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Top 10 Most Misunderstood Figures in History

2009-05-21T02:09:42+00:00

It is never easy to judge a person, even with all of the facts in place. And so we often leave it to history to make the final judgments. But history rarely gets things right. Although the science of history is all about facts, the modern conception of history is rarely accurate. The perception of past events is so tainted by centuries old propaganda that it can be difficult to discern the truth from our society’s own, colored interpretations. Fortunately, true historians never give up the search from the truth, and are now challenging the long held beliefs of pub quiz experts and so called ‘folk’ history. New evidence is continually dispelling our common misconceptions about legendary figures and painting them in new lights. I say let history judge these people no longer, but let us judge them on the facts instead.

Top 10 Nature’s Greatest Creations

2009-05-19T14:15:15+00:00

If you believe that nature is dull, think again. Our world is home to some incredible creatures and its history is filled with some truly awesome beasts. Animals of immense size or minute complexity, brutal killing machines and efficient biological machines, all have had their chance to compete here for the title of nature’s greatest creation.

Top 10 Arguments for the Death Penalty

2009-05-18T05:25:52+00:00

The Death Penalty has existed long before 2500 BC, when Hammurabi was the first to create written law. Before that time, it’s likely that if a person committed a capital crime, such as murder or theft, they were executed to maintain harmony in the community and to bring solace to those who knew the victim. What defines a capital punishment offense varies per culture, such as horse-stealing being a capital offense in the 1800’s American West, and some of these offenses even define the culture itself.

Top 10 Arguments Against the Death Penalty

2009-05-17T19:13:20+00:00

In countries, provinces, or states where it’s still legal, the death penalty will always be a controversial issue. Be it a religious debate, a legal debate, or a moral debate, the question surrounding the death penalty always returns to the core issue of a government’s right to kill a person for committing a capital offense under its laws. However, the law can be anything its host government wants it to be, as was the case with Nazi Germany, or the law, governed by imperfect humans, can make mistakes that will cost a person their life.

Top 10 Historys High Tension Areas

2009-05-15T16:32:07+00:00

Throughout history, the majority of wars have been fought not through simple expansionism but when two nations both claim to have rights over a certain region. Often the question of whose claim is most justified is extremely complicated and can only be resolved through open conflict. Defining the borders between countries has been a problem since the dawn of time. With inaccurate maps, leaders used to rely on geographical features, such as mountain ranges and rivers, to draw such boundaries but in the absence of these it could be difficult to tell what land belongs to whom. Even now, with accurate mapping, the same questions arise. In fact, accurate maps often only serve to make nations more particular when it comes to land disputes.

Top 10 Most Pointless Wars

2009-05-13T16:57:32+00:00

War. What is it good for? Well, in many cases, absolutely nothing. Of course sometimes war is a necessity and can be a very effective political tool. The Second World War, for example, was entirely justified (at least from the allied perspective) and was successful in stopping what would have been decades, if not centuries, of Nazi oppression. It also resulted in great political and scientific advances like the U.N and the atomic bomb. Throughout history, however, wars have been fought over the silliest things and have resulted in nothing but pain and misery. Here are our top 10 most pointless wars. Feel free to disagree and get all het-up over your sense of national pride.

Top 10 Medieval Kingdoms

2009-05-13T15:17:17+00:00

Medieval Europe was a chaotic society of feudal and warring kingdoms. This was a time of constant political upheaval and continual, seemingly futile warfare, during which entire kingdoms rose and fell in the blink of an eye. The disorganized nature of the medieval period made it possible for powerful families to gain lands, titles and subjects with whatever resources were available to them and for no reason other than greedy expansionism. It seems that anyone and everyone above the lowly rank of peasant was out to grab power for themselves and create their own personal empire, no matter how small. Maintaining these kingdoms, however, was a much more difficult task than forming them. The politic of the day meant that an entire kingdom could be destroyed or conquered with the event of one death, through accident or assassination, or one cleverly orchestrated marriage.

Top 10 Medical Silent Killers

2009-05-13T06:06:51+00:00

In case anyone hasn’t told you yet, unfortunately, you’re going to die, and so am I. Maybe I’ll run a red light and my teeny Hyundai gets smashed by a Peterbilt, or maybe I try to squeeze just one more plug into that too-full electrical outlet and wind up a crispy critter. Then again, I could just simply go to sleep after writing this article and stop breathing, or my girlfriend’s second-hand smoke could’ve developed an inoperable lung tumor I’m not yet aware I have.

Top 15 Lost Republics

2009-05-12T18:58:04+00:00

The term republic simply means a system of government with no hereditary leader, or monarch at its head, usually pertaining to a nation state with such a government in place. Republics may be organized as a federal system or as a centralized government and may be controlled by large-scale democracy, as with most modern governments, or by a smaller, elite group, as with earlier class based democracies. The one requirement is that no one person commands the nation, rather a portion of, if not all of its citizens.

Top 10 Ways to Have Courage

2009-05-12T16:03:40+00:00

Courage is an indefinable thing. It’s not as brash as bravery, and anyone can have it. You can be courageous even if you are the most timid and meek of people, or the most softly spoken. You can have courage by doing nothing, or by speaking your mind. Courage is visible in children, adults, and even, sometimes, in the animals we share the world with. Every great thing we set out to do, whether its raise children, start a business, study for a degree, or change the world, takes courage.

Top 10 Ancient Professions Still In Existence

2009-05-11T17:58:06+00:00

If you asked most people what the world’s oldest profession is, they’d probably say prostitution, but that’s not actually true. If you consider that if a prehistoric man had the urge, he would simply have his way with a woman, without fear of consequence; it becomes clear why that statement is erroneous. It was only much later on that human sexual relations became regulated, and it was when that happened that prostitution became a profession. Men were no longer able to do as they would, so a new supplier entered the market in response to the demand.

