There are some styles that certain ethnicities can pull off that others just can’t. The afro and cornrow are two of these styles. Cornrows are a hairstyle that is still very popular today in the black community. History now shows that this hairstyle has actually been popular for a very long time with rock art from Algeria depicting people with cornrows 3,000 years before the time of Christ. However, it was the 90s that white people thought they could pull off this haircut with both Justin Timberlake and David Beckham giving it a go. Looking back it is clear this was an epic fail and we can’t help but feel it was also a terrible idea at the time. 

The afro is another haircut that white people really can’t wear but it has not stopped some from trying. This haircut was hugely popular in the 60s and 70s when the bigger the afro was, the better it was. Today the afro is still popular although in a much smaller size. 

The most embarrassing haircut that has ever existed is surely the mullet. The mullet is the two-part hairstyle. Party at the back, business at the front. This was incredibly popular in America in the 80s and 90s but now only serves as a comedy wig. No one in their right mind would ever have a mullet today although there is always someone out there to surprise you.

While men tend to experiment with strange styles, women too have had their fair share of dodgy haircuts over time. The worst haircut on the women’s side (although yes some women did try the mullet) is undoubtedly the ‘Very short bangs’ cut that was made ‘popular’ by Mamie Eisenhower. This hairstyle was popular in the 1950s and involved tiny curls on the side of the head. It is an incredibly disgusting hairstyle and we have no idea how anyone wore it. If you are looking for a wager for someone who loses a bet, we recommend the Lady Eisenhower.

As already mentioned, the afro will always be a timeless classic for those who can pull it off. A number of other haircuts have stood the test of time. Victory rolls are one hairstyle that no one really wears today but still looks incredibly good. They are now mostly associated with the vintage pinup girls look. The style involves a backward roll around their faces. On the men’s side, the pompadour was a style made popular by Elvis Presley that is starting to see a comeback now. It involves a small pouf on the top of the head that can give a great shape to the hair.

What are the worst styles someone in your family has ever worn? Have you any photographic evidence? Let us know and we may do a follow-up article with the most embarrassing pictures of our readers.

Orson Welles took to the airwaves in 1938 after he formed Mercury Theatre. Welles was asked if he thought that listeners would want to hear “The War of the World,” a novel written by H.G. Wells. Welles didn’t think that people would take to the story at first and even laughed at the thought of it being told on the radio. However, the story was changed so that it took place in New York and New Jersey instead of a field in England. Details in the story were also changed just enough so that it would fit in with the types of shows that listeners already enjoyed at the time.

Welles made the decision to direct the story for the radio and would narrate it as well. The story was told on Halloween and was told in two different settings. When listeners heard the first part of the story, they were treated to different songs, but there were news bulletins between the songs that captured the attention of those who were listening to the details. The updates started occurring close together and had an urgency behind them. Welles told listeners about an alien invasion and how everyone needed to prepare. During the second part of the story, listeners were told about someone who had survived the attack as officials started looking for any sign of life left after the attack took place. Welles ended the story by telling listeners that the aliens got sick because they couldn’t handle the germs on the planet.

There was information at the beginning of the broadcast that let listeners know that it was only a story, but for those who didn’t hear that statement, they thought that the world was being taken over by aliens. At the end of the broadcast, Welles did let listeners know that the story was a joke and that they would be alright.

A remarkable find

The Greek Ministry of Culture reported the carved head discovered last year likely dates from the late Fourth Century BC or the early Third Century BC. Many experts believe it depicts a mature version of the Greek god, Hermes. Ancient Athenian artists usually depicted him at a much younger age, wearing winged boots and a helmet.

In ancient Greek mythology, Hermes served as a messenger for the other gods living on Mount Olympus. He communicated information very rapidly across long distances. Perhaps for this reason, the ancient Greeks sometimes viewed him as a patron of travelers and merchants. His likeness carried strong associations with commerce. Some archaeologists surmise the statue discovered last year possibly formed part of signage posted outside a mercantile site.

A treasure trove for modern archaeologists

Finding important objects of art beneath the streets of the City of Athens does not surprise archaeologists. During its long history, this urban metropolis has proven an important location for recovering artifacts produced long ago. Archaeologists have discovered statuary, urns, vases, graves, and tools from excavations in the densely populated capital of Greece.

