Randal A. Burd, Jr.

• History

  American Folklore: Did Betsy Ross Really Create the First American Flag?

  Almost every nation has a Flag Day, and for the United States of America, the 14th of June marks the anniversary of the Flag Resolution of 1777 where the “Stars and Stripes” was adopted as the official flag of this independent nation. The U.S. flag is rich in symbolism, with a stripe...

  Randal A. Burd, Jr. June 13, 2015
• Odd News

  I Loathe Lucy: Statue of Late Actress Causes Distress for Fans and Locals

  Celeron, New York, may indeed love Lucille Ball, the late actress and comedian who starred in the long running and wildly successful television show, “I Love Lucy,” from 1951-1957. How they feel about the life-size bronze statue of the actress unveiled in August 2009 by sculptor Dave Poulin is another matter.

  Randal A. Burd, Jr. April 26, 2015
• Hoaxes & Rumors

  Medieval Medicine: Will a 9th Century Eye Ointment Finally Kill MRSA?

  Miles Freeman was an outstanding student and a physically healthy, talented athlete. But an illness which began with a simple cough and mild, flu-like symptoms, degraded into a frantic visit to the emergency room, collapsed lungs, and multiple surgeries. After a brief struggle for life, 14-year-old Miles Freeman was gone.

  Randal A. Burd, Jr. April 14, 2015
• Hoaxes & Rumors

  Locks of Love Redux: Addressing Reader Concerns Regarding Hair Donation

  In a previous article, “Disadvantaged Donors: Untangling the Truth Behind Locks of Love,” I revealed how a large percentage of hair donated to the charity, Locks of Love, is actually sold to commercial wig makers instead of being directly processed into wigs for sick or dying children. Additionally, I discovered that parents...

  Randal A. Burd, Jr. April 2, 2015
• Hoaxes & Rumors

  The Final Frontier: Facebook Would Bring the Internet to the Third World

  The Internet has drastically changed the daily lives of countless people around the world. It is not uncommon to walk down the street, or down the aisle of the grocery store, and see people accessing this treasure trove of the world’s combined knowledge. Even more impressive is that this knowledge is being...

  Randal A. Burd, Jr. March 31, 2015
• Hoaxes & Rumors

  Artists Gone Wild: Controversies in Commissioned Artwork

  In an interview with the A.V. Club posted on 16 September 1999, Yoko Ono said, “Controversy is part of the nature of art and creativity.” The American artist who is most famous for her perceived involvement in breaking up the Beatles is certainly no stranger to controversy, but it seems there may be...

  Randal A. Burd, Jr. March 30, 2015
• Odd News

  Digging Up Bones: The Discovery of King Richard III

  In a place called Bosworth Field on the 22nd of August 1485, Richard III, King of England, was struck down in the last battle of the War of the Roses. With his death, the Plantagenet dynasty ended, and the Tudor dynasty began. King for only two years, Richard III was hastily buried...

  Randal A. Burd, Jr. March 6, 2015
• History

  The Italian Bride of Chicago: The Exhumation of Julia Buccola-Petta

  The topic of a well-preserved corpse known as the “Italian Bride” which became a tourist attraction is discussed by writer Randal A. Burd, Jr.

  Randal A. Burd, Jr. February 6, 2015