Calla Brietta Conway

Behind the Rainbow: Judy Garland's Tragic Life and Death

Judy Garland left a dazzling mark on Hollywood that is in a lot of ways, unmatched. Her roles in films like Wizard of Oz and A Star Is Born still echo throughout the modern era, long after she has passed.

Celebrity Deaths Fit for Hollywood: Eerie Real-Life Endings in Tinseltown

Halyna Hutchins of Ukraine was 42 years old in 2021, and on set working as director of photography on the film Rust. Actor Alec Baldwin who played the lead, was rehearsing when he shot his prop gun. Hutchins was struck and airlifted by helicopter, but later succumbed to her injuries at the hospital.

Haunting Photos Taken Right Before Disaster

A photograph can be misleading, as it can only capture a moment in time and yet tell an entire story. We like to use photography to remember special moments and occasions with our loved ones, historic moves, and sometimes, dark moments too.

The Tragically Beautiful Life of Marilyn Monroe

Marilyn Monroe was arguably the most famous woman of the 20th century, and is one of the most iconic women to grace this planet today. Thousands upon thousands of articles have been written about her, ranging from conspiracy theories to odd tidbits about her life.

Seedy and Insane Stories From The Johnny Depp Owned Nightclub, The Viper Room

The Viper Room was a pillar of LA's wildest nights in the 1990s. Opened by Johnny Depp, the nightclub attracted Hollywood's biggest celebrities, along with plenty of controversy. Located in the heart of Sunset Boulevard, Johnny Depp teamed up with his former 21 Jump Street co-star to establish the rock venue.

Interesting and Strange Facts About The Queen of the Nile, Cleopatra

Cleopatra was born and raised in Egypt, however her family origins traced back to Macedonia Greece. She was the heir of Ptolemy I Soter, a general of Alexander the Great. Ptolemy ruled in Egypt after Alexander's death, launching a dynasty of Greek-speaking rulers that would last for three centuries.

Oddities and Facts That You Should Know About Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day, the day of love and adoration, right? Not always. In some parts of the world, celebrating the holiday is strictly forbidden, in others the divorce rate spikes. But it's not all doom and gloom, not even a little! Many spend the holiday of love full of cheer and happiness.

Insane Facts About the Salem Witch Trials

As part of a "swimming test," accused witches were dragged to a lake or river, undressed to their undergarments, bound, and forced into the water to see if they would float or sink. It was thought that the water would reject their body and prevent them from submerging, thus proving them a witch.

Bonnie and Clyde's Wild Ride and Gruesome End

Bonnie and Clyde are some of America's most well-known and infamous bank robbers. The two collided and went on an epic crime spree made for Hollywood. However, Bonnie and Clyde couldn't get away with it forever. In the end they met their demise in a hail of gunfire, thus putting a tragic end to their life of crime.

Old and Grim Medical Practices That Would Never Be Allowed Today

You have probably heard of this terrifying trend in the United States in the mid-20th century. The lobotomy was the act of severing of the prefrontal lobe of the brain, thereby modifying behavior. It was performed over 18,000 times in the U.S. on veterans, political dissidents, prisoners, mental patients, and even poorly raised children.

Buford Pusser And His Cold Blooded Revenge Of His Wife

There has surely been times when something unfortunate is bestowed upon on by the acts of another and we think "I want revenge!" Though (hopefully) it stops as a thought. However, not many of us have suffered the terrible fate that Budford Pusser experienced.

The Strange Evolution of Everyday Objects

The first calculator was called the abacus and was a hand operated mechanical calculator that utilized rods and beads. It was created by the Ancient Egyptians around 2000 BC and was used for the next 3600 years. The first mechanical calculator was invented in 1642 by a French mathematician and used gears that could add, subtract, multiply, and divide.

The Einstein Syndrome: Albert Einstein and His Cosmic Effect

Most of us have heard the name Albert Einstein, and when we do we think of the word "genius." He has many popular works that have shaped how we view the world of modern physics. He developed the most famous equation in the world, E=mc2.

Vaccine Mandates and the Labor Shortage

President Biden signed an executive order on September 9th, 2021 stating that all federal employees and companies with 100 employees or more be vaccinated and/or regularly tested. A recent survey from Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs cites about half of Americans are in favor of the m

2022 Business Outlook: Stay up to Date With Current Comp Trends for Your Business

Your business requires a consistent review of all jobs and employees. It is crucial to pay attention to current market changes for the health of your business.

December 2019 Faculty Newsletter

Congratulations on the end of another successful semester! Thanks to a grant this fall from Department of Education, CSUSM URM and female STEM major students will be given a rich toolkit through FIRST2STEM to help realize their STEM ambitions.

