Hopi Kachina Dolls are effigies made of cottonwood that embody the characteristics of the ceremonial Kachina, the masked spirits of the Hopi Native American tribe. According to the Hopi, Kachina dolls are objects meant to be treasured and studied, and are not to be considered idols of worship or children’s toys.
West Wycombe Caves are a network of man-made chalk and flint caverns which extend one quarter of a mile underground, situated above the village of West Wycombe, England. They were excavated between 1748 and 1752 for the infamous Francis Dashwood, 15th Baron le Despencer, founder of the Dilettanti Society and co-founder of the notorious Hell Fire Club, whose meetings were held within the caves. These clubs were rumoured to be the meeting places of persons of quality who wished to take part in immoral acts, and the members were often very involved in politics. Neither the activities nor membership of the club are easy to ascertain.
Praise-God Barebone (said to have been christened Unless-Jesus-Christ-Had-Died-For-Thee-Thou-Hadst-Been-Damned Barebone) was an English leather-seller, preacher and Fifth Monarchist.
The Windmill was a variety and revue theatre in London in 1931-1964. It was started by Laura Henderson and Vivian Van Damm. The theatre featured nude girls on stage.The girls were not allowed to move and had to become like "living statues". Because to be naked and moving was considered obscene. But standing still while naked was ruled to be art. After Mrs. Henderson and Van Damm died, the theatre soon closed in 1964 because it couldn't compete with the new strip joints. The theatre's famous motto We Never Closed was a reference to the fact that the theatre remained open, apart from the compulsory closure that affected all theatres for 12 days in 1939. Performances continued throughout the Second World War even at the height of the Blitz. The showgirls, cast members, and crew moved into the safety of the theatre's two underground floors during some of the worst air attacks.
The Leo Belgicus is a map of Netherlands, Luxembourg and Belgium drawn in the shape of a lion.
The 1968 Olympics Black Power salute was a political demonstration conducted by African-American athletes Tommie Smith and John Carlos during their medal ceremony. After having won gold and bronze medals, respectively, in the 200-meter running event, they turned on the podium to face their flags. Each athlete raised a black-gloved fist, and kept them raised until the anthem had finished.
The Mille Miglia was an open-road endurance race which took place in Italy twenty-four times from 1927 to 1957.
Christine Jorgensen was the first widely known person to have sex reassignment surgery. Jorgensen intended to go to Sweden, where at the time the only doctors in the world performing this surgery were located. During a stopover in Copenhagen to visit relatives, however, she met Dr. Christian Hamburger, a Danish endocrinologist and specialist in rehabilitative hormonal therapy. Jorgensen stayed in Denmark, and under Dr. Hamburger's direction, was allowed to begin hormone replacement therapy, eventually undergoing a series of operations. When Jorgensen returned to New York in February 1953, she became an instant celebrity. There has been speculation that Jorgensen leaked her story to the press. The publicity created a platform for Jorgensen, who used her publicity for more than fame. New York radio host Barry Gray asked her if 1950s jokes such as "Christine Jorgensen went abroad, and came back a broad" bothered her; she laughed and said that they did not bother her at all.
Workers digging a well outside the city of Xi'an, China, in 1974 struck upon one of the greatest archaeological discoveries in the world: a life-size clay soldier poised for battle. The diggers notified Chinese authorities, who dispatched government archaeologists to the site. They found not one, but thousands of clay soldiers, each with unique facial expressions and positioned according to rank.
This chair allowed the distinctly unathletic Edward VII to have his way with two women simultaneously, all with the minimum of effort.