But Have You Heard About?

What did you think of todays' episode?

Picture it: a 30 year old Michael Jordan has just won his third championship in as many years with the Chicago Bulls. He doesn't look to be stopping--and yet, he retires on October 6th, 1993 to the shock of so many. Why would the greatest athlete at that time retire? His father was murdered that summer, he had taken a physical beating in those playoff games, and emotionally he wasn't in it. All of that adds up. But...what if it had to do with the gambling stories that came out during the NBA Finals in 1993? Or maybe it was all a ruse for him to try out baseball so it could all be included in the critically acclaimed and life changing movie Space Jam.

In this week's conspiracy theory episode, Matt and I tackle how Black Jesus, per Reggie Miller, retired and did it really have something to do with a NBA suspension for gambling? He had a brush with federal authorities in 1992 that made his gambling known, and then the May 24th Atlantic City visit during the Knicks game series, and then Esquinas' book. So...I mean...maybe?

For more information on Michael Jordan's father's death.

What did you think of todays' episode?

On this week's episode  we are taking a little detour from fun, gripping, or little known history to dive into something a bit more…creepy?  We are talking about the history of haunted and creepy dolls. What makes so many of us shiver in fear of raggedy Anne and Andy? How long have creepy dolls been...a thing? And not just dolls being creepy…but things in general being creepy. 
Dolls have been around for AGES, and mean a lot to many people. Whether they taught young girls skills like sewing, or how to act in certain societal situations--dolls have been there. And dolls can be made of anything and for anyone--cue husk dolls and GI Joe. 
If you ask a group of 15 people what they’re scared of…at least one person will say dolls. And probably one other person in that group will collect dolls. Thanks to psychologists, we have some answers to this idea of what is creepy and why are we so alert to things we deem as creepy. 
But the creepiest thing? Cursed or haunted dolls. We talk briefly about Annabelle, Robert, Lily, Letta, and Okiku in this week's episode--in case you need to go see if you are indeed creeped out by plastic, real hair, and pitter pattering in the night. 

Check out this week's episode and let me know your thoughts about dolls and creepy things.

What did you think of todays' episode?

Maybe you have heard about the face on Mars, or maybe this is your first time...just like Matt. Whatever the case may be, this week we cover the idea of intelligent design, aka aliens/lonely left on Mars human, in regards to the face on Mars photos. If you've never seen the photos, check out this link with a story from NASA. There are also other photos that many claim to see OTHER images in the rock formations/shadows.

Matt and I talk about the conspiracy pusher, Richard Hoagland, and his credentials (or lack thereof.) Without Hoagland's book, The Monuments of Mars, there may not have been such a huge movement of those interested or believing that the Face on Mars was intentionally made. Take a listen and let us know if you liked our first dabble into aliens/space conspiracy theories!

Looking for more information? Check out some of these links below:
https://www.space.com/36751-space-conspiracies.html 
https://www.space.com/17191-face-on-mars.html
http://www.tampabayskeptics.org/Mars_morefaces.html 
https://gpposner.com/Hoagland.html 

What did you think of todays' episode?

When we think about the Vietnam War, most Americans think of the at home protests, Forrest Gump and other movies after the 70s that showed the war through different angles, the casualties of soldiers, forced draft and draft dodgers, PTSD and more that came with the conflict. And cue Fortunate Son by CCR with the montage.

But…why was the US even involved in what was going on with Vietnam? That wasn’t in the US’s sphere of influence, like South America was, nor was Vietnam a contender in WWI or II. THAT question is what I go over in today's episode of But Have You Heard About? Spoiler alert, this all has to do with colonialism...and a sprinkle of communism. But colonialism and the vacuum that was left by the colonizers leaving. Ho Chi Minh is not a hero in American history, but he is in Vietnamese history, and while I barely touch on his contributions in today's episode, I do strongly suggest reading more about him if you are so intrigued.

For more reading about this topic:
https://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/teachers/lesson_plans/pdfs/unit12_1.pdf 

https://www.history.com/news/vietnam-war-origins-events 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_invasion_of_French_Indochina 

What did you think of todays' episode?

On this week's episode of But Have You Heard About Conspiracy Theory Edition, Matt and I go through a boat load of theories over the Titanic. From Did the Titanic sink or was it #shiptrapped and switched, to even more scientific ones like If the watertight doors had been used correctly, the Titanic would have settled on an even keel and perhaps remained afloat long enough for rescue ships to arrive.  Honestly, there are so many different theories about IF the ship sank, to what caused the sinking, and if there was foul play from the financial groups. The majority of these theories fall under "it could happen" or coincidental instances.  

Which of these do you think would be possible? Or, which was your favorite? Take a listen to hear which ones Matt and I like the best.

For more information:
Why They Sank The Titanic, 2012
Robin Gardiner; Ship That Never Sank
A list of more theories

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But have you heard about divorce ranches? Well, they were all the rage in Reno, and helped make Vegas a vacation destination and usher in the start of casino resorts we now know Vegas for.