Top 10 Ways to Stay Focused

2009-05-11T17:21:10+00:00

Our modern world has brought about many marvels. Technology is evolving faster than ever, making us more connected, medical science is treating and curing more diseases than ever before, we have better lives thanks to modern conveniences, and yet, most of us have less time than ever. We’re so busy taking advantage of all the time saving devices and advancements out there, that we have failed to notice that our lives are becoming busier and busier with each added responsibility and activity.

Top 10 Arguments for Pro Choice

2009-05-08T14:40:44+00:00

There probably aren’t more issues more emotive than the abortion issue. Pro life campaigners cite the sanctity of life, and that once conceived, even before a bundle of cells becomes an actual person, a fetus automatically has the right to life. Religious groups, politicians, and many other groups and parties are clamoring to have a say in the matter. It’s used as a platform for political campaigns, touted as an unpardonable sin, and has been the cause of violent attacks, on clinics, doctors and nurses who work there, and women who visit them. Blood boils when the topic of abortion is raised, with both the pro life and pro choice factions attempting to put their point across, but seldom ever listening to the valid arguments of the other.

Top 10 Longest Prison Sentences in the World

2009-05-08T13:32:06+00:00

Going to prison is something that strikes fear into the heart of most of us. The thought of being incarcerated, our freedom taken away, for even a few months, is enough to keep most of us on the straight and narrow. However, for one reason or another, be it insanity or anger, greed or negligence, every once in a while, some of us fall foul of the law.

Top 10 Ways to Prepare for a Nuclear Holocaust

2009-05-05T15:20:31+00:00

We all hope it will never happen, that the problems we face globally will be resolved by negotiation and reason. Heck, even outright warfare is preferable to a nuclear holocaust, however, the growing tension in the world, the increase in unhappy factions and the shear brutality and insanity we’ve seen in war in the last few decades mean that in spite of our hopes, nuclear holocaust is a possibility, that we may see in our lifetimes. The only way to avert this is to remove the threat, from all governments, at all levels. That, however, seems unlikely, as each country’s leaders jockey for position and power, menacingly alluding to their military capabilities, and promising swift retribution and violence for any slights.

Top 10 Shortest Living Organisms

2009-05-04T16:27:57+00:00

Depending on where you live, and a host of other factors, chances are you can expect a life span of around seventy years, give or take a decade or two. Of course, that’s pretty respectable, if not ideal, and most of us bid our final farewells with a few things still on our to do list, and quite a few more that we’ve done, either intentionally or not.

Top 10 Most Appealing Sounds

2009-05-03T21:39:23+00:00

Sound, or hearing, is one of only five senses we humans have to interact with the world around us. It is through sound that we perceive much of what happens around us, and our love affair with manipulating sound into music has endured since prehistoric times, when our early ancestors first discovered rhythmic drumming, and spent many a night dancing to the hypnotic beat around their camp fires, or so the archeologists tell us.

Top 10 Ways to Have a Soulful Relationship

2009-05-02T22:01:33+00:00

Over the years, there have been countless books written on relationship development and improvement. Many of those authors have touched on the subject of injecting soul into a relationship, but that’s a tricky thing indeed. After all, what is the soul? How does it differ from the mind, or indeed the heart? Some might say the soul is that indefinable something that makes you who you are.

Top 10 Tricks/Traps of Debt Collection Agencies

2009-04-27T14:41:05+00:00

If you’re like most people these days, money and financial woes are a big part of your life. Salary increases have frozen, and bonuses have been vetoed in most cases, but the cost of living has risen, and making ends meet is getting harder and harder every day. Unfortunately, something’s got to give. When you’ve got a limited income, and there are essentials like rent, or a mortgage, food and schooling, among other expenses to cover, sometimes, that give has to be in other bills. The choice is difficult for most, but when it comes down to it, survival comes first, and if it’s a choice between putting food on the table, and paying your store card, we all know what the result will be.

Top 15 Ways to Prolong Your Life

2009-04-27T02:49:33+00:00

Woody Allen once famously quipped, "I don't want to achieve immortality through my work...I want to achieve it through not dying." If only we could achieve just that, however, the reality is closer to another saying – that death and taxes are the only sure things in life. Unless you’re a member of the "live fast, die young, leave a good looking corpse" school of thought, chances are you’re on the lookout to at least prolong the life that fate has given you. If that’s the case, then these fifteen ways, in no particular order, to prolong your life should at least offer a little direction, and give you a little more time before you shuffle off your mortal coil, into whatever unknown lies beyond death.

Top 10 Effective Argument Tactics

2009-04-26T05:28:55+00:00

If you’re like most people, you probably don’t enjoy arguing. It’s upsetting, and usually doesn’t resolve much, merely creating added tension. Conflict is notoriously difficult to handle, and many people avoid arguing simply to avoid confronting their problems. Of course, that also means they have to live with the way their life is going, because sometimes, if you don’t ask for something, you’ll never get it. The bottom line is, there are times when you need to argue, to get your point across, be heard and have your say, and knowing how to argue effectively can mean the difference between a useful, informative exchange, which leads to a resolution, and an undignified screaming match.

10 Apocalyptic Theories and Beliefs

2009-04-22T19:12:30+00:00

Theories abound about the end of the world and the end of the human race. And whether from a religious, scientific, or cultural perspective, these ideas all have one thing in common: life as we know it won’t last forever. The following list is a compilation of 10 of the most common doomsday theories out there. Some end in mass destruction. Some end in the revelation of paradise. But all insist that big changes are coming.

Top 10 Most Successful Pirate Plunderers in History

2009-04-22T00:54:14+00:00

We have a love affair with pirates. Since Pirates of the Caribbean hit theaters a few years back, it seems like everywhere there are images of good-natured pirates sailing under the Jolly Roger. But, unfortunately, the movie Pirates presents a less-than-accurate representation of how the plundering life would have really been. The romanticized notion of swashbuckling, good-natured pirates who raided ships for great treasure is a little overrated. Most of the time, pirates didn’t get any treasure at all. In fact, many pirates throughout history have been notoriously poor. It’s only been an occasional swashbuckler who has hit it big with pirate booty.

