Month: April 2020

  • Fyre (Netflix)

    Fyre (Netflix)

    Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Fyre: This made me hate Instagram more than I already did. Yes, get off my lawn. Quick synopsis: Documentary on the Fyre festival. It was supposed to be a concert on a Caribbean island which would last for days. It turned into a legitimate nightmare. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like:…

  • Dead Mountain by Donnie Eichar

    Dead Mountain by Donnie Eichar

    Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Dead Mountain: This is why I never go camping. OR In Soviet Russia, mountain kill you! Quick synopsis: The story of the mysterious death of 9 hikers in the Ural Mountains of Russia in 1959.  Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: The nine hikers’ bodies were found in various forms of…

  • Timely History: Dexiosis

    Timely History: Dexiosis

    With COVID-19 running rampant and people being even more cognizant of spreading germs, many normal conventions have gone out the window. Some people have even questioned the fate of one of the oldest traditions in humanity: dexiosis. You know it as the handshake. Did you know you spread more germs to someone through a handshake…

  • The Ghost Map by Steven Johnson

    The Ghost Map by Steven Johnson

    Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for The Ghost Map: If you thought doctors were clueless now…. Quick synopsis: The story of the 1854 Broad Street cholera outbreak in England and how two men figured out why it was happening. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: The cholera outbreak chronicled here killed 616 people. It all came from…

  • Timely History: Gruinard Island

    Timely History: Gruinard Island

    Quarantine is important. It allows us to safely flatten the curve and not spread disease at an exponential rate. Quarantining is not a new idea and even mentioned in the Bible to stop the spread of disease. Oh, it’s also been used because the British government contaminated an entire island in Scotland to see how…

  • Musing: Staying Sane in Quarantine

    Musing: Staying Sane in Quarantine

    Quarantine can be challenging. Locked into our homes with little ability to go out and enjoy the company of others can drive anyone batty. There are numerous templates from history for how to fight off insanity, but I’d like to look at two of the most successful under extreme circumstances. Say hello to the Greely…

  • What Made Maddy Run by Kate Fagan

    What Made Maddy Run by Kate Fagan

    Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for What Made Maddy Run: Every parent’s worst nightmare. Quick synopsis: The life and suicide of Madison Holleran, a young University of Pennsylvania athlete. History Fact: The University of Pennsylvania is in the Ivy League. Who knew? Fun Fact for History Nerds: Important Note: National Suicide Prevention Lifeline – 1-800-273-8255. My Take…

  • Timely History: Typhoid Mary

    Timely History: Typhoid Mary

    Mary Mallon was born in September of 1869 in Cookstown in what is now Northern Ireland. She immigrated to the United States in 1883 or so. In 1900, she found her calling as a cook for wealthy families in the New York City.   Why should you care about this woman? Because as COVID-19 runs rampant…

  • Tiger King (Netflix)

    Tiger King (Netflix)

    Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Tiger King: It’s like white trash did a massive amount of meth and then had a baby. Then the baby did meth.  Quick synopsis: Chronicles the ups and downs of owning tigers and running a zoo. I am so underplaying this whole thing. It’s so bonkers.   Fun Fact Non-History People Will…