But...what is a divorce ranch? Before the 1960s, divorce was VERY uncommon and was NOT easily obtainable for most. The time frame to go through with a divorce legally was long--about a year--and that's if you even qualified. While there were some places in the US in the early 1900s that allowed no-default divorce (meaning you just want to call it quit without someone being unfaithful, running out on you, or being unable to perform in bed), they were remote and more urban locations than the more populous areas on the east coast. However, Nevada saw an opportunity. They not only legalized gambling, they also granted no-fault divorces for any reason, and shortened the time you had to live in the state to become a resident and use the benefit of their divorce laws. 

After shortening the length of residency to 6 weeks, entrepreneurs in Nevada, especially the bigger city of Reno, saw an opportunity to rent out rooms, or cabins to have mostly women stay with them for 6 weeks to wait out their residency time before filing for divorce. Being stuck somewhere new for 6 weeks also meant dabbling in entertainment while there, hence casinos and their earlier shows. Over 325,000 divorces were finalized during this time. 

Tune in to this interesting little piece of American and Nevada state history. 

What did you think of todays' episode?

On this latest episode of But Have You Heard About, Matt and I discuss the more recent conspiracy theory that birds...aren't real. They're just decoys from the government to spy on us. Does it sound a bit far fetched? Well...it should. In 2017, Peter McIndoe created this preposterous idea. This came to life while at a Trump Rally; memes upon memes came from this photo. While holding his single sign of "Birds Aren't Real," he started a movement that has thousands in on the joke. For every, "ok but explain__" he has an answer, albeit a ridiculous one. 
So why are so many people in on this made up conspiracy theory? Well, most Birds Aren’t Real members, many of whom are part of an on-the-ground activism network called the Bird Brigade, grew up in a world overrun with misinformation. Some have relatives who have fallen victim to conspiracy theories. For many, the movement has become a way to collectively grapple with those experiences. 

Want to hear more about this actual fake theory? Take a listen and see if you agree that this theory might be a good way to help those that believe in other conspiracy theories see...how they might be wrong?

To learn more about Birds Aren't Real, you can visit their site to grab gear or sign up to be part of the activist network, you can go here:
https://birdsarentreal.com/ 

What did you think of todays' episode?

The partition of India is the largest and quickest mass migration of individuals, and glossed over in history.  As many formal subjects of the British Empire in what is now modern day India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh navigated to boundaries they didn't know about before August 15th of 1947, violence that many in Britain never expected erupted across the area. Many families were forever separated--not like there was a cell phone to call, nor did you know WHERE your family was going to settle after the new religious boundaries were drawn and enacted. While most migration and movement by individuals in the Indian subcontinent was completed by January 1948, the 5 months prior were full of not only murder, but acts that would be considered terrorist like to many nowadays. Take a listen as Trisha and I go over how the subject came up, and learn more about how this violent migration happened after the British left British India. 

Want more info? Check out the links below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ZS40U5yFpc 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DrcCTgwbsjc

https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2015/06/29/the-great-divide-books-dalrymple

What did you think of todays' episode?

On this latest conspiracy theory episode, Matt and I discuss a two part theory:
Was Walt Disney frozen? And did the Disney company create the Frozen movie franchise intentionally to mess up the algorithm from individuals searching online so when they type "frozen Disney" they see the movie, not the rumors and theories about Walt's body being frozen back in 1966?

When Walt died in 1966, the rumors started about him being frozen due to a few reasons. One, someone was announced to have been frozen shortly after his death. Second, his fascination with futuristic tech, evident in his design of Disney's Epcot, could mean he was very into the idea of cryogenic technology. Third, he was cremated, but there is no plaque at his family's plot for him, but there is one for his daughter. 

Have you been caught by the Snow Queen and need more? Tune in and let us know if you're a believer.

What did you think of todays' episode?

Many know the story about Emmett Till; a 15 year old Black child visiting Mississippi where he was kidnapped, tortured and abused by two men for supposedly offending a white woman. His body was recovered three days later in the Tallahatchie river, barely recognizable. His mother then held an open casket funeral back home in Chicago so the world could see what happened to her child. The two men, Roy Bryant (the husband of the offended white woman, Carolyn Bryant), and JW Milam, were charged and then found innocent by a jury of all white peers. They later admitted to killing Emmett, and sold their story. This murder and the ability for two white men to get off the hook so easily was one of the catalysts of the Civil Rights movement. While Roy and JW had shitty lives, Carolyn divorced Roy, and remarried...and still loves in Mississippi. Recently, an unserved warrant was found in the basement of a county sheriff office for Carolyn Bryant during the three days he was missing. The warrant was never served because she was a young white mother and it would be too bothersome for her to come in. 
So, what do we do now that there can be some justice for Emmett Till?

https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/till-timeline/
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/30/us/emmett-till-carolyn-bryant-arrest-warrant.html