Author: James Dorman

Americans have a few habits and quirks that seem perfectly natural at home but may seem a little strange to others around the world. When Americans are spotted in another country, some of these habits might seem downright weird. Here are a few of the ways people claim to be able to spot American tourists when they’re abroad. Ice, Ice, Baby Source: Lanju Fotografie/Unsplash Starting things off with a response on the Reddit thread “Besides their accent, what’s one way you know a tourist is American?”, apparently Americans are notable for asking for extra ice in their drinks. In cooler…

There’s an aquatic mystery just off the California coast that has baffled scientists for decades. A geological phenomenon marks the seafloor just off the coast of Bug Sur.  Thousands of small holes litter the seabed. Their origin has been a mystery since they were first surveyed, but scientists may now have an idea as to what caused these distinctive depressions. The Sur Pockmark Field Source: MBARI The Sur Pockmark Field is a stretch of seabed along the California central coastline, some 1,600 to 5,200 feet below sea level. It lies in an area that’s a strong prospect for future offshore…

Human existence seems fascinated by the notion of death and what may lie beyond. It’s the topic of religion, philosophy, and even literature — death is the journey to Shakespeare’s “undiscovered country.” Now it’s time for science to enter the realm of death, and there is a rather unique perspective if we apply quantum mechanics. Death may not actually exist. Perception Is Reality Source: Andreas Kind/Unsplash There are a lot of abstract concepts and fairly involved theories involved in this viewpoint, but much of it largely comes down to the notion that existence isn’t static, but rather depends on how…

If there is one thing McDonald’s always seems to have excelled at, it is building and nurturing a strong brand identity. This starts with their iconic brand logo — the “golden arches.” The golden “M” is synonymous with McDonald’s and you’ll find it outside of every McDonald’s restaurant in the world. Well, almost every restaurant. McDonald’s Branding Source: Visual Karsa/Unsplash One of the keys to the success of McDonald’s as a franchise is consistency. The popular fast food chain has worked hard to make sure that customers know they’re getting the same thing when they go into a restaurant anywhere…

If there’s one question that has occupied mankind more than any other ever since we started to understand more about the nature of the universe, it may be this: are we alone? A lot of theories abound, some more plausible-sounding than others, but what is lacking is concrete proof. Well, that may not be the case for much longer. An independent extraterrestrial researcher believes a massive alien spaceship is right here on Earth, hiding in plain sight. Life Beyond Earth Source: S. Widua/Unsplash There was a time when the notion of life beyond Earth was relegated purely to the realms…

In an extremely rare event, an uncontacted tribe has been photographed on a riverbank in the remote Peruvian Amazon. The reason for this unprecedented emergence has somewhat troubling undertones, though. This sighting, amid other developments in the region, may mean that potentially violent problems are on the horizon. The Sighting Source: Hans Luiggi/Unsplash More than 50 members of the Indigenous, uncontacted Mashco Piro tribe were recently photographed on a riverbank in the remote Peruvian Amazon. Believed to be the world’s largest uncontacted tribe, encounters with the Mashco Piro are extremely rare. This sighting of members of this incredibly reclusive community…

Things are showing no sign of quietening down in what has already been a wild and unpredictable presidential election campaign.  Vice President Kamala Harris has unsurprisingly received endorsement and support from top Democrats following the departure of President Biden from the race. But Harris is also getting vocal support from an unexpected place — the heart of the opposition. A Campaign Within a Campaign Source: Clay Banks/Unsplash In a move that in any other presidential race would be almost unthinkable, GOP leaders are mobilizing to rally support for the Democratic candidate come election day. The Vice President’s campaign officially launched…

Insect bites are a main cause of irritation in warmer weather, whether you’re trying to enjoy a picnic outside or simply get to sleep on a hot summer’s night. Mosquito bites are a particular annoyance and are always best to be avoided. Now, though, it seems it’s more important than ever to protect yourself from bites. Dengue Fever Is on the Rise Source: CDC/Unsplash The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recently issued a health advisory warning Americans of the increasing threat of dengue fever. Instances of dengue fever, which is spread by mosquitoes, in the Americas have…

The Treasury Department is concerned that conservative state laws pushed by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and championed as “anti-woke” could have worrying widespread consequences. Ostensibly, the laws are in place to restrict banks from making decisions based on non-financial factors. However, the Treasury is concerned that they could hamper law enforcement and potentially even pose a national security threat. The Treasury’s Concerns Source: AgnosticPreachersKid/Wikimedia Commons The Treasury Department sent a letter to lawmakers detailing their concerns about potentially dangerous legislation. In it, they singled out a law signed by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. The law states that allowing banks to…

Mechanisms are in place within the American political system to prevent individuals from unilaterally exercising their power to the potential detriment of others. Or, that’s how it’s supposed to work. Critics are accusing Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin of totally circumventing checks on his executive powers as he rolls back environmental legislation. Youngkin’s Power Grab Source: Wikimedia Commons The Republican governor has been advancing elements of his party’s conservative agenda regarding environmental policy. This apparent power grab from Youngkin includes rolling back standards regarding auto pollution aimed at having cleaner cars on the road. He’s also withdrawn the state from the Regional…