Miscellaneous 2024, November

7 full-length films based on the best Disney fairy tales that the whole family will love

7 full-length films based on the best Disney fairy tales that the whole family will love

The Walt Disney Company is renowned for its ability to keep up with the times and make money even with old ideas. In recent years, the company has found another way to increase its revenues by filming live action films based on its best animated fairy tales. 2016's Jungle Book grossed nearly a million dollars at the box office

How Legally Blonde Reese Witherspoon Created America's Most Influential Book Club

How Legally Blonde Reese Witherspoon Created America's Most Influential Book Club

When Reese Witherspoon's career seemed to be on the decline, the actress suddenly blew up the movie world with the release of the TV series Big Little Lies, where she herself not only played the main role, but acted as a producer and owner of the rights to film adaptation of the novel of the same name, which she read together with members of the book club she created. This club has become the pride of Reese, the number of its members will soon approach two million, and the books recommended by the actress immediately become bestsellers

5 famous athletes who became successful politicians

5 famous athletes who became successful politicians

Recently, professional athletes who have retired have increasingly become involved in politics. As a rule, they join the ranks of people's deputies and parliamentarians, and this is not surprising. Universal love and recognition of sporting achievements helps them to get the votes of voters. However, only a few are in the upper echelons of power

Pope is a woman: the greatest mystery of the Catholic Church

Pope is a woman: the greatest mystery of the Catholic Church

Studying the ancient chronicles, scientists are struggling with the questions whether the events took place in reality or were just fiction. One of the greatest legends of the Middle Ages, which has not yet been solved, is the management of the Catholic Church by a woman. She is known as Pope John

How "thunder-sticks" and "thunder-logs" helped the Timurids to get India

How "thunder-sticks" and "thunder-logs" helped the Timurids to get India

India has always attracted with its riches. The ruler of Afghanistan from the Timurid clan Babur could not resist the temptation. He was not afraid of the huge army of the Delhi Sultanate, since he had a trump card - guns and cannons

Poetess, actress, singer. Famous courtesans of the East who remained in the history of art of their countries

Poetess, actress, singer. Famous courtesans of the East who remained in the history of art of their countries

The word "courtesan" comes from the French word for "courtier" and is related to the term "courtly". To be considered a courtesan, it is not enough to be unmarried, but in the presence of a lover or lovers, one must also "light up", arranging evenings with the faces of high society and shining on them with manners, education, and talents. Courtesans were legendary and sometimes developed the arts

10 "devilish" things that can be kept in the closed archives of the Vatican

10 "devilish" things that can be kept in the closed archives of the Vatican

The Vatican Secret Archives, founded back in 1611 by Pope Paul V, are an ultra-secure repository for the Church's oldest and most valuable documents. Access to the archives has always been limited, even today only Vatican officials and scholars are allowed inside

How 13 world famous models conquered the world of fashion

How 13 world famous models conquered the world of fashion

Their faces can be seen on the covers of glossy magazines, in commercials and on huge city banners. They are world famous models who have conquered the fashion world with their beauty. And although sometimes their appearance is far from the classical canons of beauty, but perhaps this is precisely where their unique charm lies

10 best non-fiction books of the last half century according to The Guardian magazine

10 best non-fiction books of the last half century according to The Guardian magazine

Among the many books of popular science, those that are written in an unusual way stand out, and the research conducted by the authors can relate not only to science, but also help a person solve pressing problems and provide answers to complex questions about the world order. Our today's review presents the best non-fiction books of the last half century according to The Guardian magazine

4 famous Soviet film actresses who ended up in a madhouse

4 famous Soviet film actresses who ended up in a madhouse

In the Soviet Union, it was not allowed to discuss too much the personal life of actors and actresses - bad form. From newspapers and magazines, viewers mainly learned about the creative plans of their idols, a little about childhood and family. And no information about mental disorders in any way! But they happened to actresses in the same way as in any country in the world

The Afghan Adventures of Dr. Watson: How Sherlock Holmes' Friend Got to War and Why the USSR "Forgotten"

The Afghan Adventures of Dr. Watson: How Sherlock Holmes' Friend Got to War and Why the USSR "Forgotten"

Stories, films and TV series about Sherlock Holmes and his friend Dr. John Watson have thrilled the minds of readers from all over the world for 130 years. Already at the first meeting, the shrewd detective struck the doctor on the spot, indicating that he was in the war in Afghanistan. How the good-natured Watson ended up there, and why this fact was diligently hushed up in the USSR a hundred years later - further in the review

Because of what every third train driver died on one railway route: "Victory Road"

Because of what every third train driver died on one railway route: "Victory Road"