Retirement Tribute for Academic Staff

A Toddler Uncovered a Mystical and Rare Treasure From Long Ago

Little James was only three years old when he grabbed a hold of the metal detector for the very first time. Imagine the surprise of grandfather, father, and son when the metal detector started to go off. According to little James, "It went beep, beep, beep," at the sound his metal detector made.

The Real Life Pinocchio; A Man’s Tale Of Survival

A man is swallowed whole by a whale and lives to tell the tale.

The Real Life Pinocchio; A Man Was Swallowed Whole By A Whale

Most have heard the story of Pinocchio, the wooden boy who was swallowed whole by a whale, along with Geppetto, Figaro, and Cleo. Fortunately for fiction fans everywhere, the giant sperm whale spit them back out, but I imagine most non-fiction people would not live to tell that tale.

Meet the Boy Raised By Wolves, Along With Several Other Feral Children

We've all heard phrases like, "What, were you raised by wolves?" at some point in our lives. The phrase is meant as a jab, as though the target is so uncivilized that they don't fit in with society. Such was the case with a young Indian boy who was discovered by hunters in 1872 in the jungles of India.

Disturbing Facts About Infamous American Serial Killers

Unfortunately, the United States has been host to numerous prolific and terrifying serial killers. Some committed their heinous misdeeds over a period of decades, committing crimes against humanity and evading capture. Eventually, these monsters were ultimately caught, leaving behind more questions than answers.

The Astonishing Story Of The Conjoined Hilton Twins

Daisy and Violet Hilton were born on February 19, 1908, in North Carolina. The twins were different from other conjoined twins in that they had their own internal organs, only sharing their blood circulation. They became one of the best-known conjoined twins in the world during their lifetime and remain well-known today thanks to their appearances in the throughout the early 20th century and beyond.

Everything We Know About The Infamous Tinder Swindler

Simon Leiviev (or Shimon Hayut, his original name) is the so-called "Tinder Swindler" and is the central figure in the Netflix film of the same name. Leviev, 31, allegedly presented himself as the son of an Israeli multi-millionaire diamond magnate, Lev Leviev, to women he met off of Tinder.

The Blind Mystic Who Made Eerie Predictions About the World

A woman from a Bulgarian village made many predictions about world events and the eventual state of the world in her lifetime. Some of her followers claim that she was a blind mystic with supernatural powers. Others claim that she was a fraud whose legend has been perpetuated by the internet.

The Magic of Icelandic Culture

A small off faraway island in the Nordic regions has recently become a popular destination for travel and adventure, and for good reason. The entire island is essentially a national park. With sprawling fields of grass and ice, waterfalls nearly everywhere you look splashing onto soft moss, and ponies alongside the road, it is easy [...]

The Most Isolated Place On Earth: Madagascar

For being the fourth largest island in the world, there seems to be very little talk of this exhilarating country, and still so much to uncover. Located off the coast of Africa, Madagascar has been the inspiration for many many documentaries and films and the case could be made that it is one of the [...]

The Biggest Waves In the World & People Who Ride Them

The ocean is a wild and strong environment that can turn on the drop of a hat. But as intense as powerful as the ocean is, it matches that with drastic beauty, and for some, joy. As miraculous as these forces of nature are to watch, some even try to ride them.

Road Trip Worthy Destinations In All 50 States

Most of us don't think of white sandy beaches when we think of Alabama, but that is exactly what you'll find on the Gulf Coast of this beautiful state. Drive along the Alabama State Routes 180 and 182 which links the state's borders between Mississippi and Florida.

Comedian Jimmy Fallon asks "Why did you get fired?" and people deliver

At some point in our lives, most of us will experience the crushing feeling of being let go from a job. It could feel unfair in some instances, and in others, maybe it was deserved. We live, we learn, we grow.

Animals Who Performed the Most Heroic Acts

Animals who saved humans or each other in one way or another

Marriage Proposals That Left More Questions Than Answers

Usually a marriage proposal is a moment of happiness and joy for a budding relationship. Careful planning, conversations leading up to the proposal about where the relationship is going, and a general romance is in the air. But the world is large and filled with variety, and the execution of a marriage proposal is no different.

Celebrities' Different Looks at the Start of Their Hollywood Careers

Born: October 21st, 1980 Profession: Reality TV Star, Business Woman Breakout Role: ...Debatable. Keeping Up With the Kardashians Though Kim Kardashian grew up amongst the wealthy and elite (did you know she was Paris Hilton's assistant?)

Photos That Prove That There's Truly Such Thing As Perfection

As a people, we enjoy when things look nice. Our food, our clothes, our hair, our cars-you name it. We have the sense of sight for a reason and that is to enjoy the things that are nice to look (okay and to get around and stuff too).

