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Following World War II, communism spread beyond Russia’s borders to Eastern and Central Europe, Latin America, and East Asia. Although not all communist states were alike, each were totalitarian dictatorships, and almost all of them had in place “reeducation” systems that subjected political prisoners, criminals, and everyday citizens to horrific physical and mental abuse. Some of these penal systems, such as the Soviet Union’s gulags, are well-known in West. Others have been all but forgotten, and in some communist states today, camp horrors still exist....

In the spirit of Easter, here are ten images of some of the most beautiful churches to be found around the world. 10 Unique Easter Traditions Around The World 10 Las Lajas Sanctuary In 2015, The Telegraph named the Las Lajas Sanctuary or Santuario de Las Lajas in Colombia as the most beautiful church in the world. This Gothic Revival style church is located inside a canyon and boasts fantastic architecture as well as a mysterious mural which origin is shrouded in mystery....

But, in a more tragic and troubling trend, the teachers and school administrators charged with setting young learners on the right path are also succumbing to the urge to help their students cheat as a means of ensuring money, job security, or institutional accolades. Sometimes their ploys are so staggeringly bold and widespread that they’re impossible to ignore. Here are 10 incredible cases where educators and school officials in the US and around the world have navigated the minefield of ethical temptation by seeking out the biggest explosives....

Infomercials do a great service: they provide a last-minute option for procrastinating shoppers who can’t think of or hand-make anything thoughtful in time, and need something “gift-like”, stat. Many Christmases could end in tragic, empty-armed disappointment if it weren’t for the bombardment of suggestions that come on the tube after about 3 A.M. Christmas, birthday and graduation gifts can henceforth, and effortlessly, be any assortment of a Snuggy, ShakeWeight or underwater electric razor....

In the 1930s, crime was out of control in the United States. In 1932, for example, there were 631 bank robberies. Gangsters would rob a bank, hold a teller hostage, blow up the safe, and make their getaway. In the rural Midwest, the Barker-Karpis gang robbed dozens of banks. They killed anyone who got in their way. In Chicago, Al Capone led a huge crime ring. Not only were these criminals robbing people blind, but they were getting away with it....

However, when we look at the facts and misconceptions, we begin to see a picture of people who seem a lot more human. It’s safe to say that the documentary you watched or the article you read was probably flat-out wrong. We’ll cover sociopaths in this article, too. Yes, there is a difference between the two, but the words are virtually synonymous and will be used interchangeably. So, without further ado, here are 10 ridiculously common misconceptions about psychopaths and sociopaths....

Although they all had the same gods and beliefs, there were no set practices that had to be followed and people worshiped only the gods that were relevant to their lives. Vikings also worshiped their dead ancestors, communicated with spirits, practiced divination and sorcery, and had a wide variety of burial practices. This resulted in a large range of ritual practices, both within and between communities. The Vikings passed on knowledge through oral history rather than writing things down....

10 Memoirs Of The Twentieth Century One of the first English-language texts to deal with the future was Memoirs of the Twentieth Century, written by Irish Anglican clergyman Samuel Madden and published in 1733. He claimed to have had the “honour and misfortune” to “have dar’d to enter by the help of an infallible Guide, into the dark Caverns of Futurity, and discover the Secrets of Ages yet to come.” The book was touted as its subtitle, “Original Letters of State, Under George the Sixth, Related to the most important Events in Great Britain and Europe ....

It’s hard to understand, but many Jewish Germans signed up for military service. Each man had his own reason to do it—often one of necessity. Told together, their stories give an incredible insight into life for a German Jew at the break of World War II. 10 Werner Goldberg There was a face you could find plastered on the walls of Nazi Germany: a swastika at his chest, standing proud over a proclamation that this was “The Ideal German Soldier....

But some of those plans aren’t the best-kept secrets. Some of our plots to crush each other have been leaked—and now we know exactly what would happen if, for example, the US and Canada went to war. These plans might seem crazy today, but if things had just gone a little bit differently, any one of them could have been a part of history. 10 War Plan Red: The American Plan To Invade Canada There was a time when the United States wasn’t totally sure what side it would take in World War II....

