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	<title>The History Bluff</title>
	<atom:link href="http://www.thehistorybluff.com/feed/" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" />
	<link>http://www.thehistorybluff.com</link>
	<description>Making a Mess of History</description>
	<pubDate>Tue, 06 Jan 2009 05:33:48 +0000</pubDate>
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	<language>en</language>
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		<title>Snapshot of History: European Beaches of the 1890&#8217;s</title>
		<link>http://www.thehistorybluff.com/2009/01/snapshot-of-history-european-beaches-of-the-1890s/</link>
		<comments>http://www.thehistorybluff.com/2009/01/snapshot-of-history-european-beaches-of-the-1890s/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 06 Jan 2009 03:31:40 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>The History Bluff</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Historical Events]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[features]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.thehistorybluff.com/?p=612</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[European beaches during the 1890's were rife with indecency, prompting local priests to clamp down.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-613" title="felixstowe" src="http://www.thehistorybluff.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/felixstowe.jpg" alt="felixstowe" width="462" height="344" /></p>
<p><em>This particular beach at Felixstowe, Suffolk, UK was condemned by local priests during the 1890&#8217;s as an &#8220;abomination&#8221; and &#8220;host to a superfluity of naughtiness.&#8221; The priests claimed that female beachgoers left little to the imagination. </em></p>
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		<item>
		<title>The Invention of the Hoagie</title>
		<link>http://www.thehistorybluff.com/2009/01/the-invention-of-the-hoagie/</link>
		<comments>http://www.thehistorybluff.com/2009/01/the-invention-of-the-hoagie/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 05 Jan 2009 05:41:51 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>The History Bluff</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Historical Figures]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[earl of sandwich]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[features]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[hoagie]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[sandwich]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.thehistorybluff.com/?p=601</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The Earl of Sandwich has basked in fame for long enough. The time has come to tell the story of the Count of Hoagie.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The 4th Earl of Sandwich, John Montagu, and the 2nd Count of Hoagie, George Ramler, are credited with inventing the modern sandwich and hoagie. <em>The History Bluff </em>has found that Montagu&#8217;s first sandwich was made of rye, ham, and cheese while Ramler made his first hoagie of French bread, ham, turkey, roast beef, cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, and a special sauce made of ketchup, vinegar, pepper, and sugar.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-605" title="earlsandwich" src="http://www.thehistorybluff.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/earlsandwich.jpg" alt="earlsandwich" width="236" height="278" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>John Montagu is credited with the invention of the sandwich.</em></p>
<p>Raised in wealthy English homes, Montagu and Ramler were virtually inseparable. As life wore on, the boys remained friends but were regarded differently by the public. Montagu eventually served as the First Lord of the Admiralty while Ramler never achieved a high office that would bring him lasting fame.</p>
<p>The exact date of when the two friends made their discovery is unknown. We do know, however, that it was Ramler who first had the idea to put slices of meat in between bread - he named his creation <em>hoagie</em>. Because of Montagu&#8217;s status in society, his <em>sandwich </em>became more well-known and common throughout the world.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img class="size-full wp-image-606 aligncenter" title="hoagie" src="http://www.thehistorybluff.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/hoagie.jpg" alt="hoagie" width="299" height="199" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>Known for its formidable size and carrying capacity, the hoagie is the sandwich&#8217;s robust big brother.</em></p>
<p>Ramler did not mind that Montagu got all the glory because as he said, &#8220;The hoagie is more than twice the man the sandwich will ever be.&#8221;</p>
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		<title>Caption Contest Winner Announced</title>
		<link>http://www.thehistorybluff.com/2009/01/caption-contest-winner-announced-7/</link>
		<comments>http://www.thehistorybluff.com/2009/01/caption-contest-winner-announced-7/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 03 Jan 2009 01:26:48 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>The History Bluff</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Caption Contest]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[features]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.thehistorybluff.com/?p=594</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Today we announce the first The History Bluff caption contest winner of 2009! And it is&#8230;[drumroll]&#8230;Mark H with the following caption:

A typical New York evening during the latest public transit strike.
Mark H, if you&#8217;d like a The History Bluff bookmark free of charge, send an email to Promotions@TheHistoryBluff.com with a mailing address. 


