Joe Streckert Dot Tumblr Dot Com @joestreckert - Tumblr Blog

Posts

After Mussolini proclaimed dictatorship in January of 1925 fascist Italy became the first modern totalitarian state. The regime extended its power and influence

Following the March on Rome Mussolini and the fascists cemented their grasp on power via an electoral reform known as the Acerbo Law, voter suppression and

The March on Rome is often cited as the beginning of Italian fascism. However, there was a fair amount of a run-up to the actual blackshirt invasion of the

browsethestacks

The Marvel(ous) Covers Of Bill Sienkiewicz

magictransistor

R. Buckminster Fuller

In this episode we try to answer (or at least clarify) one of the most vexing questions of political science, history, philosophy, and contemporary scholarship:

In this episode we try to answer (or at least clarify) one of the most vexing questions of political science, history, philosophy, and contemporary scholarship: What, exactly, is fascism?

Fascism is the most malignant of the major political ideologies, and one of the least understood. For fascism, the nation (and therefore state) are paramount.

Fascism is the most malignant of the major political ideologies, and one of the least understood. For fascism, the nation (and therefore state) are paramount. Considerations for the needs of social classes or individuals are subordinate to the state, if they are considered at all. While Germany is easily the most famous fascist state, this ideology had its origins in Italy following WWI.

Prior to 1870 the term “Italy” was a geographic designation, referring to a collection of kingdoms, city-states, and papal states that happened to share a boot-shaped peninsula. Curiously, this collection of disparate elements would form not only a national identity, but a particularly violent, extreme one. One that would form the basis of probably the most destructive ideology of the past one hundred years.

This week's show is an interview with Heather Arndt Anderson, author of Chilies: A Global History. We talk about the origins of chilies, their spread around the

This week’s show is an interview with Heather Arndt Anderson, author of Chilies: A Global History. We talk about the origins of chilies, their spread around the globe, how they were perceived and used by the people who found them, and how, occasionally, they have been used as a highly painful weaponized plant.

thenib

Fake Christmas Trees, Classified, from John Leavitt

Ghost Rider Saves Christmas

A Visit From the Spirit of Vengeance

by Joe Streckert, with apologies to Clement Clarke Moore

Twas the Night before Christmas and all through 616

No one was battling or punching through bricks.

The heros and villians were snug in their beds,

While visions of laserbeams danced through their heads.

Except for Santa, who was battling the Beyonder

(It's complicated, really. Too much to ponder.)

Back at the North Pole his sleigh was unmanned,

And Christmas was looking to not go as planned.

“Who will save Christmas?!” cried the highly stressed elves,

“We can't fly the sleigh, or we'd do it ourselves.

“Namor's a jerk. Hulk is too crazy.

“Iron man maybe, but he's drunk and lazy.

“Squirrel Girl would just give everyone nuts,

“Who, oh who, will save Christmases' butt?”

And out of the snow a dark figure strode,

After dismounting the chopper he rode.

His skull was aflame like a bright Christmas star,

And he smelled vaguely of asphalt, brimstone, and tar.

“I know how to ride,” said the skeletal guy,

“I know how to drive, how to jet, how to fly,

“Gimme the reins, I'll get everywhere fast,

“And I'll save Christmas before this night is past.”

And mounting upon the red reindeer sled,

The Rider said “It might look like we’re undead,

“Don't worry it happens to all of my rides,

“We grow spikes and flames and lose our fleshy hides

“The reindeer, though, will be fine when we're done,

“And I hope they find the new powers quite fun.”

He sat down and the sleigh was enveloped in fire,

Chains and spikes spouted into death metal spires,

The reindeer became skeletons, covered in flames,

And the Rider shouted their new fiery names:

ON COMBAT, ON CRUISER, ON HEXXEN AND FLAYER!

ON LIGHTNING, ON CHOPPER, ON BOMBER AND SLAYER!

With the screeching of tires and the flashing of chrome,

He delivered comfort and joy to each and every home!

In Wakanda, Sokovia, and all through Latveria,

Uganda, Alberta, and Southwest Bavaria.

Stargazers world over said “You don't want to miss this!”

“Tonight the Spirit of Vengeance

“Is a SPIRIT OF CHIRSTMAS!”

Santa or no, Christmas was here,

Decked out in leather and sick riding gear.

A hero who sported the visage of doom,

Streaked like a comet in the light of the moon.

And he shouted like an echo as he continued his flight,

HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO ALL,

AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT!

2016 has been a year marked by death. In this episode we get into a few other years notable for being especially deadly, and why this past year has felt so

2016 has been a year marked by death. In this episode we get into a few other years notable for being especially deadly, and why this past year has felt so particularly lethal.

In this episode we tackled one of the major issues of our time: Why haven't more countries used moose as Cavalry? Sweden tried it. The Soviet Union also tried

In this episode we tackled one of the major issues of our time: Why haven’t more countries used moose as Cavalry? Sweden tried it. The Soviet Union also tried it. But, the mighty moose has consistently resisted being turned into a weapon of war.

Fidel Castro, after being in power in Cuba since the 1950s, is finally dead. Castro was known for his long reign as Cuba's dictator, but he was also known for

Fidel Castro, after being in power in Cuba since the 1950s, is finally dead. Castro was known for his long reign as Cuba’s dictator, but he was also known for surviving a large amount of assassination attempts. The most common figure bandied about regarding the total number of attempts on Castro’s life by the U.S. is 634, but that number only comes from a single source. We’ll probably never know, really, how many attempts on his life there were, but some of the most notable examples included a series of unconventional ways to potentially murder someone.

archatlas

#SymmetricalMonsters

eatsleepdraw

Squanto and other Native Americans are a fixture of popular depictions of what has retroactively been termed the First Thanksgiving, such as in the fanciful,

Squanto and other Native Americans are a fixture of popular depictions of what has retroactively been termed the First Thanksgiving, such as in the fanciful, inaccurate 1914 painting pictured below, by Jennie Brownscombe. That popular image, reproduced so much in elementary school pageants and dioramas, is pat and unsophisticated. The actual story of Tisquantum (of which “Squanto” is an abbreviation) is much more complex. It is a story of slavery, travel, exploration, tragedy, and politics, all of which lurk behind and complicate the standard picture of the first Thanksgiving.

radracerlifted

The Polybius Mystery:

Polybius is an arcade cabinet described in an urban legend, which is said to have induced various psychological effects on players. The story describes players suffering from amnesia, night terrors, and a tendency to stop playing all video games. Around a month after its supposed release in 1981, Polybius is said to have disappeared without a trace. There is no evidence that such a game has ever existed.

The game has shown up in movies & tv shows like The Simpsons and Wreck it Ralph.

8bitrevolver

I want to believe

mysterymanbob-deactivated201804

absolutely my favorite urban legend by far, I used to follow a forum dedicated to just pooled information about cabinet sightings in old scrapbook photographs and family members who claim to have seen or even played the game. most claims on the forum say the can’t really remember anything about the game down to even what kind of game it was.

bravebattalion

Y'all should listen to the Weird History with @joestreckert ep about this

Trending Blogs

Recently Viewed Blogs

Joe Streckert Dot Tumblr Dot Com