10 Little-Known Ancient and Prehistoric Cultures

2009-04-21T01:24:44+00:00

You know Egypt, Rome, Greece, and the Incas. These are the people you haven't heard about.

Top 10 Lesser Known Religions

2009-04-20T21:58:04+00:00

Many have heard of Christianity, Baptist, Buddhism, Mormonism, and so on. Have you heard of a religion based on spirits, dreaming, or even the religion of the earth being represented as a turtle? This list covers religions that people practice all over the world and some ancient religions such as, Zoroastrianism. Diversity in religion is what makes or World an interesting place to live in. A lot of people will be informed from the religions in this list.

10 Influential World Leaders You’ve Probably Never Heard About

2009-04-19T22:03:46+00:00

Unless you live in or near the countries where they rule (or unless you're really into world politics), you've probably never heard of these leaders. But they're important, all the same.

History’s 10 Most Influential Comedians

2009-04-19T01:40:16+00:00

Some comics have changed history. A list of 10 of the most influential comedians of all time.

10 Best Posthumous Awards

2009-04-18T22:03:43+00:00

Ten of the most interesting--or most influential--prizes that have been awarded after death.

Top 10 Significant Advertising Icons That do More than Sell

2009-04-17T06:22:53+00:00

It seems like all big companies ever want to do is sell, sell, sell. They’ll do whatever it takes to make their products into things that consumers can’t do without. To that end, shelling out big bucks for ad campaigns is a common feat. It’s arguably the best tactic for getting a product on the must-have lists of people all over the world. And, for many companies, part of advertising means creating cute little mascots, or advertising icons, that will catch buyers’ attention. Advertising icons are the cartoons, animals, or inanimate objects that are the faces of brands. They sell their company’s products and, sometimes, provide a good deal of entertainment along the way. Usually, these silly characters appear on packaging labels, commercials, and billboards, promoting their goods with trademark tag lines. But the sell, sell, sell mentality keeps making the ad icons cuter, funnier, more entertaining, and, in many ways, more annoying. Sometimes, it just seems like too much. Why spend all that energy just getting people to buy?

10 Extinct Species That We Should Miss

2009-04-15T20:04:35+00:00

Dinosaurs were surely fantastic creatures, but you’d be hard pressed to find someone who wishes Tyrannosaurus rex were alive and roaming the streets. If dinosaurs weren’t extinct, humankind probably would be. All in all, the dinosaur extinction is something we should be happy about, at least from a human survival perspective. So sorry, T. Rex, you’re not one of the things we pine to resurrect. Unfortunately, there have been some not-so-ancient extinctions that we really should regret happening. Most of the species that have gone kaput in recent history have met their doom at human hands. And although, at the time, we thought we could do without these creatures, many of them could have helped us, or at least provided us with an interesting spectacle. The following 10 animals are all species that have died out in recent recorded history. And they’re all creatures that, for one reason or another, we should miss.

Top 10 National Symbols

2009-04-15T03:07:11+00:00

Talk about national pride. From flags to designated animals of state, nations go out of their way to distinguish themselves from one another. They’ve made national emblems out of everything. But beyond making nations stand out, patriotic icons can also help outsiders learn a lot about a country with just a quick glance. A fleeting look at an icon list could tell you about the national geography, history, and even food preferences! The symbol frenzy started with the birth of the modern nation in the 1800s, when states began defining themselves with national identities. Since then, official (and unofficial) icons have taken off. Some national symbols are riddled with pomp and circumstance, but others are just plain weird. Read over this list of the top 10 familiar and bizarre national icons that most every country adopts, whether officially or just by popular consensus. You’ll learn that there’s no end in sight to patriotism.

Top 10 Lost Civilizations

2009-04-15T02:19:29+00:00

There’s something fantastically romantic about the idea of a lost civilization. Perhaps it’s the mystery that surrounds these historical treasures. Personally, I’m always excited by the idea that the world might be a very different place had they survived to influence us today.

Top 10 Amazing UFO Sightings

2009-04-15T01:36:26+00:00

The sighting of strange craft, lights and entities over our skies has taken place for centuries now. These mysterious visions have taken many forms and have been explained in a variety of different ways. Many attribute them to bizarre natural phenomenon, others claim that they are visitors from another dimension, even the realm of the fairies, or secret craft controlled by our own governments. Without a doubt the most popular explanation is that UFOs are the mode of transportation for creatures from outer space with intentions unknown. Whatever the truth may be, UFOs have had a marked impact on our culture, creating paranoia, suspicion and even inspiration.

10 Games Children Can Play Outdoors

2009-04-15T00:44:37+00:00

We now live in a world with internet, widescreen TV’s, X-box’s, and cell phones. Although these are wonderful and entertaining bits of technology, they do come at a cost. The latest generation is growing up with a serious lack of social skills. There is a very noticeable drop in physical activity as well. As a result, our children are fighting obesity and many social issues, not to mention they are just downright pale looking compared to my generation. Many of these games I played very frequently myself as a child growing up. Because these games are very regional, you may not recognize all the names or all the rules, but chances are that if you are around 40 years old, you will recognize most of the elements as similar to the games you played as a child.

Top 10 Ways to Tell if Someone is Lying

2009-04-14T23:50:58+00:00

Not to set out on a low note but there is no definite way to know if someone is lying to you. That’s one of the reasons lie detector tests are not allowed as evidence in court. Every one is different and the signs we can use to detect lies are subject to a lot more then the quality the answer. Even if a persons ‘tells’ do indicate that they are lying, the fact is no tip can ever tell you what they are lying about. They might tell you the truth, for example, but be ‘lying’ about how they feel about it. The items on this list can tell you if someone might be less then truthful, but they will not tell you why, or how. If however you are not dealing with spies on a regular basis, and you are not one to make snap judgments about a person, then there are some ways to guide you about the truth of a story. Here is a list of the top 10 ways to tell if someone is lying to you, (or at least being less than truthful).

