Mount Athos

Mount Athos

Transcript In northern Greece, lying off the larger Chalkidiki peninsula is a place that is unique on planet Earth.  It only has a population of about 2,400 people scattered across 20 settlements and some random people living by themselves.   What makes this area unique is that all 2,400 of its citizens are monks and all …

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April Fool’s Day

April Fool's Day

Transcript Every day on April 1st, you have to be careful what you read and hear. This day, known to accounts as the beginning of the second quarter, is known to most people as April Fool’s Day.  Why do we have a day where we try to trick people, and why does that day occur …

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Why Did Hitler Declare War on the United States?

Why Did Hitler Declare War on the United States?

Transcript On December 11, 1941, Nazi Germany declared war on the United States.  The interesting thing about this decision is that they didn’t have to do it. In fact, it would have been far better had they not done it.  This decision has been one of the biggest mysteries of World War II. Learn more …

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Al Andalus: Moorish Spain

Al Andalus: Moorish Spain

Transcript If you think of Spain, you probably think of a predominantly catholic country with major cathedrals and churches in every village. However, most of the Iberian peninsula for almost 800 years was under Muslim control. The legacy of the Moorish occupation can still be seen in the names of places and some of Spain’s …

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The United State’s Name

The United State's Name

Transcript In 1776, 13 British colonies in North America declared their independence.  If you got a brand new country with that new country smell, what’s the first thing you need to do? Well, you need to come up with a name for the country.  Believe it or not, The United States of America wasn’t everyone’s …

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Why Does Vatican City Exist?

Why Does Vatican City Exist?

Transcript Located in the middle of Rome, the capital of Italy, is what many people consider to be the smallest country in the world: Vatican City.  However, Vatican City isn’t like other countries.  At all.  It is different in almost every respect to any other country, so much so, that it is reasonable to ask …

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Charles Cunningham Boycott

Charles Cunningham Boycott

Transcript Charles Cunningham Boycott was not a well-liked person amongst his neighbors in Ireland. No one would talk to him, no one would sell to him, and no one would work for him. He was so disliked that his very name became synonymous with refusing to do business with someone.  Learn more about Charles Cunningham …

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The Languages of Spain

The Languages of Spain

Transcript Most people think that languages and countries usually coincide. Germans speak German, the French speak French, and the Spanish speak Spanish. While this is largely true, it isn’t totally true. There are a host of small, regional languages which are only spoken by a few people. These languages are often ignored because they aren’t …

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Elizabeth Swaney and the Power of Just Showing Up

Elizabeth Swaney and the Power of Just Showing Up

Transcript Elizabeth Swaney was born in 1984 in Oakland, California. She attended the University of California Berkley where her only athletic accomplishment consisted of serving as the coxswain of the men’s rowing team.  Elizabeth, however, desperately wanted to be an olympian. The only thing standing in her way was a complete lack of athletic ability.  …

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