On this list are some legendary facts about other, also well-known, nature reserves around the world that might just inspire a bucket-list entry or two. 10 Dinosaurs in the Kruger South Africa is home to the world-famous Kruger National Park, where those in the mood for a safari can keep an eye out for a wide variety of wildlife and over 500 bird species. In addition, the area covered by this nature reserve is made up of six different ecosystems containing over 2,000 plant species....

What many people don’t know is that these three people are a small group of the many other people currently detained in non-U.S. prisons. This article lists just 10 of these individuals, but there are many more. 10 Airan Barry and Luke Denman (Venezuela) In August 2020, a Venezuelan court sentenced Airan Berry and Luke Denman, two former U.S. Army Special Forces members, to 20 years in prison after the two men attempted to help overthrow President Maduro....

10The Buried Village Of Kopachi After the Chernobyl disaster and the evacuation of the surrounding area, it was decided that the village of Kopachi, which had been heavily contaminated by the fallout, would be buried to keep the radiation down. The entire town was bulldozed except for two buildings, and then the rubble was buried. However, the burial only made the situation worse because radioactive chemicals made their way into the local water table....

To a lesser extent, this has happened in real life. Scientists perform experiments or express opinions that tiptoe the line of legal and moral guidelines (and sometimes somersault over it). That’s how they earn the label of “mad scientist.” Nikola Tesla was arguably the most famous example, but he’s hardly the only one. 10 Robert Cornish Dr. Robert Cornish was a genius. He graduated from Berkeley at 18 and received his doctorate at 22....

10Marius Gaius Marius is almost forgotten today, but he arguably did more than anyone to ensure the overthrow of the Republic. He was one of ancient Rome’s greatest generals, famous for his victory over nomadic German tribes that threatened Italy. But to defeat the Germans, Marius had to change Roman society forever. Rome’s legionaries were traditionally small landowners, who served for a short term before returning to their farms. However, Rome’s overseas conquests required legionaries to be away from their farms for long periods, plunging many into poverty....

This week featured a plethora of stories that would have been remarkable even two years ago but seem strangely ordinary in our brave new world. Populists won elections, investigations were opened in Washington into presidents and presidential candidates, a Hollywood figure was consumed in a sexism scandal, and JFK conspiracy theories went into overdrive. In other words, just another strange and regular week in the mind-blowing world of 2017....

Following a week bracketed by acts of wanton violence in Charlottesville and Barcelona, this week felt immeasurably calmer. But while savagery was thankfully absent from the headlines, there were still plenty of important stories unfolding across the globe. 10 We Discovered The Barcelona Attacks Were Nearly So Much Worse Last Thursday, a van sped along Barcelona’s crowded Las Ramblas thoroughfare targeting pedestrians. Later that night, a car driven by five men wearing fake suicide vests plowed into people in the town of Cambrils....

After a relatively dull crop of headlines last week, this week’s news exploded into turbo overdrive. Not one but two massive political storms battered DC, while an actual storm battered the Carolinas. Elsewhere, a new summit in North Korea made headlines again, while accusations rocked the British Labour Party. Also, a three-way international incident blew up between Israel, Russia, and Syria. Strap yourselves in for a bumpy ride. 10 Paul Manafort Flipped It took a long time, but he finally cracked....

10HIV Doesn’t Exist Closely connected to the crazy theory that HIV is man-made is the belief that the virus that causes Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) does not exist at all. According to this theory, AIDS is really caused by a combination of sexual behavior, recreational drug use, poor sanitation, and a number of unrelated diseases. The denial movement was pioneered by molecular biologist Peter Duesberg, who became the one of the earliest and most vocal proponents of HIV’s non-existence....

But many of us don’t know that medieval towns were havens for runaway serfs, a place where they could become free by law if they laid low long enough. Or that medieval people frequently ate fast food—probably even more so than we do now. Today, we’re bringing you 10 misconceptions about medieval town life. 10 Rich Innkeepers We all think the stereotypical medieval innkeeper was a big, burly man with a dirty apron who was wiping a mug with a stained rag....