After a partial break of the blockade in January 1943, a long-awaited chance appeared to establish transport links with the city. In order to provide the population of Leningrad with food and organize the transfer of troops to strengthen the Leningrad Front, the construction of a temporary railway line began. Later, this path went down in history as the "Victory Road", but those who erected the branch under the incessant fire of the enemy called it at that time "the corridor of death"

Why the Chinese chomp while eating and other little-known facts about the Middle Kingdom that you won't find in textbooks

Why the Chinese chomp while eating and other little-known facts about the Middle Kingdom that you won't find in textbooks

China is not only protracted tea ceremonies and a tribute to traditions, but also the very thin line where the past is closely intertwined with the present. The Great Wall of China and the Terracotta Army of the Qin Dynasty are still preserved here, and it is here that the beloved football and uncultured habits, which are considered the norm in the Celestial Empire, originated here

8 famous couples whose lovers died on the same day

8 famous couples whose lovers died on the same day

It is only in fairy tales that there is a happy ending, when lovers reunite after trials, then live and die happily in one day. Unfortunately, in real life, everything happens much more tragic, and the simultaneous departure is the result of tragic events. In our today's roundup of celebrities whose deaths were unexpected and even more sad

How Sarah Churchill, Duchess of Marlborough, was Queen Anne Stuart's favorite and ruled the fate of the world

How Sarah Churchill, Duchess of Marlborough, was Queen Anne Stuart's favorite and ruled the fate of the world

For one of the most influential women in English history, Sarah Churchill, it seemed that fate itself helped her move towards success. But upon closer examination, it turns out that fate was also often directed by the skillful hands of the Grand Duchess - as they also directed the English Queen Anne Stuart

How the battleship Potemkin became the ship of the revolution, and where did the red flag come from on the ship?

How the battleship Potemkin became the ship of the revolution, and where did the red flag come from on the ship?

The revolutionary actions that swept through the large cities of the Russian Empire in 1905 did not leave indifferent the sailors of the Black Sea Fleet. The rebels, mostly recruits, sympathized with the Social Democrats, regularly read anti-government newspapers and dreamed of ideas of justice. For 11 days the battleship Potemkin sailed in disorderly tossing between the seaside cities, on the deck of which a red flag was suddenly raised. But there were no people willing to support the riot, and the crew had to

Why after the blockade of Leningrad in the city there was an apartment confusion and a shortage of housing

Why after the blockade of Leningrad in the city there was an apartment confusion and a shortage of housing

During the war, when even human life ceases to be valued, what can we say about such nonsense as property. Even if we are talking about an apartment, even if an apartment is in Leningrad. The confusion that arose in the besieged city with housing, when he began to return to life again, gave rise to a lot of controversy. People who lost their homes often moved into empty apartments, and then the real owners returned. Often, the house management independently decided where and in what apartment those who returned were to live

5 most powerful African rulers who will change the perception of the "black" continent

5 most powerful African rulers who will change the perception of the "black" continent

Although this fact has already been fairly forgotten even by the Africans themselves, Africa is indeed the place where civilization was born. In fact, without ancient Kemet there would have been no Greek philosophy; and if the Persians had not invaded Egypt, or if the Greeks had not been able to gain access to the education of the ancient Egyptians, nothing like the Library of Alexandria would have appeared, and Aristotle could not have written a single book. But these are just a few unknown facts about Africa, and today we will consider 5 ca

Behind-the-scenes secrets of the non-childish Soviet cartoon "Treasure Island", which is watched with pleasure even after 30 years

Behind-the-scenes secrets of the non-childish Soviet cartoon "Treasure Island", which is watched with pleasure even after 30 years

Director David Cherkassky admitted in an interview that he created a completely childish cartoon. It was saturated with parodies of famous films, turned everything upside down, added movie inserts with funny pirates and wrote songs, many of which became as famous as the cartoon itself. Suddenly, it turned out to be a real masterpiece, which today is called a phenomenon, because modern children watch it with exactly the same interest as their mothers and fathers thirty years ago

10 strange and mystical cats people once believed in

10 strange and mystical cats people once believed in

Why are cats considered so mysterious? The Egyptians worshiped them, the Europeans were afraid of them, and the Japanese were even afraid that cats could walk on their hind legs and talk. Yet literally all cultures around the world believe that cats have a unique ability to sense the supernatural

Why do the Japanese attach notes to garbage bags, who they are for and what is written in them

Why do the Japanese attach notes to garbage bags, who they are for and what is written in them

In a pandemic, people all over the world express their gratitude to doctors, volunteers, social workers, but there is another profession whose representatives are at risk. These are the ones who take out and sort the garbage every day. Self-isolating Tokyo residents express their gratitude to the janitors and garbage collection workers in an interesting way - in the form of anonymous messages that they attach to their waste bags or posters that are placed on the streets

