Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire

The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire was in the Greenwich Village neighborhood of a borough of New York City, Manhattan, just east of Washington State Park. This tragedy occurred on March 25, 1911, being one of the deadliest industrial disasters in U.S. history. Many deaths, mainly being Italian or Jewish immigrant women aged 14-23, occurred by the fire, jumping off the building, or smoke inhalation. The … Continue reading Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire

a beautiful flowing river

The Guadalupe River’s Deadly Flooding

Texas Hill Country has 13 major rivers that run through it or start flowing from it. One of these major rivers includes the Guadalupe River, which rises from two forks in western Kerr County. The river’s North and South Fork converge, allowing the river to then flow southeast 230 miles, passing through Kerr, Kendall, Comal, Guadalupe, Gonzales, DeWitt, and Victoria counties (Elizabeth Smyrl). The Guadalupe … Continue reading The Guadalupe River’s Deadly Flooding

photo of cargo ship on body of water

Defining Economic Policy and Protectionism: A 21st Century Examination of the Jones Act

Economic policy is fundamentally based on the system of trade-offs. Considering any legislation and aiming to determine whether it is objectively helpful or harmful is dependent on values in a particular society in a particular time period and governed and populated by particular individuals (Goodman). Considering the immense spectrum of ideology that is predominant today, no policy can be singularly positive or negative. This notion … Continue reading Defining Economic Policy and Protectionism: A 21st Century Examination of the Jones Act

chicago theatre

The Hays Code: Censorship in Old Hollywood

In the 1920s, the relatively new film industry faced condemnation from members of the public—especially religious leaders—for being “too immoral”. Films of the time were daring and provocative, exploring sensitive topics like troubled relationships, crime, and innuendo. Some challenged social norms, portraying gay and interracial relationships and centering strong female characters. Others used shock value to draw viewers into theaters. The industry itself was also … Continue reading The Hays Code: Censorship in Old Hollywood

The Making of Nosferatu (1922)

Nosferatu has always faced controversy, from the original silent film to the contemporary horror film. Issues with Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror (1922) started before production even began; the founders of Prana film, Nosferatu’s studio, tasked screenwriter Henrik Galeen with writing the film based solely on Bram Stoker’s Dracula even though they had yet to gain the film rights to said story. However Galeen still … Continue reading The Making of Nosferatu (1922)

AI Explained: The History of AI & LLMs

AI of the Past Despite being a term used most frequently in the past two or so years, “artificial intelligence” has technically been around for over half a century. John McCarthy coined the term when talking at a conference at Dartmouth College in the mid-1950s, where he and researchers from Harvard, IBM, and Bell Telephone Laboratories proposed a research project into artificial intelligence. Unfortunately, the … Continue reading AI Explained: The History of AI & LLMs

The Fellowship of Tolkien and Lewis

Some may know that famous authors J.R.R Tolkien and C.S. Lewis were actually close friends, however not many know that the two were notorious for their digs at each other, both in person and in their novels.  Having established a reading club called the Inklings together at Oxford University, where they both taught, they would trade stories and help improve each other’s works. This however, … Continue reading The Fellowship of Tolkien and Lewis

Walter Freeman: The Man Who Popularized the Lobotomy

Editor’s Note: Viewer discretion is advised. This article describes the process of performing a lobotomy, an outdated brain-altering procedure that some may find disturbing. You’ve most likely heard of the lobotomy, a now discredited medical procedure that involves destroying brain tissue as a quick fix-all for mental health issues, and taking away the patient’s personality in the process. No matter how much time has passed, … Continue reading Walter Freeman: The Man Who Popularized the Lobotomy

Michigan and Affirmative Action: The Two Extremes

When President John F. Kennedy signed an executive order to establish affirmative action, many saw this as a step towards equality for all, abolishing race-based discrimination in America. However, this piece of legislation came into fiery debate when, in 2003, it was found that the University of Michigan favored the admissions of those in minority groups. Eventually, the practice was deemed unconstitutional by the Supreme … Continue reading Michigan and Affirmative Action: The Two Extremes

Pirate Joe’s: The Tale of the Canadian Trader Joe’s Reseller

Since its beginning in 1967, the American grocery chain Trader Joe’s has grown to massive heights, with over 500 locations across the country. However, emphasis on “across the country”. While the corporation is huge in the US, it has yet to expand into other countries. But that doesn’t stop the desire for its unique products.  A Canadian man named Michael Hallatt decided to take matters … Continue reading Pirate Joe’s: The Tale of the Canadian Trader Joe’s Reseller