Randal A. Burd, Jr.

• History

  Dream Fish: Recreational Drug of the Roman Empire

  It is a fairly common understanding that many drugs used in modern times, whether for recreation or to treat illnesses, have their origins in the plant and animal kingdoms. The nature of a certain plant or creature, when ingested, to produce a desirous effect on the human body was often discovered long...

  Randal A. Burd, Jr. November 12, 2014
• History

  Unsinkable? Unthinkable! The Unthinkable Fate of the R.M.S. Titanic

  “As far as it is possible to do so, these two wonderful vessels are designed to be unsinkable.” – marketing brochure for the Titanic and the Olympic

  Randal A. Burd, Jr. November 10, 2014
• Editorial

  Is There Life After Afterlife? Science Begs the Question

  “In sorrow we must go, but not in despair. Behold! We are not bound for ever to the circles of the world, and beyond them is more than memory.”  – J.R.R. Tolkien

  Randal A. Burd, Jr. November 6, 2014
• Current Events

  Trick or Trick: Halloween Sadists and Their Toxic Treats

  Halloween tends to be an annual event which highlights the stark contrast between the way things are now and the way things used to be. The modern routine for All Hallows Eve involves parental paranoia at a level never experienced in days gone by. Kids still dress up in disguises and knock...

  Randal A. Burd, Jr. October 28, 2014
• Hoaxes & Rumors

  Stay Away From the Light: The Poltergeist Curse

  For some, the mention of scary movies recalls the haunting image of a little blond girl with arms outstretched, hands pressed up against the flickering static of a console television’s screen. The Poltergeist movie trilogy may be campy by today’s standards, but the added mystery surrounding the death of several cast members...

  Randal A. Burd, Jr. October 24, 2014
• Current Events

  Really Wasted: Confusing Dates on Food Packaging Result in Waste

  Upon arriving home after an exhausting day of work, acquiring an afternoon snack occasionally becomes a quest of epic proportions. The pantry is laid open and thoroughly ransacked. Echoes of Weird Al Yankovic’s “Living in the Fridge” can be heard in the cold, dark, forgotten crevasses of the refrigerator as it coughs...

  Randal A. Burd, Jr. October 22, 2014
• Current Events

  U.S. Bank Settles Class Action Lawsuit Regarding Overdraft Fees

  On September 14, 2014, disbursement of a $55 million dollar settlement began arriving in the accounts of affected U.S. Bank customers. Twelve U.S. Bank customers filed a class action lawsuit on behalf of themselves and other customers affected by the fee-gathering practices of U.S. Bank. Specifically, the customers were suing over the...

  Randal A. Burd, Jr. September 25, 2014
• Current Events

  That’s Cold! ALS Ice Bucket Challenge Receives Range of Responses

  Chances are you remember receiving a video clip on social media showing a friend having ice water dumped over their head and then challenging you to either dump a bucket of ice water over your head or donate $100 to the ALS Association within 24 hours of receiving the challenge. Perhaps you...

  Randal A. Burd, Jr. September 18, 2014