2100-year-old mummy Lady Dye: the secret of the ancient sarcophagus

2100-year-old mummy Lady Dye: the secret of the ancient sarcophagus

Her name was Xin Zhui, and she was the wife of the Imperial Viceroy of Changsha during the Han Dynasty. Perhaps her name would have sunk into oblivion if after her death she had not been mummified. The body of this Chinese woman was amazingly preserved 2100 years after her death, and today scientists are puzzling over the mystery of Lady Dai's mummy

Scientists have recreated the head of a Neolithic dog that lived 4,500 years ago

Scientists have recreated the head of a Neolithic dog that lived 4,500 years ago

This dog's face is so cute and realistic that you just want to reach out and stroke its thick fur. Meanwhile, this is not a soft toy or stuffed animal, but a head recreated on the basis of a skull, which is 4, 5 thousand years old. Scientists who implemented this idea are sure that this is what a dog that lived in Scotland in the Neolithic era looked like. The skull was found in an ancient tomb discovered by archaeologists in the Orkney Islands

How joker and heartthrob Mikhail Kokshenov became the most popular of Russian actors

How joker and heartthrob Mikhail Kokshenov became the most popular of Russian actors

This morning, June 5, 2020, the media shocked with very sad and woeful news - the world was left by the great comedy and dramatic actor Mikhail Kokshenov, who fell in love with the public for his roles, funny lines and unique acting skills

What to expect from the new "Joker": a fantastic masterpiece from Joaquin Phoenix or another DC failure?

What to expect from the new "Joker": a fantastic masterpiece from Joaquin Phoenix or another DC failure?

It was a real surprise and discovery for many, as well as in doubt that the jury of the 76th Venice Film Festival decided to award the main award to the film "Joker" by Todd Phillips, along with the historical thriller "The Officer and the Spy", created by highly controversial director Roman Polanski. Accordingly, these paintings received the Golden Lion and the Grand Jury Prize. It is worth saying that almost all signs indicated the awarding of the "Joker", because during the show on the island of Lido, he was in

Avenging Elephants and Bathtub Snakes: Cities That Are Constantly Attacked by Animals

Avenging Elephants and Bathtub Snakes: Cities That Are Constantly Attacked by Animals

It seems that a person sometimes forgets that he is not the only master of the planet and that wild animals literally coexist next to our cities and villages. Man constantly interferes with the animal world, makes all kinds of living beings migrate, changing the habitat. Despite the fact that in this case only the animal world suffers, and human society practically does not experience any discomfort, this state of affairs is very unstable. You need to be prepared for that

The secret love of Lewis Carroll, or the real story of "Alice in Wonderland"

The secret love of Lewis Carroll, or the real story of "Alice in Wonderland"

Alice in Wonderland is one of the most famous children's fairy tales in the world. And despite the fact that almost everyone can tell about the events of a fictional story, few people know the true story of this book and the girl in general, who turned the world of mathematics upside down

Why Jackie Kennedy's wedding is still considered one of the most beautiful weddings in the world

Why Jackie Kennedy's wedding is still considered one of the most beautiful weddings in the world

Throughout history, there have been weddings that leave a lasting impression on society. Whether it is because of the location of the solemn event or the couple, and sometimes even the bridesmaid dresses, which has been vigorously discussed for more than one day. The wedding of John F. Kennedy and his bride Jackie Bouvier, followed with interest by the whole world, was no exception

"They flew away and did not return": how the cosmonauts who piloted the Soviet satellite Soyuz-11 died

"They flew away and did not return": how the cosmonauts who piloted the Soviet satellite Soyuz-11 died

A warm June day in 1971. The descent vehicle of the Soyuz 11 spacecraft made its planned landing. In the flight control center, everyone applauded, eagerly awaiting the crew's airing. At that moment, no one suspected that the Soviet cosmonautics would soon be shaken by the largest tragedy in its entire history

Like two drops: 10 celebrities who changed their image and became like other stars

Like two drops: 10 celebrities who changed their image and became like other stars

Representatives of show business quite often experiment with their own appearance. A change of image is often successful, but sometimes working on your own image leads to unexpected results, and the stars become like their colleagues. In our today's selection of celebrities who, by changing their hair and makeup, have become a mirror image of other stars

What were the special effects in cinema from the last century to the present day?

What were the special effects in cinema from the last century to the present day?