Mayor Kostas Bakoyannis happily revealed the discovery of the Hermes statue in a social media posting last year. By law, the Greek Ministry of Culture assumes possession of ancient artifacts found in Greece. The agency usually displays the most important finds in national museums. These discoveries help shed light on life in Greek cities centuries ago.

Archaeology in contemporary Athens

Officials from the Greek Ministry of Culture have not revealed extensive information about the most recent discovery; they apparently anticipate studying the piece to ascertain more information about it. However, archaeologist Elsi Spathari did indicate to Deutsche Welle, a German news agency, the chance discovery of the carved head of Hermes likely represents one of the most important items of art discovered in Athens during recent years.

One issue of concern to archaeologists hoping to conduct excavations in Athens relates to the densely packed nature of the city’s modern urban infrastructure. Today, paved streets and towering buildings sometimes stand atop potential archaeological sites. For example, researchers reportedly recovered some significant artifacts at the turn of the current century, when Athens constructed a municipal subway system. The project required extensive digging, and resulted in the discovery of numerous artifacts.

The challenge of preserving antiquities in Greece

The recent discovery of a stone head of the Ancient Greek god Hermes also highlights a potential problem encountered by experts seeking to retrieve lost antiquities in the modern era. The need to fully investigate sites containing artifacts sometimes inconveniences impacted businesses. Property owners and project managers may encounter extensive delays (and thus, unforeseen expenses) as a result of the discovery of antiquities beneath their real estate.

Fortunately, the sculpture of the head found last year apparently lay within infrastructure belonging to Athens. Yet anecdotal reports circulate of work crews sometimes seeking to conceal the accidental discovery of historical artifacts in Athens when an archaeological dig might delay a pressing building project. These tensions highlight potential conflicts between the interest of the public in learning more about the rich cultural heritage of ancient Athens and the desire of contractors to complete important modern projects on time.

The cave in Bethlehem wasn’t the only cave receiving historical and religious significance in the Bible. Just outside of Jerusalem, in a cave on the Mount of Olives, found itself the focus of Christian recognizance in the Acts of John. Calvary, the site of Jesus Christ’s crucifixion, was first located during the fourth century. Scholars during that time believed that Calvary was located inside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. However, modern scholars believe that Calvary, also known as Golgotha, is located outside of the city of Jerusalem. Jesus Christ’s burial tomb outside of Jerusalem was identified around the second century. This tomb is allegedly where Jesus was buried and resurrected.

Eusebius, a Roman historian from the fourth century argued that Hadrian constructed a Roman temple over Jesus’ tomb to oppose Christianity. Eusebius came to this conclusion because Hadrian had built a temple right by a Jewish temple in Jerusalem, as well as a building a temple near a Samaritan shrine on Mount Gerizim.

The fourth century appears to be a popular time to identify important Christian holy sites. During this time, scholars identified Gethesemane, the site where Judas Iscariot betrayed Jesus, in addition to identifying Tabgha, the site of the Sermon on the Mount by the Sea of Galilee. Just outside of Bethlehem, scholars located Shepherds’ Fields, where angels announced the birth of Jesus. They also located the site of Eleona, the olive grove church on the Mount of Olives, where Jesus Christ ascended to Heaven.

During the fourth century, two places in Nazareth were discovered as well. One was the site of the Annunciation, where Jesus’ mother Mary met and conversed with the angel Gabriel. The other site was Jesus’ childhood home, where he learned the trade of carpentry from his father Joseph.

In Life of Constantine, the historian Eusebius wrote of three large churches that were built in the fourth century on holy sites mentioned in the Gospels. These churches were the previously mentioned, Eleona, The Church of the Holy Sepulchre, and the Church of the Nativity. These churches were all built over pre-existing caves in their respective locations.

While on the topic of caves, there is some evidence to suggest that early Christians may have followed a trail around the caves to travel to them in sequential order as they occurred in the Gospels. While there is no definitive proof of this, it’s definitely a viable theory. Just like people in our modern day and age make pilgrimages to holy sites for their respective faith, their earlier counterparts are no different.

Even though rigorous and extensive archaeological and historical finds typically weren’t made until the 19th century, it appears that early fourth century writers and historians connected the dots as far as holy site locales go. Many sites and cities sacred to the Christian faith are also important and meaningful to the Zoroastrians, Jews, and Muslims. Despite all of the conflict over the millennia or so in that region, the sites have remained vital locations of importance to many practitioners.