10 Things You Never Knew About Time

2009-04-14T16:02:19+00:00

It’s something that we all live it. It rules our schedules, dictating when we work, play, eat, and sleep. We think about it constantly, but it still sneaks up on us. What is this “it”? It’s time. And even though time is engrained into our daily lives, most of us probably don’t know too much about it beyond reading clocks and making itineraries. When you stop to think about the logistics of time, however, you begin to realize one thing: a lot of weird stuff goes into making up what we think of as a cold, hard fact. The following 10 facts are some of the strangest time tidbits out there.

Top 10 Things we Spend our Lifetime Doing

2009-04-14T16:00:48+00:00

If we live to be 70 years old, we get roughly 613,200 hours to live. That’s 365 days, times 70 years, times 24 hours. This is the time we have to enjoy, to love, to weep, to learn and to cry. The quest for ‘the good life’ for the meaning, for fulfillment, and purpose must fit into this average number of hours. But we spend a lot of our time doing other things, things we have little choice in, and so don’t pay much attention to. But if we start to look at these things we spend so much of our time on we might think again about our priorities and even more about sex. It’s a long story. Here is a list of the top 10 things we spend our lifetime doing.

Top 15 Amazing Asian People

2009-04-14T00:51:37+00:00

Chinese civilization was flourishing three thousand years ago. The Chinese Ancient Sages were eventually studied by Confucius, and included in his philosophy of living. Confucianism spread all over Asia and changed the course of its history. Buddha was born, and Buddhism spread and grew into many different sects. A number of amazing travelers took Buddhism with them to different Asian countries. Many ideas and discoveries from one Asian country eventually spread throughout Asia and beyond. There were sea-faring Asians travelling to the far reaches of their world long before the Europeans.

Top 10 Fascinating Facts About Albert Einstein

2009-04-12T19:04:31+00:00

Albert Einstein, a genius, an icon, a man in desperate need of a comb! Most people know a lot about the famous physicist without even trying to. To begin with it’s easy to see that he never owned a comb in his entire adult life, and it is also common knowledge that never wore socks because he disliked the way holes developed around his big toe. He was born on March 14th 1879 and ended his life in America in 1955 where his last words were lost to use because the nurse at his bed side didn’t understand German. He is a man who has had a periodic element, (einsteinium), named in his honor and one whose social and political rhetoric is studied as avidly as Machiavelli and Gandhi. But let’s see if there aren’t some more fascinating facts about one of the most fascinating people of the 20th century. Here is a list of top 10 fascinating facts about Albert Einstein.

Top 10 ways to Make Your Car Go Faster

2009-04-12T05:32:45+00:00

We Americans love our cars. Our cars are rarely just a means of conveyance. We take pride in our cars and see status symbols within them. There are expensive cars and cheap cars. Fast cars and economical cars. For most American men our first cars were used and a little run down. But we always wanted to find a way to get more from our cars. Most notably almost every guy wanted more speed out of their cars. My personal experience with building a faster car was a 1969 Chevelle. I bought it with a 307 cubic inch engine and modest transmission and rear end gear ratio. It had some power, but for a car that was built in the time when all cars had actual frames under them, it was a heavy car, and it could barely out perform an old pickup truck.

Top 10 Creepiest Movies

2009-04-11T20:06:37+00:00

Creepy is a feeling. Creepy is an ambience. It is not merely being scared or disgusted. Many filmmakers tend to confuse this. While a creepy movie may be scary, a scary movie may not be creepy at all. It is this difference that separates good films from great films. This list is for those who want to feel ‘creeped out’. Not all on this list are horror movies in the traditional sense. But all on this list paint a world for you that are indeed creepy.

Top 20 Urban Legends

2009-04-08T03:27:49+00:00

Everybody likes a good urban legend. They are stories you used to scary friends with while you’re standing around a camp fire, and ones you relive by watching your children as they hear them for the first time. Some are meant as warnings and others are meant to have some greater meaning, but they are all supposed to make you feel just a little uneasy when you turn out the lights before you get in bed. These are the horror stories that are meant to have happened, and freak you out just enough that you start to believe they might just be. They do this by playing on the things that you fear, things that go bump in the night and the slight gaps in life that a monster might just slip between. Some of these legends have become so popular they have been made into movies, and others you may never have heard before. But in either case I hope they hold that element of uncertainty that helps us all remember what it’s like to be a kid, and why you still check the closet before you go to bed. Here is a list of the Top 20 Urban Legends.

Top 10 Worst Fears of All Time

2009-04-07T19:19:41+00:00

Our worst fears are the bane of the human condition. True, fear and adrenaline can excite us and that is why we ride rollercoaster’s, watch scary movies and seek out adventure, (as much as we can anyway.) But our worst fears are different. They are unwanted, unsought, and have a tendency to always show up at the wrong time and place to interfere with our daily lives. These are not phobias because while they might be slightly irrational, they are not irrational fear. Still like a phobia a worst fear can seriously inhibit your life, take the fun out of cake, make you hate parks in the summer, and avoid cheese altogether.

Top 10 Ancient Historians

2009-04-07T15:27:07+00:00

Ever wondered how we know anything about ancient history? Well meet ten of the people who made it possible. It might seem crazy but without people putting things down in words everything would get lost. Archaeology is great, so is science, but none of that’s going to tell you who there names where, where they lived, or what they called a shovel. Some stuff doesn’t come down through the ages, for instance do you know what a Roman called a shovel? Or speak any Latin at all? See. Most ancient writing has been passed to us through a long and complicated path and most of the writing we have came through monks that copied it down during the Middle Ages. Lots of it got thrown away. Lots more simply got lost. Some of it got changed to fit the ideas of the monks and their teachers. Some of it has been found buried under the dirt, the sand, the stone and the soil. Here is a list of the top 10 ancient historians.

