Based, Biased, or BS

It's your last year of high school and your journey has been a whirlwind. Some people are even surprised you made it to senior year seeing as your school is about to lose it accreditation. But you even passed your AP Calculus test ... or did you?

Get your pencils out and those noggings working in overdrive because we've got an Advanced Placement test to take! Madi tells all about Jaime Escalante and the students he helped to inspire.

Don't forget, all pictures from today's episode can be found here!

Sources:

"Teacher who inspired..." - NBC News

"Jaime Escalante" by J.J. O'Connor & E.F. Robertson - MacTutor

"Students 'Stand and..." by Karen Grigsby Bates - NPR

"What Happened to the..." - Endante

"What Jaime Escalante..." by Heather Kirn Lanier - EducationWeek

"Stand and Deliver Revisited" by Jerry Jesness - Reason

You just turned 18 a couple months ago, you've got a huge crush on that boy Albert, and you should be getting ready for your final year in high school. But instead, you're being woken up at 6am by your mom, it's the first day of the rest of your life. Because today, you become the Queen of England.

We heading way back this week and learning all about Queen Victoria who took over as sovereign in England at the age of 18.

Don't forget, all pictures (and portraits) from today's episode can be found here!

Sources:

"Queen Victoria" - History.com

⁠"Excerpts from Queen Victoria's Diary"⁠ - Royal.gov.uk Archives

"Queen Victoria" - Wikipedia

"The Victorian Era" - Royal Museums Greenwich

"Did Prince Albert really..." - The Guardian

"What is a Prince Albert..." - Dan Keane - The US Sun

In 1903, Elizabeth Maggie Phillips came up with a new game, called The Landlord's Game, to protest against monopolists Andrew Carnegie and John D. Rockefeller. But, it's been credited to Charles Darrow since 1935 when it was sold and called, Monopoly. Will the artist behind the works signed "Keane" get what she deserves?

Madi brings us into the 1950's art world with the story of Margaret Keane and her infamous Big Eye paintings.

Don't forget, all pictures from today's episode can be found here!

Sources:

"Margaret Keane: Big Eyes..." - BBC

"The story of artist Margaret..." by Aimee Ferrier - Far Out Magazine

"Margaret Keane" - Biography.com

"About Margaret" - Keane Eyes Gallery

"Walter Keane - Epic Art Fraud..." - Artlyst

"Relative of discredited..." by Jessica Gelt - LA Times

"Margaret Keane" - Wikipedia

Was this series Based, Biased, or just plain BS? Our Limited Series Series season finale is here and we are comparing the true life story of Halston with its portrayal in the Netflix series!

LSS will be back soon with another limited series to binge so keep those eyes peeled. BUT in the meantime, if you have suggestions on films or series to cover you can contact us at [email protected]

Sources:

"Who is Halston?" by Layla Ilchi - Women's Wear Daily

"Halston" - Biography.com

"The True Story of Halston..." by Adrienne Westenfeld - Esquire

"Halston and Ultrasuede" - TORAY

"Inside Halston and Liza Minnelli's..." by Julie Miller - Vanity Faire

"How Halston Lost His..." by Arya Roshanian - Bustle

Out on the most northern tip of this country hides the small town of Nome, Alaska. In 1925, when no trains, ships, or airplanes can reach that far north during winter, the town falls ill with a deadly infection. Now only one group can save the day: Mushers.

Grab your parkas and your sleds because we've got a town to save! Zach tells us all about the true story behind "Balto" and the 1925 Serum Run to Nome.

Don't forget, all pictures from today's episode can be found here!

Sources:

"Serum Run of 1925" - Alaska State Archives

"The Real Story of Amblin's Balto" - American Kennel Club

"1925 Serum Run to Nome" - Wikipedia

"Balto and Togo, Two Great Sled Dogs" by Kate Kelly - America Comes Alive

"Race History" by Don Bowers - Iditarod

"Mushing" - Wikipedia

The reviews are in and prospects are not looking great for Halston. The kingdom of pill-box hats, obscure perfume bottles, and $40,000 orchids has begun to crumble.

Plus you won't want to miss our LSS season finale next week where Madi gives us the TRUE STORY of Halston. Meet back here next Tuesday and we'll decide if it's Based, Biased, or just plain BS.

Don't forget pictures from the episode can be found here!

And you can watch Halston for yourself, here!

"There is something delicious about writing the first words of a new story. You never quite know where they'll take you. I believe there is a great power silently working all things for good. Behave yourself, and never mind the rest."

Squirrel Nutkin and Mrs. Tiggy-winkle are waiting for you up at Hill Top farm so please don't keep them waiting! On today's episode, Madi tells us all about the creative (and scientific) career of Beatrix Potter.

Sources:

"The Tale of Peter Rabbit: a work by Potter" by Cathy Lowne - Britannica

"The Secret Life of Beatrix Potter" by Anna Russell - The New Yorker

The Beatrix Potter Society

"15 Fascinating Facts..." by Claire Cock-Starkey - Mental Floss

"Beatrix Potter" - Famous Scientists

Gifts from the sky, manna from heaven, a rainstorm after a long draught, and even Chicken Little. Themes of gifts or messages falling from the sky have been circulating throughout our stories for centuries. And whether you believe it's a holy higher power, aliens, or just coincidence, the truth is, sometimes the gifts that come from above are actually not gifts at all.

It's Madi's birthday this week so Zach is telling us all about the wild, true story of Drew Thornton and the Cocaine Bear.

Sources and More Info:

"Cocaine Bear: The True Story"

"The True Story Behind..." by Zack Sharf - Variety

"Drew Thornton and Cocaine Bear" Sinisterhood Podcast Part 1 & Part 2

"Cocaine Bear (bear)" - Wikipedia

"Andrew C. Thornton II" - Wikipedia

"Who was Andrew Thornton..." by Meredith Howard - Lexington Herald Leader

"Behind-The-Scenes Facts..." by Jess Goodwin - Buzzfeed

Perfume eau de Jockstrap. Ultra-Suede luggage. And the opening of the iconic Studio 54! What more could you want?

Episode 3 truly has everything! Dive back in to the Halston story with us and see exactly what it takes to create America's next favorite fragrance.