There are many documented accounts of people who lived this lifestyle. It wasn’t until the early 1800’s that this line of work became frowned upon by lawmakers as a public menace, which eventually caused the occupation to disappear into history. The profession of being a Knocker-Upper was seen as a lucrative occupation, and many people chose to have this be their sole source of income for decades. Back when the profession was most prominent, the basic way to wake someone up and demand payment would be to knock loudly or up on their door in order to get their attention and then request payment from them. If the person didn’t pay, they would often use physical force in order to wake them up by hitting them with sticks or using loud noises that could be heard all over the neighborhood. Not only did this cause widespread annoyance, but it also encouraged violence and crime.

There were two different ways of being a Knocker-Upper, depending on your gender. If you were female and wanted to become a Knocker-Up, in Victorian England, it was very common for them to dress up as men to do their work. While this is not entirely common nowadays, many female Knockers-Uppers still work during this time. If you were a male Knocker-Up, then there was not an option for you to dress up as a female, and in most cases, if you were caught by the police dressed as a woman, the punishment would be much harsher than if you were caught dressing like a man.

Many different people were able to become Knockers-Ups and not just men. Women also took on this occupation because they could apply their gender to provide a disguise when they were working. Women dressed up as men simply because the Victorian era’s gender roles were incredibly strict and discouraged women from doing any activities that would be seen as masculine. One of the main reasons why women would choose this profession is because they already have a good understanding of making traditional food like soups, desserts, pickles, and jams, which could be used to earn extra money from their clients without risking their reputation at home.

In order to become a Knocker-Upper, you had to first be sponsored by another Knockers-Upper who was already established in the community, which ensured that the person who was being sponsored would not be cheated by their employer. If someone wanted to become a Knocker-Upper, they needed two forms of identification, and then they were able to begin their career; one form of identification was a personal letter of recommendation, and the second was an advertisement, which was also expected to be signed by a Knockers-Upper who had been working for more than ten years. There were many different types of Knockers-Uppers that could be seen in the Victorian era. Some were just regular people who had nothing better to do and did this for the sake of money. Others were criminals who would use their low-level occupation as a cover-up to commit murder or other serious crimes. The most common groups of Knockers-Uppers, who would be seen throughout London at that period, were peddlers, street vendors, and costermongers.

During the Victorian era, in London, it was a popular practice to have Knocker-Uppers at work. Many people hired these people to help them wake up on time or even get someone to wake them up if they were late for an appointment. These people would receive the main form of payment for their job: beer, money, or tips. Many had a consistent job that allowed them to make a living off of their occupation and had no desire to pursue any other career opportunity aside from this one. Still, there were also many that did not have other employment options and turned to a Knocker-Upper as their only source of livelihood.

Their on-screen appearance

Jerry and Dean, as a team, have worked together for ten years. They both were a great success in movies as they worked together in around 16 films, and each one was a success at the box office. They were also hugely popular in their live acts in tours and nightclubs. They also co-hosted a variety show called “The Colgate Comedy Hour,” whose ratings were too high.

Why did they split?

Reason 1: The reason we simply hear for their split in the year 1956 is differences in their respective work ethics. Dean’s working style included working along with playing. He enjoyed working very much. While Jerry, on the other hand, was a self-acknowledged workaholic. He was enthusiastic about who wanted to make more and more TV shows, films, and live appearances.

Reason 2: Dean Martin was a talented singer with a funny personality, and he was often thought to be the “fifth wheel.” He was a guy who latched onto a multi-talented and brilliant comedian, while Jerry had high ambitions. He was dreaming not only to become a comedy star, but he also wanted to branch out to directing, producing, writing, and many other fields.

Reason 3: The typical reason we’ve come across their split was their wives. It was clear to everyone that Jerry and Jeanne Martin never really got along very well. It was because Jerry and his wife Patti were very close to Dean’s first wife, Betty. So, it became complicated when Dean divorced Betty to marry Jeanne; they slowly drifted away.

Reason 4: Jerry and Dean developed different ideas about the act. It happened when Jerry tried to bring in more pathos in their TV shows and movies against Dean’s wishes. Jerry wanted his character to be more like that of Charlie Chaplin that would make feel the audience sympathetic towards the character.