Top 10 Alternative Energy Sources that will Work

2009-04-07T14:11:19+00:00

There are plenty of alternatives out there for us. Unfortunately, in most cases the cost of implementing new technology is a hurdle that can be very tough to overcome.

Top 10 Lessons Learned from World War 2

2009-04-05T18:55:53+00:00

The Second World War had a drastic and unalterable effect on history, and therefore on our everyday lives. Families ended because of the number of young men and women, children and grandparents who died due to fighting, continuous civilian targeting by bombing campaigns, and accidents. Countries were formed, crippled, invented and destroyed by the aftermath of the war. Alliances were tested, created and strengthened, mass deportation and fleeing redistributed people, cultures, families and faiths across the globe and one of the worst atrocities in the history of mankind happened behind the cloak of fear, confusion and outright horror. As gruesome as it might seem, there are things we can learn from all of this, things we must try to understand and mistakes we must face. More then anything we have to remember, while too much was lost, too much given for us as the successors to simple ignore the lessons of our own history. More importantly we must never miss a chance to mock a Nazi. So here is a list of the top 10 lessons learned from World War Two.

Top 20 Amazing Natural Wonders

2009-04-04T19:24:04+00:00

Many people have marveled at the Seven Wonders of the World. Made by man they are a testament to human engineering and cooperation. But as we learn more about our planet it becomes clear that there are a lot more natural wonders of the world. Some of the items on this list are very new, some have been recently discovered but are very old, and others are well known landmarks that have helped characterize nations, our perception of nature as well as fostering a genuine interest in the outdoors everywhere. Our planet is our home and there is a lot here that protects and feeds us but some of the most amazing things in the world are ones that have developed over millions of years, and they seem able to feed is in more important ways. Who knows, maybe you will find you’re next vacation spot here. Here is a list of the top 20 natural wonders of the world.

Top 10 Best-Selling Fiction Authors of All Time

2009-04-04T18:11:18+00:00

You can find a chart detailing the estimated sales figures of the top best selling authors on a number of different web pages and you’ll notice they all look eerily similar. But you’ll also notice that the estimated sales figures have large margins for error, this is because no matter how much research you do there is no one consensus on how many books any author has sold. It is hard to say with certainty who sold how many books since a lot of them, you might have noticed, were written a long time before computers, the internet and all the record keeping wonders of the modern world. (Then again I’m not so sure we can trust modern figures either.) But while there may be a few surprises for some people you will also find that it makes sense when you think about it. So instead of this list being a record of who sold more fiction novels, it is instead an attempt to explain why these authors have become the top 10 best sellers of all time.

Top 10 Conspiracy Theories

2009-04-04T17:49:14+00:00

When anything happens in our society with any historical significance, what is generally accepted as the explanation for the event is almost always disputed by a small fringe group of people known as conspiracy theorists. This is a good thing in many ways. It is important to question everything. What kind of society would we live in if we automatically accepted everything we are told by our government or the media?

Top 10 Longest Wars

2009-04-04T02:00:04+00:00

Throughout the history of humans on earth, war has been a seemingly inevitable consequence. Sometimes these wars are extremely brief, but a number of wars have lasted for years – even decades. What makes this list a bit different is that there is a lack of agreement as to how long some of these wars really lasted (fights over wars – told you it sounded stupid). We’ve done our best to do the math for you and come up with the most accurate list of the longest wars.

Top 10 Most Infamous Dictators in History

2009-04-03T18:10:48+00:00

The most influential figures in history have not always fought on the side of good. Often those that influence our lives most of all are dastardly characters, even downright evil. More often than that things are not quite so black and white. Many dictators have begun their struggle for power through a desire to instigate positive political change. Others can be difficult to judge without bias. Almost always, however, ultimate power ends in a huge human cost. Therefore, these dictators are ranked not for their greatness but for their infamy.

Top 10 Significant Indian People

2009-04-03T17:58:43+00:00

In a country of a billion mortals and a five-thousand-year-old human civilization, it is not only difficult to choose the top 10, it is simply impossible. Here, we have tried to do the most difficult job in the world, but we sincerely feel a thousand more names could have qualified for these top 10 spots. We are sure that our selection would derive a lot of criticism, but we sincerely feel that this "Top 10 list" would represent the sentiments of most Indians. We have selected personalities who represent a diverse field of activities like religion, politics, entertainment, sports, science, society and others. Our list of top 10 Indians would surely reflect the image of a world within a country named India.

Top 10 Fascinating Facts About the American Presidency

2009-04-03T17:49:22+00:00

Everyone knows that the United States has a new President in Barack Obama. However, the office of President is one that has a number of quirky secrets that not everyone knows. Until now that is….

Top 10 Awsome Movies You Have Never Saw

2009-04-03T17:12:43+00:00

Everyone loves the movies, but no one has time to see every movie that comes out. Inevitably, there are movies that fall through the cracks, and you just never get around to seeing them. Fortunately, we’ve taken the time to let you know of 10 movies that you’ve likely heard of but probably missed. Put these on your “to rent” list, and thank us later.

Top 10 Bizarre Superstitions

2009-04-03T01:00:30+00:00

We live in a big wonderful and strange world. And as long as man has been here he has brought two important things with him that have made the world more astonishing and certainly a little more extraordinary. Questions and imagination. Exclusive to our species, it is these two things and their ability to harmoniously and fluidly lead into each other that helps to make our perception of this world a little stranger than it really is. Our collective imaginations are really quite incredible. They can produce astonishing concepts like language, literature, societies and governments, laws and religion. But when we ask a question and find no answers, the truly bizarre happens. Our insatiable need to have all questions answered creates an opening in the part of our minds where answers are stored and imagination steps in to fill the void. The product: Superstition. There are thousands upon thousands of superstitions. Every generation for every culture has their own. So how do you reduce all of these superstitions down to a list of the 10 most bizarre? Well to be honest you can’t. However what I can do is give you a selection of bizarre superstitions that are sure to amuse and inspire your own imaginations. So get comfortable. Sit back and relax. Toss some salt over your left shoulder to ensure the demons don’t interrupt our journey back in time as we explore 10 truly bizarre superstitions.