   [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Today we announce the first <em>The History Bluff</em> caption contest winner of 2009! And it is&#8230;[drumroll]&#8230;<strong>Mark H</strong> with the following caption:</p>
<p><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-550" title="newyears" src="http://www.thehistorybluff.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/newyears.jpg" alt="newyears" width="446" height="281" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>A typical New York evening during the latest public transit strike.</em></p>
<p style="text-align: left;">Mark H, if you&#8217;d like a <em>The History Bluff </em>bookmark free of charge, send an email to Promotions@TheHistoryBluff.com with a mailing address. <em><br />
</em></p>
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		<title>Oscar Runtfeld: Native American Photographer</title>
		<link>http://www.thehistorybluff.com/2009/01/oscar-runtfeld-native-american-photographer/</link>
		<comments>http://www.thehistorybluff.com/2009/01/oscar-runtfeld-native-american-photographer/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 02 Jan 2009 06:40:15 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>The History Bluff</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Historical Figures]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Top Ten List]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[features]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Geronimo]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Oscar Runtfeld]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[photographer]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.thehistorybluff.com/?p=587</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Oscar Runtfeld gave everything for posterity's sake.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Photojournalists, especially those in war zones, are unsung heroes who regularly put their lives on the line for the sake of documenting world events. <em>The History Bluff </em>honors one of them: Oscar Runtfeld, the man brave enough to photograph the unpredictable and fearsome Geronimo.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img class="size-full wp-image-588 aligncenter" title="geronimo" src="http://www.thehistorybluff.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/geronimo.jpg" alt="geronimo" width="263" height="320" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>This photo of Geronimo is the last photo taken by Oscar Runtfeld.</em></p>
<p style="text-align: left;">In 1887 Runtfeld managed to get Geronimo, the leader of the Chiricahua Apache tribe, to sit for a portrait. The picture-taking process took almost an hour, during which Runtfeld asked Geronimo to remain motionless.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">Runtfeld&#8217;s body was found later in the day by an assistant of his. The coroner said the unfortunate photographer died of a single gunshot wound.</p>
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		<title>Top 10 New Year&#8217;s Resolutions by Former US Presidents</title>
		<link>http://www.thehistorybluff.com/2008/12/top-10-new-years-resolutions-by-former-us-presidents/</link>
		<comments>http://www.thehistorybluff.com/2008/12/top-10-new-years-resolutions-by-former-us-presidents/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 01 Jan 2009 02:43:03 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>The History Bluff</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Top Ten List]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[features]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.thehistorybluff.com/?p=564</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Take a peek at what US Presidents put down on their list of New Year's Resolutions.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>It&#8217;s a brand new year and many have resolved to start their lives anew, whether it be shedding a few pounds or cleaning out the garage. While cleaning out our archives at <em>The History Bluff</em>, we discovered a collection of New Year&#8217;s Resolutions written by former US Presidents. Here is just a sampling:</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.thehistorybluff.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/newyearsresolutionspresidents1.jpg"><img class="size-large wp-image-566 aligncenter" title="newyearsresolutionspresidents1" src="http://www.thehistorybluff.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/newyearsresolutionspresidents1-400x1024.jpg" alt="newyearsresolutionspresidents1" width="400" height="1024" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Visit our sponsor at http://Worthwhile.com and be sure to share this list with your friends!</p>
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		<title>Count Vlad the Candyman</title>
		<link>http://www.thehistorybluff.com/2008/12/count-vlad-the-candyman/</link>
		<comments>http://www.thehistorybluff.com/2008/12/count-vlad-the-candyman/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 31 Dec 2008 03:25:36 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>The History Bluff</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Historical Figures]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[features]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Vlad the Impaler]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Willy Wonka]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.thehistorybluff.com/?p=557</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Vlad the Impaler was a candymaker who also happened to be one of the most horrible men in all of history.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Tales of Count Vlad III the Impaler are many and intensely terrible. He was exceedingly cruel to men and women who crossed his path, but he was also a generous and skilled candymaker during the mid-15th century. Historians at <em>The History Bluff</em> have discovered the true tale behind this innovative man.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img class="size-full wp-image-558 aligncenter" title="vlad" src="http://www.thehistorybluff.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/vlad.jpg" alt="vlad" width="200" height="212" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>Vlad the Impaler served as the inspiration for the fictional character Count Dracula.</em></p>