Dean and Jerry developed different ideas about the act. According to Jerry Dean just hated the idea and didn’t want to go with it.

This event eventually landed up in an argument, thus splitting of the famous comedy team in the history of television. Though the viewers still cherish the shows and movies they have worked together, it came as a heartbreak for the fans worldwide.

The honey mushroom or as it is known in scientific communities, the Armillaria Ostoyae, is the largest living thing in the world. A blue whale is up to 26 meters long while the Armillaria Ostoyae has an outline of nearly six kilometers. The massive mushroom started as just a single tiny mushroom that you would not even be able to see with a microscope. From there it grew and grew to spread its filaments through a forest. It can be found in a forest in Oregon covering 2,200 acres.

If it is difficult to understand the size of this incredible mushroom, imagine 1665 football fields and you are pretty close. Before you jump in your car and head for Oregon to get a photo with the biggest living thing in the world, you need to understand a little more.

The mushroom is not one giant mushroom that stands tall over the trees of the forest or anything like that. The fungus is under the soil and so it is not possible to see the full extent of it with a simple photo. The only evidence of it overground is the clumps of mushrooms that pop up in the area. They all belong to that one organism. 

The only reason scientists were even able to find it was because there were complaints that the trees were dying. No one understood why until one scientist sampled some of the mushrooms and found they were all the same living thing. The fungus is stealing nutrients and water from the trees above the soil and killing each one in the process. Scientists are still determining what to do with the massive mushroom as although it is killing all the trees in the area it has reason to be left to survive given its incredible accolade and the fact that it has been part of nature for millions of years.

It may come as a surprise that the largest living thing in the world is a mushroom but when you understand it is an underground fungus spreading through a forest it makes a little more sense. There are likely many more of these mushrooms in the world today that people have not realized are one organism.

For many decades, movie producers and book publishers have perfected the art of making their works more horrifying just by adding the words, “inspired by true events”. Some of these movies are made up of stories that people have come to believe over time. Other horror content creators draw inspiration from age-long tales but one common feature they all have is that they are terrifying in their way. You might just want to know the stories behind some of the classic horror movies, so let’s dive into a few;

The exorcist.

A 1970’s classic that was inspired by an exorcism that took place on a young boy in Maryland. It was reported in the papers that the boy screamed and cursed violently in a language he never knew before which was Latin. This story inspired the production of the 1971 novel and 1973 movie, both titled “The Exorcist”. A publication made in 1999 through an investigation revealed that the boy most likely had psychological issues and the Latin he spoke was the mimicry of the priest’s words. Even with these findings, some didn’t care about what happened that day.

The Amityville horror.

The story behind this movie stems from a homicide that occurred in Amityville, New York. Not long after this event, the family that purchased the house, the Lutz, reported experiencing paranormal activities like sighting red-eyed creatures and their family members levitating during their sleep. Their claims inspired the 1979 classic titled “The Amityville Horror”. These claims were later debunked by an eyewitness who said everything was made up.

The haunting in Connecticut.

Most times, the phrase “based on a true story” is enough to convince people about the non-fictional origin of movies. This can be said about the 2009 classic, “the haunting in Connecticut”. This story was inspired by a documentary made by famous ghost hunters, the Warrens. They reported the experiences of the Snedeker family who claimed that they were raped by demons in their rented apartment in Connecticut.

The serpent and the rainbow.

Have you ever imagined a horror classic with an Indiana Jones concept? This is what you will find in the 1988 classic titled “the serpent and the rainbow”. The story was adapted from a 1985 publication of a Harvard scientist who claimed to have discovered the secret of Haitian societies to bring back people from the dead as zombies. Even though his claims were debunked by a scientist, his story became a source of the horror classic.

Nosferatu.

This comes in as one of the oldest horror classics and tells the story of the popularly acclaimed vampire, Count Dracula. The story was adapted from the stories about a 15th-century ruler of Wallachia Romania named, Vlad Dracula. The name Dracula means “devil” in the Wallachian language. Even though few changes were made in the movie, the core still centered on Dracula and his exploits as a monster.

Other notable mentions are; the conjuring, Annabelle comes home and the nun. These movies are the 21st-century releases based on the claims of famous ghost hunters Ed and Lorraine Warren. Believing in these stories depends on how well the movie producers can convince their audience using the phrase “based on a true story”.