Top 10 Most Dangerous Jobs

2009-04-03T00:28:30+00:00

You’ve seen the reality shows and have heard the stories of lives lost, but do you really know what the most dangerous jobs in America are? Take a look at this list, and we assure you that you will think twice before complaining about your job.

Top 20 Beautiful Female Nude Artwork

2009-04-02T14:52:01+00:00

The female body is a beautiful work of art and only master painters have the skill to display it on canvas. Some of these paintings are priceless which are done by brilliantly by painters and sculptors. Many of these paintings hold a hidden meaning which mean different things to other people. Thats what make these artworks.

Top 10 Bizarre Fears and Phobias

2009-04-01T23:20:35+00:00

Fear. Most people crave it, whether it’s going to see a scary movie, walking home through the alley instead of on the sidewalk or taking a deep breath and finally getting on a theme park’s latest insane invention, fear works like a drug. It can make you feel alive, adventurous, or just plain excited. But while the fear we seek is for fun, the stuff that just shows up built into our wiring is an entirely different species. Heights, spiders, snakes, and nuclear war are some of the best examples of fear that many of us share. But fear is trickier then that, because even though a spider might be behind a sturdy glass window at the zoo a lot of people still can’t bring themselves to get too close, or even go near the building. This is the irrational fear, the stuff that keeps us up at night worrying about what could happen, and what might be.

Top 10 Tips to Win at Chess

2009-04-01T23:19:54+00:00

Chess looks interesting, gets a lot of good press, and makes people look smart when they play. That’s the general impression anyway. But it turns out to be a complete mystery when you try to play for the first time. The truth is that to win in chess you have to see as far into the game as possible, know what you opponent will do next, and what he will do after that as well. This type of intuition comes from clear thinking, practice, and long experience. But how are you meant to practice when you keep getting beaten in 5 moves? That’s what these tips are for, they might not make you a Grandmaster, (a title only people who are good at chess could ever have come out with), but they might get you on the right track.

The Top 10 Last Known Members of a Tribe

2009-04-01T23:17:08+00:00

Unfortunately, extinction isn't just for animals. Throughout human history, human tribes and cultures have periodically died out as well. Sometimes, these tribes vanished due to war or conquest. Sometimes, they were simply absorbed into other cultural or ethnic groups. However, even though these tribes are gone, not all of them have been forgotten. Here are the names and stories of the some of the last known members of vanished tribes and ethnic groups.

Top 14 Lesser Known Credit Bureaus

2009-04-01T23:16:40+00:00

With the economy crumbling and fortune 500 companies lining up to get a bailout it is hardly surprising that people are beginning to get a lot more interested in the workings of the Credit Bureaus. The fact is that credit and the way people’s credit ratings are decided probably has a lot to do with it. It has certainly come under fire in recent months. So we are left to wonder what are these companies, and what do they do? How do they affect us?

Top 20 Embarrassing Defeats in Sports

2009-04-01T23:14:43+00:00

Sports are a grand spectacle, characterized by larger than life athletes, raucous and fiercely loyal fans, and often stunning artistry and creativity, all merging to create a live drama that is arguably the greatest theatre in the world.

Top Ten Ways To Get To Sleep

2009-04-01T22:56:19+00:00

Sleep. It seems like no one these days is getting enough of it. In fact, though most healthy adults need between 7 and 9 hours of sleep per night, a recent poll found that a full 20 percent of adults get less than 6 hours each night. In addition to leaving the sleep-deprived tired and crabby, a lack of sleep affects our ability to learn, overall health, stamina, and memory. Some doctors even claim that sleep is the single biggest trigger of clinical depression. With the need for sleep so deeply ingrained in our brains, it’s time we learned some tricks to make sure we’re getting the right amount. The Top Ten Ways To Get To Sleep are:

Top 15 Amazing African People

2009-04-01T19:11:20+00:00

In general our American point of view tends to dominate our knowledge and understanding of our world. Tremendous, charismatic, and transformational leaders, artists, and thinkers however can be found everywhere. The challenge with this list was narrowing the field. There have been countless heroes and heroines that have spoken out against tyranny or struggled for freedom and equality across the vast continent of Africa; too many to squeeze into this very introductory list. To present the widest array of Amazing African People this list purposely strives to include some historical, some contemporary, some women, some men, some leaders, some artists, and some individuals who simply stand out. This list should be a jumping off point for further exploration of the many faces and voices of Africa.

Top 15 Awesome Battles in History

2009-04-01T19:08:56+00:00

There are many who would say that human history consists of nothing but violence, conflict and savagery. I, on the other hand, am an optimist and say that human history is made up of heroic soldiers, awesome battles and propaganda campaigns.

Top 10 Fascinating Facts about Barrack Obamas Family

2009-04-01T19:06:50+00:00

When ‘regular people’ are drafted up into the limelight it can often be hard to remember they are no different from the rest of us with likes and dislikes, habits and foibles, strengths and weaknesses. Here are a few facts about the Obama family surrounding the first couple that might help the rest of us keep in mind that at the end of the day they face the same challenges and struggles we all face. Here some fascinating facts about Barrack Obamas family:

Top 10 Worst Financial Crisis in U.S. History

2009-04-01T19:05:39+00:00

Your 401(k) is in the crapper, and you are on the window ledge. Well, you can try comfort yourself (if only a little) by remembering that the United States has been through tough times before (often with familiar themes) and has survived…although this current crisis has the potential to dwarf nearly all of them.

