Randal A. Burd, Jr.

• History

  The Many Smoking-Related Deaths of the Marlboro Man

  Several actors who portrayed the iconic Marlboro Man have died from tobacco-related illnesses.

  Randal A. Burd, Jr. June 29, 2014
• History

  Murder Castle: Henry Holmes’s Hotel of Horrors

  Dr. Henry Holmes was a serial killer who built a hotel of horrors dubbed the “Murder Castle” in Chicago in the 1890s.

  Randal A. Burd, Jr. June 27, 2014
• Hoaxes & Rumors

  Divining the Truth: The Ancient Mystical Practice of Dowsing

  One author looks at dowsing with divining rods, the ancient mystical practice used to locate ground water, graves, and other things underground.

  Randal A. Burd, Jr. June 24, 2014
• Hoaxes & Rumors

  Snuff Films: Has Murder Come to Theater Near You?

  A look at the urban legend of “snuff films” which allegedly captured real murders on tape and were sold for profit.

  Randal A. Burd, Jr. June 22, 2014
• History

  Harriet of the HMS Beagle: Long Lives the Tortoise!

  From October of 1831 to October of 1836, a Royal Navy ship named the HMS Beagle was engaged in a historic voyage of exploration and discovery. On this celebrated voyage, the famous naturalist Charles Darwin collected several specimens of Galapagos tortoises, and among these were three specific tortoises destined to be remembered....

  Randal A. Burd, Jr. June 17, 2014
• Hoaxes & Rumors

  Disney on Ice: Was Walt Disney Frozen For Posterity?

  Was Walt Disney’s body frozen after his death? Today we take a look at this long-standing urban legend.

  Randal A. Burd, Jr. June 13, 2014
• History

  Youth Everlasting: Juan Ponce de León and the Fountain of Youth

  “Youth is wasted on the young,” according to Oscar Wilde. Perhaps that is because the value of youth is not realized until it has past. It is the old man and old woman who long for youth, desiring their past physical prowess to complement knowledge and wisdom attained with age and experience....

  Randal A. Burd, Jr. June 10, 2014
• Hoaxes & Rumors

  For the Birds: Three Common Misconceptions

  The following information tackles three common misconceptions related to birds. Whether they are old wives’ tales passed down generations or rumors run amok, this article will address a few of the commonly believed falsehoods featuring our feathered friends.

  Randal A. Burd, Jr. June 6, 2014