<p>As a boy growing up in Sighişoara, Transylvania, Vlad developed a sweet tooth by often visiting an elderly lady who made candies for neighborhood children. From his experiences with her, Vlad became interested in creating new candies for the other children to enjoy. The adults he knew scorned him and questioned aloud why he did not participate in swordplay and other skills befitting his family&#8217;s royal status.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">Years passed by and Vlad became calloused toward adults. While he ruled the kingdom of Wallachia, he became known for his horrible punishment of everyone above the age of eighteen and became known as Vlad the Impaler. Although he impaled their parents, Vlad was generous to children, always giving them new and exciting candies.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">
<img class="size-full wp-image-559 aligncenter" title="wonka" src="http://www.thehistorybluff.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/wonka.jpg" alt="wonka" width="214" height="285" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>The story of Willy Wonka is inspired by Count Vlad&#8217;s innovation with candies.</em></p>
<p>In December of 1476, Vlad perfected the candy cane, converting it into a hard candy versus the chewy candy version invented by French priests in the early 1400&#8217;s.  Later in that same month, Count Vlad was licking a candy cane down to a pointy end. Fittingly, he accidentally pierced the back of his throat with the sharpened candy cane and slowly bled to death.</p>
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		<title>Snapshot of History: Women&#8217;s Rights in Spain</title>
		<link>http://www.thehistorybluff.com/2008/12/snapshot-of-history-womens-rights-in-spain/</link>
		<comments>http://www.thehistorybluff.com/2008/12/snapshot-of-history-womens-rights-in-spain/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 30 Dec 2008 04:16:02 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>The History Bluff</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Historical Events]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[features]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[This is the story of one man's women and the rights they won in early 20th century Spain.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p style="text-align: center;"><img class="size-full wp-image-554 aligncenter" title="spaincar" src="http://www.thehistorybluff.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/spaincar.jpg" alt="spaincar" width="455" height="191" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">In 1920 Francisco was forced to allow his women to ride on his car&#8217;s running boards instead of having them push the car in order to save on gas.</p>
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		<title>The Annoying Von Trapp Family</title>
		<link>http://www.thehistorybluff.com/2008/12/the-annoying-von-trapp-family/</link>
		<comments>http://www.thehistorybluff.com/2008/12/the-annoying-von-trapp-family/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 29 Dec 2008 06:15:21 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>The History Bluff</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Historical Figures]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[features]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[The Sound of Music]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Von Trapp]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA["The Sound of Music" inaccurately portrayed a musical family the world has come to love.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The portrayal of the Trapp family in the Broadway musical and film <em>The Sound of Music </em>is a favorable image, created by those closest to the family. Film critics at <em>The History Bluff</em> who teamed up with our archivists found out that most people during the 1930&#8217;s-1950&#8217;s considered the Trapp family to be &#8220;pretentious and, all things considered, undeniably annoying.&#8221;</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.thehistorybluff.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/von_trapp_family_320x240.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image-542 aligncenter" title="von_trapp_family_320x240" src="http://www.thehistorybluff.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/von_trapp_family_320x240.jpg" alt="von_trapp_family_320x240" width="320" height="240" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>The Trapp family was described by contemporaries as &#8220;lacking the ability to comfortably interact as normal people do.&#8221;</em></p>
<p>House guests of the Trapps were often thrown into awkward situations when members of the family would break out into song without warning while they were eating dinner, cleaning their rooms, or about to prepare for bed. The guests quite simply never knew what situation would soon be turned into a musical with the whole family dancing about on chairs, stairs, steps, stools, and beds.</p>
<p>While most people considered the Trapp family to be eccentric they had a few friends who, unfortunately for the majority of the world, encouraged the family to go on musical tours. The family heeded the advice and began to tour the world, singing at prestigious locations but rarely was the family invited back for a second performance. Those who worked with them described the family as &#8220;overbearing and lacking personality.&#8221; The family did not know how to interact with others beyond singing.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img class="size-full wp-image-543 aligncenter" title="sound01" src="http://www.thehistorybluff.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/sound01.jpg" alt="sound01" width="317" height="236" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>The Trapp family as portrayed in &#8220;The Sound of Music.&#8221;</em></p>
<p>When work began on the musical, family members and friends used the family&#8217;s newly acquired fortune to buy their way into the musical&#8217;s decision-making process. The musical then set the tone for the movie, which was released in 1965 and starred the beautiful and talented Julie Andrews.</p>
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		<title>Caption Contest Winner Announced</title>
		<link>http://www.thehistorybluff.com/2008/12/caption-contest-winner-announced-6/</link>
		<comments>http://www.thehistorybluff.com/2008/12/caption-contest-winner-announced-6/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 26 Dec 2008 06:39:42 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>The History Bluff</dc:creator>
		
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		<description><![CDATA[We trust you had a very merry Christmas! This holiday week got even better for Bryant who won the caption contest with this caption he emailed to us:

Sally received what she wanted for Christmas: An Einstein Barbie.

    

	]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>We trust you had a very merry Christmas! This holiday week got even better for Bryant who won the caption contest with this caption he emailed to us:</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img class="size-full wp-image-529 aligncenter" title="christmas-caption" src="http://www.thehistorybluff.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/christmas-caption.jpg" alt="christmas-caption" width="321" height="500" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>Sally received what she wanted for Christmas: An Einstein Barbie.</em></p>
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		<title>The Thirteenth Day of Christmas</title>
		<link>http://www.thehistorybluff.com/2008/12/the-thirteenth-day-of-christmas/</link>
		<comments>http://www.thehistorybluff.com/2008/12/the-thirteenth-day-of-christmas/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 25 Dec 2008 02:00:38 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>The History Bluff</dc:creator>
		
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		<description><![CDATA[A popular Christmas tune was recently found to be missing a verse that corresponds with the assassination of the song's writer.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The title of the popular song &#8220;The Twelve Days of Christmas&#8221; is not in celebration of the days following the evening of December 25 as most believe. The song was written by Leo V the Armenian, emperor of the Byzantine Empire, in celebration of the gifts he was given during the twelve days before his assassination.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img class="size-full wp-image-502 aligncenter" title="leov" src="http://www.thehistorybluff.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/leov.jpg" alt="leov" width="258" height="129" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>An ancient coin depicting Leo V.</em></p>
<p>One month before the Christmas of 820, Leo V divorced the sister-in-law of one of his military commanders - a man named Michael. Embittered by the breakup and spiteful toward Leo V&#8217;s newest love interest, Michael devised a scheme to send twelve lavish gifts to Leo - one for each of the twelve days leading up to Christmas Day. The gifts were sent in the name of Leo V&#8217;s lover who was visiting with her parents for the holidays.</p>
<p>Michael sent Leo the first gift, a partridge in a pear tree, also leaving a note telling Leo to go to the cathedral Hagia Sophia each day leading up to Christmas to receive the next gift. On the twelfth day, Michael sent twelve drummers drumming to Hagia Sophia with the message that the thirteenth, and final, gift would be delivered the next day on December 25. On the night of December 24, Leo penned what would be the final verse of his celebratory song.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-499" title="twelvexmasfeature" src="http://www.thehistorybluff.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/twelvexmasfeature.jpg" alt="twelvexmasfeature" width="381" height="153" /></p>
<p>On Christmas Day, Leo went to the cathedral early to pray in preparation for his final gift. While Leo was at the altar, Michael and twelve men killed Leo&#8217;s guards and entered the cathedral where they assassinated the emperor. Thirteen Men a-Killing was the final gift.</p>
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