Top 10 Things That Could Wipe Out Life On Earth

2009-04-01T19:01:11+00:00

Since the beginning of time, humans have pondered the end of the world just as much as they have pondered the beginning of it. As knowledge of our world and the science that explains it has grown, mankind has become much more sophisticated in understanding what kind of phenomena could do enough damage wipe out life on Earth as we know it. While scientific advances such as antibiotics and levy systems have minimized much of the disasters that befell man in the past, there are still natural (and unnatural) disasters that we are powerless to stop. Here are the Top Ten Things That Could Wipe Out Life On Earth:

Top 10 Classical Music Pieces of All Time

2009-04-01T18:59:28+00:00

For tens of thousands of years, mankind has used music to lure mates, express himself creatively, and soothe his soul. Despite all the different genres of music that has existed throughout the ages, non continues to capture the imagination of humanity’s creative force like classical music. Tens of thousands of works of classical music have been composed down through the ages; however, some works are so powerful and well-loved that they are as popular today as when they debuted, sometimes hundreds of years ago. The Top Ten Classical Music Pieces of All Time are:

Top 10 Jobs For Lazy People

2009-04-01T18:58:09+00:00

Having a job can really cramp your style. In addition to seriously messing with your sleep schedule and preventing you from watching good daytime t.v., it imposes responsibilities on you and requires you to live up to them. Sure, this is great if you’re a real go-getter, but what about those of us who would rather loll around in bed all day and move as little as possible? Shouldn’t there be jobs out there for us, too? In this vein, the Top Ten Jobs for Lazy People are:

Top Ten Movie Pet Peeves

2009-04-01T18:57:30+00:00

No, we’re not talking about people talking through the coming attractions and yapping on their cell phones during the movies, though those things are certainly annoying enough to warrant their own Top Ten list. We’re talking about things that go on in the movies themselves that make us want to toss what’s left of our popcorn at the screen. The Top Ten Movie Pet Peeves are:

Top 10 Mysterious Text and Codes

2009-04-01T18:56:42+00:00

Throughout recorded history humans have used language to share its secrets with the next generations. In some cases however the books, manuscripts, or engraving are stored so effectively that the world changes drastically before the information comes to light. Cultures transform, rulers play musical chairs, and sometimes even whole languages are lost or forgotten. In some cases the written languages are simply lost to the momentum of progress, in others the meanings are obscured by elaborate codes or ciphers that never get ‘cracked.’ This list details the top ten most intriguing, mysterious texts, manuscripts, and engraving that have come to light from the past to apparently baffle us for eternity.

Top 10 Most Controversial U.S. Supreme Court Rulings

2009-04-01T18:55:37+00:00

As everyone should know, the United States Supreme Court is the highest court of law in the country, issuing decisions on a whole host of issues that affect the lives of every American. Some of these decisions have not been universally accepted, causing rifts among the populace. At the risk of further deepening those risks by omitting someone’s favorite case, here are the 10 most controversial Supreme Court cases.

Top 10 Driving Pet Peeves

2009-04-01T18:54:51+00:00

When it comes to driving, everyone has their own way of doing things, which would seem to negate state licensing standards. And while everyone believes themselves to be a “great” driver, they usually have a list of pet peeves about other drivers a mile long. If you don’t see yourself on this list, you haven’t been out on the road. Take a look at the Top Ten Driving Pet Peeves and, if you practice any of these bad habits while operating your automobile, quit it!

Top 10 Most Bizarre and Exotic Flowers

2009-04-01T18:53:34+00:00

Putting together a list of the world’s most beautiful flowers is a sure-fire recipe for controversy. Everything from scent to sentimentality influences people’s favorite flowers, and beauty is, after all, in the eye of the beholder. With that in mind, what follows is a list of the most bizarre and exotic flowers in the world, some of which are anything but beautiful.

Top 10 Best Beers

2009-04-01T18:53:29+00:00

As with so many lists of this nature, the top ten best beers in all the world are completely subjective and up to the discretion of the individual palate. I do believe, however, that it wold be tough for any connoisseur to argue against most of the choices in this compilation.

Top 10 Best Alternative Rock Bands of the 90s

2009-04-01T18:52:01+00:00

The 1990s was the decade that returned the music world to the era of heavy guitar licks and angst-driven music. The recession that closed in on the global economy early in the decade filtered into the new music scene and the bubble pop and big hair bands of the 80s slowly made way for music that was, lets say, less optimistic. This new music wave flowed west from Seattle and settled in over a good portion of the Western world, paving the way for the new bands of the 21st century.

Top Ten Best Classic Cartoons

2009-04-01T18:51:09+00:00

There was a time not long ago when Saturday mornings meant getting up early, grabbing a mixing bowl of Captain Crunch and settling in front of the television for a marathon of cartoons. This was a time before 24 hour/day cable toon networks when three or four stations were competing for the interest of a generation of children. Some of the classics were timeless and spawned decades while others were only around for a short time. Regardless, the creation of this list made me want to get a big box of cereal - the really sweet stuff - and melt in front of some quality cartoon entertainment.

Top 10 Best Payday Loan Alternatives

2009-04-01T18:50:21+00:00

Payday loans (also known as a Cash Advance) are costing Americans millions of dollars each year. They are designed to keep low income families in debt that barely have the money to pay the payday loan fees let alone the loan. Payday loans are a bad thing and very expensive one payday loan I seen charged 1300% to borrow $300, which is insane now how can anyone that can't make it to the next pay period pay 1300% interest on a loan. This is a list of the best payday loan alternatives.

Top 10 Best Magic Tricks (Illusions)

2009-04-01T18:49:11+00:00

I have always loved magic tricks especially tricks that are so secret that they are done by very few magicians and performed rarely in events. The magic tricks below are the most amazing and practiced only among top professionals.