Straight Up Crazy Rules That Bachelor and Bachelorette Contestants Must Follow

Life on The Bachelor and The Bachelorette looks lavish and exciting. Trips around the world? Check. Quality time with an extremely attractive man or woman? Check. Living the life of an influencer for the next three years? Yes please. But there are some downsides and the show is orchestrated for entertainment, not for the contestants own enjoyment.

Wild Coincidences Throughout Time

A pair of twins from Ohio were separated at birth and adopted into separate lives. However, the outcome of their lives had some striking similarities that are made all odder because some of the parallels are just pure chance and remarkably unpredictable.

Wild Facts About America's Vintage and Modern Bombshells

As a society, we have always held famous and beautiful women in high regard to be ogled and admired as far back as one can look, in as many societies as one can imagine. It goes without saying that these beautiful women are also human beings with interesting facts and tidbits that make them who they are, too, aside from their obvious and enchanting beauty.

These Animals Are Proudly Employed with Important Jobs

If only we could walk into the office everyday and see an adorable duck sitting at their at their desk, diligently working away. While this may never be the case, it doesn't mean animals haven't been assigned some jobs throughout times and cultures.

Celebrities Caught and Convicted of Crimes Large and Small

Disgraced movie director Roman Polanski was charged with drugging and sexually assaulting a 13-year-old-girl in 1977. Polanski pled guilty as part of a plea deal and spent 42 days in jail. Polanski fled the country soon thereafter and became an American fugitive.

Cringey Photos of Fans Posing With Their Favorite Celebrities

For many of us, meeting our Hollywood heroes is a big deal. Not only is it exciting, but it is also a great story to tell your friends and family about. Pics or it didn't happen! Unfortunately for some, their special moment was disastrous because of either themselves, an unfortunate incident, or simply a lack of enthusiasm on the celebrities part.

People Who Are Having a Much Worse Day Than You

According to this poor soul, they had a grueling day at work. They were unable to eat and were utterly exhausted. What do they come home to? All of their personal belongings packed up, their house ransacked. What on earth? Well, apparently it was due to a big mistake.

Dollar Store Hacks That Anyone With Children Can Appreciate

Finding ways to make your life easier and more efficient is crucial for parents trying to maintain fun and safety for their kiddos. And in this economy, any fiscally clever tricks we can use are always valued. We've done the research on what the best dollar store hacks for you to use to optimize your life.

Life Hacks: Life Is A Game And These Are The Cheat Codes

There is no problem too big or too small that cannot be fixed with a little elbow grease and a bit of ingenuity. If life were a video game, then here are some cheat codes to make playing it a little bit more bearable.

40 Wildly Different Uses for Coconut Oil

Typically, the dreaded dandruff is caused by a yeast-like fungus called Malassezia. By applying coconut oil to your scalp regularly you're able to treat the dry patches brought on by the fungus. Furthermore, you're allowing the coconut oil's naturally occurring anti-fungal properties to kick in.

Parenting Road Trips That Make Car Rides A LOT Better

Road trips can already be a stressor if you're traveling with kids. They have less of an attention span or ability to sit in one place at a time, often getting restless and maybe even a little whiny one might say if they are feeling a bit less generous.

Cut Down On Food Bills: Tools, Tips, And Tricks For The Savvy Shopper

Tips All TJ Maxx Shoppers Need To Know

Way back in 1976, TJ Maxx was founded in Framingham, Massachusetts by people who wanted to create a rival to the department store Marshalls. The off-price retailer ended up growing so fast and doing so well that, 20 years later, TJ Maxx ended up buying Marshalls.

A Closer Look

A closer look into the lives of Syrian refugees of the Syria conflict

The Sands

I may rest my head upon the changing shore, spanning myself widely, through time and all sea floors

The Pedestrian

Satire. Elitism. Ego. Vespas.

Love

The fire is fleeting, but I'll still offer my hot coals

From Afar

The sun was dripping honey

Mirage

A journey in a temple that lead to less enlightenment than I had hoped for.

A Toast

A toast to sinking ships

The Beauty of a Sinking Ship

Sunday's Best

The masks we wear, the ones we leave behind

Thesaurus

I threw my flowers down the river, just to watch them go

Why You're The Only Person Still Thinking About Your Past Mistakes

Sometimes people let the same problem make them miserable for years when they could just say, 'So what.' 'My mother didn't love me.' So what. 'My husband won't ball me.' So what. 'I'm a success, but I'm still alone.' So what. I don't know how I made...

Goodbyes

Coming undone quietly