Needless to say, almost no film is complete without special effects that make the viewer, sitting at home on soft sofas, believe in what is happening, while allowing almost each of us to become a part of an exciting plot with our favorite characters and movie heroes. And if with modern cinema everything is more or less clear, because the geniuses of innovative computer technologies are subject to everything

How the prisoners of the main English prison lived: Banquets, executions, privileges and other secrets of the Tower of London

How the prisoners of the main English prison lived: Banquets, executions, privileges and other secrets of the Tower of London

The history of the Tower is fascinating and at the same time frightening, making you involuntarily flinch from the realization that a few centuries ago, quite terrible things were going on behind its walls. Luxurious and majestic, full of secrets and mysteries - it was not only the royal residence, but also the main prison in England, where some prisoners felt at home, while others prayed that everything would be over as soon as possible

How old was Tatyana Larina: The version that turned the whole novel

How old was Tatyana Larina: The version that turned the whole novel

For several years now, a version has been discussed on the Internet, according to which Tatyana Larina, when she wrote a letter to Onegin, was not 17, but 13 years old. It is to this conclusion that Alexander Viktorovich Kotrovsky, a candidate of medical sciences and a venereologist, came to this conclusion after carefully reading Pushkin's lines. This interpretation divided the readers into two camps: some strongly disagree with the "indecent" views, while others, on the contrary, find this reading to be logical and consistent with the author's intention. Of course, e

For which the Pope awarded the Ukrainian hetman, or How the Cossack surprised the whole of Europe

For which the Pope awarded the Ukrainian hetman, or How the Cossack surprised the whole of Europe

The life of Ivan Sulima is given little attention in historical science compared to other Ukrainian hetmans. However, it was this leader who wrote the history of the nation, laying down his life for courageous principles and glorious traditions. Having built a successful military path in the ranks of the Polish army, the small-scale nobleman gave up everything and decided to defend solid ideas, going to the Zaporozhye Sich. Quickly becoming one of the comrades-in-arms of Hetman Sagaidachny, he took with him Kafa (present Feodosia), went to the Turkish Tsargr

The American Perspective: A Series of Cartoons of the Russian Empire Published by Puck Magazine

The American Perspective: A Series of Cartoons of the Russian Empire Published by Puck Magazine

The popular American magazine Puck ("Naughty"), published from 1871 to 1918, was known primarily for its topical caricatures and amazing performance of caricatures. A special place among the satirical drawings is occupied by cartoons that ridicule Russia of that time and its imperial ambitions

What does Tatyana's letter say, how old she was, and who was killed by Pushkin in the person of Lensky

What does Tatyana's letter say, how old she was, and who was killed by Pushkin in the person of Lensky

Pushkin published his novel in verse almost two hundred years ago, but it is still becoming the subject of heated discussions, reflections, and interpretations. To excite bloggers with the assumption that Tatyana was 13 years old is as easy as news from the personal life of a movie star. Tatiana's letter - an example of vulgarity or trepidation? Who could be Tatyana's husband? Is Onegin a heartless type or a decent person? These questions are not tormented by art critics - ordinary people who, with relief, have postponed even the novel

Yuri Vasiliev and Nelly Kornienko: A 40-year holiday romance

Yuri Vasiliev and Nelly Kornienko: A 40-year holiday romance

They were called the most beautiful couple in the Maly Theater, where they both came straight from the student's bench. True, they studied at different theatrical universities, and their acquaintance could turn out to be a fleeting resort romance. Fortunately, the actor was completely different from his on-screen character from the movie "Moscow Does Not Believe in Tears." Despite the difficulties and emerging problems, Yuri Vasiliev and Nelly Kornienko could not even imagine that they could disperse

How the world's first insurance policy appeared in history and what does the boatmen from the Thames have to do with it

How the world's first insurance policy appeared in history and what does the boatmen from the Thames have to do with it

That year, by a strange coincidence marked by the "number of the beast" - three sixes, changed London beyond recognition. However, the townspeople were no longer the same, in any case, they were no longer going to resignedly wait for the heavenly punishment, like their grandfathers. The ruins of the City gave birth not only to new buildings, but also to new professions, among which is the profession of a firefighter

The ailments of the Soviet leaders: why only Khrushchev was in excellent condition, and the rest of the leaders were a mystery to doctors

The ailments of the Soviet leaders: why only Khrushchev was in excellent condition, and the rest of the leaders were a mystery to doctors

Truly omnipotent Soviet leaders, like all mortal people, grew old and died over time. Neither first-class medicine nor colossal resources were able to heal the rare ailments that the rulers of the USSR suffered from. Therefore, they had to be carefully masked so that at public events no one saw the formidable leaders weak

Childish passions around a children's writer: the secrets of the mother of the Moomin trolls Tove Jansson

Childish passions around a children's writer: the secrets of the mother of the Moomin trolls Tove Jansson

Finnish writer Tove Jansson passed away 17 years ago. All over the world she is known as the “mother” of Moomins, although she herself did not consider herself either an author of books for children, or a writer in general - her creative realization as an artist was much more important for her, and she considered literary activity her hobby. Both children and adults all over the world know what the Moomin-trolls invented by her, which have become the national symbols of Finland, look like, but most readers do not even suspect who it is