Mattus. The name is completely made up — it doesn’t mean anything in Danish or any language.
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2 months ago | 
ravallirepublic.com | Phil Connelly
By the late 1600s, the 120,000 residents around Rome had long been the victims of frequent flooding from the Tiber River. Rather than correctly blaming the local floodplain topography, they instead blamed a serpentine monster they believed to slither around in the watery depths. Pope Clement X put Dutch engineer Cornelius Meyer in charge of a major civic project that aimed to protect the Via Flaminia (the major road used by pilgrims) against the flooding of the Tiber river.
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2 months ago | 
ravallirepublic.com | Phil Connelly
You’re driving home alone late at night along a country road. Up ahead, you see a man who appears to be waving a red lantern. Being frightened, instead of stopping the car, you step on the gas, speeding past the strange man who was yelling something you couldn’t quite make out. With the feeling of dread subsiding, you press on. Suddenly, you feel this intense pain in your back. Not knowing what is happening, you continue on until you can no longer drive. Then, you see a man approaching.
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2 months ago | 
ravallirepublic.com | Phil Connelly
The White House, one of the most famous buildings in the United States, is also said to be one of its most haunted. Over the centuries, presidents, first ladies, guests and staff members have reported strange occurrences, eerie sounds, and even ghostly apparitions. Some of the spirits tied to the White House are former residents, while others are mysterious figures from American history. The most frequently reported and famous ghost of the White House is Abraham Lincoln.
