When it comes to love relationships, our culture assumes that big moments are a big deal. That’s what we see on the screen. Humphrey Bogart tenderly wraps his arms around a weepy Ingrid Bergman and she surrenders her heart. A real man ought to embrace his woman while they lie together in the pounding surf, or boldly declare, “Nobody puts… Read more »
Even though Harry Houdini has been gone almost 100 years, people continue to tell stories associated with his legendary career as a magician and escape artist. One of the most spectacular of those stories is connected to his 1903 visit to Russia. During the course of a private performance in the Kremlin, Houdini asked each member of the royal family… Read more »
Yitzhak Perlman has enjoyed a lifelong love affair with the violin. The native Israeli was first drawn to its sound at age three, when he was captivated by a classical music performance on the radio. Denied admission to a musical conservatory because he was too small to hold a real instrument, he nonetheless taught himself to play the violin by using a toy fiddle…. Read more »
Nineteen years ago today, America was rocked by the worst terror attacks in our nation’s history. Observers felt a mixture of shock and horror. Even after two decades, the tragedy still feels raw. A handful of others, cynically, saw an opportunity. What if the catastrophic crumbling of the World Trade Center towers provided the perfect cover for faking… Read more »
Carl Lentz calls it the Deserted Island Challenge. The lead pastor of Hillsong Church in New York City admits that while boarding airplanes he sometimes fantasizes what it would be like if the jet went down near an uninhabited piece of real estate in the middle of some ocean. What would it take to inspire the survivors with hope? With… Read more »
Jackie Chan is famous for doing his own stunts. The Hong Kong native, whose six-decades-long career has included more than 150 movies, was considered the heir apparent to Bruce Lee when the legendary Kung Fu master died at the height of his fame in 1973. Film studios expected that Chan’s own brilliance would quickly transform him into a star. … Read more »
Who knew that walking your dog could help make the world a more “secure” place, and one day provide encouragement for people in the midst of a pandemic? Swiss engineer George De Mestrel had no such expectations back in 1948 when he and his dog emerged from the woods covered with cockleburs, those spiky seeds that hitch rides on canine fur… Read more »