For 335 years the Netherlands - maybe - fought a long, protracted war against the Isles of Scilly, in the English Channel. It would drag on and on, costing a grand total of zero lives, and only ended when someone bothered to figure out if they were actually still at war. The is the story of the 335 Year War.

Sources

https://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofEngland/The-335-Year-War-the-Longest-War-in-History/ ; Scilly at War by R. L. Bowley

Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Abraham_Willaerts,_First_Dutch_War.jpeg

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At the age of 18, Peter I of Russia - aka - Peter the Great - formed a social club to celebrate the fun things in life - especially drinking. This group would last until Peter’s death - 34 years later. However, the club would become more than just a drinking gang. It became a way to thumb one's nose at convention, the church and the establishment. This is the story of the All-Joking, All-Drunken Synod of Fools and Jesters.

Sources

https://spiritedla.com/drunk-role-models-peter-the-great-edition/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_All-Joking,_All-Drunken_Synod_of_Fools_and_Jesters

Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Peter_I_by_Kneller.jpg

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In the summer of 1928 one of the happiest accidents in history occurred. Scottish Professor of Bacteriology Alexander Fleming returned from holiday to find bacteria samples had been left out, and one of them grew mold killing the bacteria. The mold was Penicillium Notatum, and it would save millions of lives. This is the story of the discovery of Penicillin.

Sources

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5403050/#sec6

https://www.acs.org/content/dam/acsorg/education/whatischemistry/landmarks/flemingpenicillin/the-discovery-and-development-of-penicillin-commemorative-booklet.pdf

Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sample_of_penicillin_mould_presented_by_Alexander_Fleming_to_Douglas_Macleod,_1935_(9672239344).jpg

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In April of 1862, Union forces began the siege of Fort Pulaski - which guarded the port of Savannah. The fort was seen as impregnable - with walls more than 10 feet thick. But the Union had some new weapons to deploy - rifled cannons. 30 hours after opening fire - entire sections of Fort Pulaski were reduced to rubble - forcing the Confederate defenders to surrender. This is the story of the Siege of Fort Pulaski.

Sources

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

https://www.nps.gov/fopu/index.htm

Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:FTPulaski1862a01.jpg

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In the mid 1850s the United State Army embarked on an unusual experiment - use camels to move troops and supplies throughout the southwestern deserts. Several dozen camels were purchased and they were led by some Greek pioneers, the leader of which was named Hadji Ali, or Hi Jolly. And though the US Camel Corps would be a failure, its story would never die, with Hi Jolly becoming a legend. This is the story of Hi Jolly and the United States Camel Corps.

Sources

https://www.armyupress.army.mil/Journals/Military-Review/Directors-Select-Articles/The-United-States-Army-Camel-Corps-1856-66/

https://helleniccomserve.com/philiptedro.html

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On Jan. 8, 1815, 8,000 British regulars began an assault on the city of New Orleans. When the smoke cleared - literally - more than 2,000 British troops were dead or injured. American casualties were less and 100. It was the most devastating defeat for England in the War of 1812. This is the story of the Battle of New Orleans.

Sources

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

https://www.battlefields.org/learn/war-1812/battles/new-orleans

Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Battle_of_New_Orleans.jpg

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In 1985 the Coca-Cola Company embarked on one of the worst product launches in history. They cast aside their iconic brand and taste in favor of chasing trends, and in the process disillusioned their most loyal customers. This is the story of New Coke.

Sources

https://www.coca-colacompany.com/about-us/history/new-coke-the-most-memorable-marketing-blunder-ever

https://www.thebrandingjournal.com/2025/02/new-coke/

Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:New_Coke_can.jpg

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World War II gave us many unique characters. One of the most eccentric was British army officer Jack Churchill. What made him so interesting? Perhaps it was his penchant for carrying a bow and arrow while on patrol. Or maybe it was the Scottish broadsword he carried on commando raids. Or perhaps it was the bagpipes he played to rally his men. This is the story of Fighting Jack Churchill.

Sources

https://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofBritain/Fighting-Jack_Churchill/

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

https://warfarehistorynetwork.com/article/mad-jack-churchill-a-rare-breed-of-warrior/

Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lt_Col_Jack_Churchill.tif?page=1

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In 1945 an ordinary chicken in Fruita, Colorado, was about to have an extraordinary day. His head was chopped off, but instead of dying, like most things do when decapitated, he survived for an astounding 18 months. He would go on a tour of the United States - generating thousands of dollars for his owners. This is the story of Mike the Headless Chicken.

Sources

https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-34198390

https://modernfarmer.com/2014/08/heres-chicken-can-live-without-head/

https://www.life.com/animals/life-with-mike-the-headless-chicken-photos-of-a-famously-tough-fowl/

Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Chicken_without_a_head.png

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In Newport, Rhode Island, a round stone tower sits atop a hill overlooking the city and waterfront. To many people, the intricately built tower has been as long as they can remember. And that leads us to the question of when exactly was the tower built. Was it by the early colonists? Or does it predate Europeans arriving in these waters? This is the mystery of the Newport Tower.

Sources

https://www.wpri.com/dont-miss/mysterious-newport-tower-shines-bright-on-winter-solstice/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newport_Tower_(Rhode_Island)

Image: By Ajay Suresh - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Newport_Tower_-_Newport,_RI_(51488606239).jpg

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