Jeffrey Dampier took home $20 million after winning the 1996 Illinois Lottery.

While the security guard from Chicago’s West Side had better chances of being struck by lightning, he won it big and split the prize evenly with his first wife. And while we all fantasize about the life we could live with a huge windfall, Jeffrey’s story shows it isn’t always margaritas on the beach.

The build-up to the crime

Money troubles caused Dampier and his first wife to split, dividing the prize money equally.

But with 10 million dollars, it wasn’t too hard for him to find another lover. …

I believe, as gospel truth, in the saying, “a dog is a man’s best friend.” And never was this more exhibited as certain through the service of “mercy dogs” in the dangerous trenches of World War I. These clever canines assisted soldiers, saved lives, and served as a source of respite to those dying for their motherland.

What did mercy dogs do?

Much has been written about the horrors committed by the Japanese in Asia during World War II. Thousands died in the infamous Bataan Death March and even more in the Nanking Massacre.

However, many people forget that Singapore, once a British colony and military stronghold, was also the site of many atrocities of war. They may have been smaller in scale, but they were just as tragic.

The colony was seen as a threat by the Japanese army, and so it was made their next target by early February 1942. After being chased out of the Malayan Peninsula, the British…

Who doesn’t love a good batch of French fries? Well, if you offered them to the French back in the 18th century, you’d be met with disgust. It’s hard to imagine a time when potatoes weren’t a beloved staple in the Western world, but back in the day, they were reviled for numerous causes by Europeans.

Seen as no better than cattle feed and even a potential cause of leprosy, the French largely shunned potatoes. The French Parliament even went so far as to ban potatoes in 1748!

Life-saving spud

The male genitalia comes in all forms, shapes, and sizes. There are fat penises, tiny weenies, thin dicks, and tall rods. But one fascinating variety (from a strictly historical perspective) is the circumcised penis.

Male circumcision is an ancient practice from various cultures that has survived to this day. It is the surgical removal of the foreskin from the penis, with some anesthesia applied to relieve the pain and stress. It’s estimated that around one-third of all men are circumcised for various reasons — some men for religious or cultural, others for medical reasons.

There are many theories about how…

World War II was a circus. With war crimes like the Rape of Nanking and the abuses made by Nazi Germany, one can’t blame members of the Allied forces for wanting revenge.

With so much death and frustration, even the supposed good-guys considered resorting to indiscriminate weapons with their consideration of biological warfare. One of the craziest yet true plans that emerged from this desperation for victory was “Operation Vegetarian,” a brutal strategy that would have infected thousands of Germans with a deadly disease.

The plan

With the threat of potential German invasion looming, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill issued orders to…

One enamored description of the beast from 1792 stated:

“The skin is beautifully striped with black and white on the back…Its mouth resembles that of a wolf, with large jaws opening almost to the ears. Its legs are short…and it has a sluggish appearance, but in running it bounds like a kangaroo, though not with such speed. The female carries its young in a pouch (facing back) like most other quadrupeds of the country.” — Martin, “History of the British Colonies: Possessions in Africa and Australia”

The thylacine, better known as the Tasmanian tiger, has drawn attention throughout its existence…

“… know that as I await your return come 14th of February, my skin remains warm in anticipation of your embrace. Indeed my body shall be all, all yours, as yours will be all, all mine, beloved.”

That’s my best attempt synthesizing love letters from the late 1800s with a dash of physical intimacy. The last sentence is straight from the notes of a novelist around that period who had the strong urge to make love upon the return of his partner. While the lines were definitely sexual, I doubt most people would think of it as obscene.

Unfortunately, authorities…