There was also the sixth park in England, one that opened to Londoners more than two centuries earlier. Here are six early amusement parks and how the individual personality of each influenced other amusement parks around the world.

During the 1700s, Londoners and other visitors could retreat from their daily troubles and step into the tranquility of nature. As a spectacular natural setting, Vauxhall Gardens quickly became one of the most popular places for art and entertainment.

There were gardens of lush foliage, plus entertaining live attractions. In 1749, a rehearsal for a Mandel musical work drew an estimated crowd of over 10,000 spectators. Vauxhall Garden’s focus changed early during the 19th century to incorporate a different image.

Much of the fanfare began to reproduce something like a carnival atmosphere. The Gardens were used in a number of famous literary works, including Vanity Fair. Despite a permanent closure in 1859, Vauxhall’s inspiration is evident in future amusement parks.

Some believe that the popularity of Vauxhall Gardens pushed in a neighboring European culture about the middle of the 19th century. Tivoli Gardens opened in Denmark in 1843. It immediately had a central focus on lively types of entertainment.

Georg Carstensen has a showman’s intuition and his influence helped create the early atmosphere surrounding the park. Fancifully colored gas lamps illuminated a bandstand that was accented by flower gardens with a moat transformed into a small lake.

Tivoli was known for theatrical productions, but a shift toward more traditional amusement park themes started early in the 20th century. While it continued to present a carnival-like aura, there was a wooden roller coaster and other rides that would become trademark novelties at amusement parks.

Coney Island is one of the most famous amusement parks in the world. Within the boundaries of this traditional amusement, park setting was individual theme parks. Three of the interesting parks that influenced future ideas were part of Coney Island.

Steeplechase Park opened in 1897. It is credited with being one of the trademark attractions that propelled Coney Island’s notoriety. The primary attraction was a thousand-foot track made from steel. Visitors could race against one another on mechanical horses.

The park also had a massive Ferris Wheel called Trip to the Moon. A fire devastated much of Steeplechase Park barely 10 years after it opened. Steeplechase Park was rebuilt with an even bigger signature attraction.

This park set the guidelines for big rides and big aspirations for future amusement parks. Dreamland was another part of Coney Island’s fame. It only stayed open for a seven-year period but was very influential in how future parks would focus on the fantasy of a visitor’s experience.

While the attractions were fabulous, the dedication to the presentation was remarkable. More than a million light bulbs illuminated Dreamland. Developers used gusts of refrigerated air to authentic a train ride through the Swiss Alps.

It set a new benchmark for helping amusement park visitors grab a sense of reality from their visit. Not without irony, it was at a ride called Hell Gate that a fire started, a fire that would completely destroy Dreamland in 1911.

A third influential park with Coney Island was started a year before Dreamland. Luna Park was a theme-based park centering on a group of exotic buildings. As with Dreamland, Luna Park used the magnificence of intense lighting.

The final demise of the park has an eerie coincidence. Two of the more popular attractions at the park depicted staged recreations of real disasters. Park designers used the molten destruction of Pompeii and the floodwaters of Galveston, Texas to thrill visitors.

The fire proved to be the real disaster. In 1944, a fire devastated the park. While it was never rebuilt, other amusement parks around the world use Luna Park’s name today. Collectively, these three parks on Coney Island influenced the spectacular pageantry used in today’s amusement parks.

Our sixth park opened in 1893 and was coined as the Coney Island of the West. Saltair was designed as something akin to an oasis. The Mormon Church hoped to build a theme park devoid of the notoriously sleazy reputation western pioneers associated with New York.

The park was built on stilts on the shores of Great Salt Lake. Visitors could enjoy music or take a dip in the saline waters surrounding the park. There was a massive central pavilion where visitors could dance or enjoy various forms of family-friendly entertainment.

Saltair had the customary roller coasters and carousel rides. There were fabulous hot-air balloon displays and spectacular fireworks displays. The park was a marvelous success for more than a quarter-century before fire destroyed the main building in 1925. It was rebuilt, but could never match the allure of the original Saltair.

These are six early themed amusement parks, which not only influenced one another to some degree, but were part of a blueprint for parks of the future. Each influenced future designs and all left an indelible mark on future amusement parks around the world.