Top 10 Bizarre and Least Understood Mental Illnesses

2009-04-01T18:48:47+00:00

Psychological illnesses affect millions of people everyday and these people are NOT crazy. They either have physical defect in their brain that can be easily treated or a developmental disorder that appeared at a young age without treatment. This is a list of bizarre or rare mental illnesses.

Top 10 Early Firsts in Television

2009-04-01T18:47:44+00:00

I love watch tv. I especially admire all the work that goes into creating the special effects. This is a list of firsts in TV.

Top 5 Tips for Wilderness Survival

2009-04-01T18:46:50+00:00

Unexpected events can happen at any time leaving you stranded in the wilderness. A family of four took a trip across country, the father fell asleep while driving and the car went of the main road into thick snow down the embankment. The place in which they crashed no one usually travels that road so they where in the car for 2 days waiting for help. The father decided to leave the shelter of the car and find help on foot in the sub zero weather. The father later died three hours later of hypothermia alongs with his family that died of dehydration. This is a list of good survival tips out in the wilderness.

Best 70’s and 80’s R&B and Soul Songs

2009-04-01T18:45:36+00:00

Old School songs of the 70's and 80's have always been my favorite. It seems like every time I listen to oldies I always find a forgotten masterpiece hardly anyone has hard before. I have chosen my personal favorites, these are simply the best i have heard on any music bests list and some of these songs are hard to find also. Enjoy!

Top 10 Worst Military Blunders in History

2009-04-01T18:44:14+00:00

Civilization has been at war since the dawn of man and probably even earlier. war has not stopped and it will never will and long as their are disagreements there will be was and suffering. The art of wat is an intriguing one because you are in charge of peoples lives and they are depending on you to make the right decisions. This is a list of the worst and careless decisions made in warfare.

Top 10 Brain Power Food

2009-04-01T18:43:50+00:00

It appears there may be some association between the foods we eat and the power of our brain. Just like the rest of our bodies, the brain reacts negatively to a constant intake of high-fat and junk foods and prefers to be nourished by a well-balanced diet.

10 Good Looking Celebrities that Played Ugly Parts

2009-04-01T18:43:40+00:00

Here are 10 celebrities that played nerd or ugly parts either in a movie or on TV. Amazing how these actors and actresses can change their appearances. I will include before and after pictures in each item. Enjoy!!

Top 10 Pop n Lock Dance Performances

2009-04-01T17:56:56+00:00

I always loved watch pop lock dancers perform. If you have any additional videos you would like to add please add them in the comments.

Top 10 Bizarre Allergies

2009-04-01T17:55:17+00:00

OK, You have found yourself in and out of doctors offices, with no one knowing what is exactly wrong with you. You don't have a virus, you don't have an infection and you didn't hurt yourself. So what could this illness be? An allergy, this is the time our own immune system goes haywire in the present of harmless foriegn particles.

Top 10 Unusual Place Names

2009-04-01T17:54:29+00:00

Think the residents in Floyds Knobs, Indiana or Climax, Minnesota have it rough? Wait until you get a load of some of these place names, which undoubtedly make their residents pause before answering the question “Where are you from?” How weird are these names? Looneyville, Texas, Dildo, Canada, and Santa Claus, Indiana didn’t even make the list. The Top Ten Most Unusual Place Names are: Parental guidance may be required.

Top 10 Hottest Flavor of Love Girls

2009-04-01T17:51:29+00:00

Flavor of Love is one of my favorite shows and gotta say there are some cute girls on FOL. I gotta say this show was a nice breath of fresh air from the everyday celebrity rush. I am into more thick girls and almost every girl you see on TV is skinny and look like plastic. I will list my favorite from least favorite to most favorite. If you have any objections or want to a girl added or deleted from this list please voice them in the comments.

Top 10 Invention that Should be Created for the Internet

2009-04-01T17:50:18+00:00

The internet and technology in general has come a long way in the past 50 years. The jaws would undoubtedly drop on the greatest minds of the 17th century if they could see how far our society has come. With every great invention people still mourn for enhancements, faster, more accurate, more features, or even less expensive. With that in mind, the Top Ten Inventions that Should Be Created For the Internet are as follows:

Top 5 Most Horrible Prisons on Earth

2009-04-01T17:46:11+00:00

Penitentiary life is filled with bad and good people. In some cultures it is the norm to put bad seeds away for a long time and then drive them practically insane while they are serving their time. This is the wrong answer to correct the mistakes of criminals. This is a list of the most terrible jails and prisons mankind can concieve.

Top 10 Ways To Be A Woman

2009-04-01T17:45:04+00:00

These days, women are bombarded by media images telling us what it means to be women. If popular culture is to be believed, we are supposed to look like super-models, put 60 hours a week into a successful, upwardly mobile career, and have stripper poles in our bedrooms. But what does it really mean to be a woman these days? Does it mean having the most highly-sought after handbag the latest hair style and shoes to die for? Or is there something more that makes us women? The Top Ten Ways To Be A Woman are:

Top 10 Most Beautiful Cat Breeds

2009-04-01T17:44:01+00:00

The are millions of cat owners in the world and USA has the most cat owners in the world. Many of the cats that I think are cute are located in Africa and can't be kept as household so I will keep the list limited to cats that are trainable and not harmful to humans. If you have a suggestion on a cute cat breed just click on the about link above and email me. So here you a list of the cutest cat breeds.

Top 10 Best Episodes of The Twilight Zone

2009-04-01T17:41:50+00:00

The Twilight Zone is one of the most popular and best-loved programs in the history of television. Unique, original, and decades ahead of its time, the original Twilight Zone only lasted five seasons, but produced such ground-breaking television that its stories are still being recycled, parodied, and talked about today. Ask ten Twilight Zone fans for their ten favorite episodes and you'll get dozens of different answers. However, there are certain TZ episodes so time-honored that they have seeped into the national consciousness and still influence the science fiction and horror genres today. Here are the Top 10 Best Twilight Zone episodes: