We drove from Maryland to North Carolina to adopt Ethel, a 5-year-old brindle Great Dane. She looked so happy in the picture, we were unprepared for reality. My first thought was how thin she looked, her sagging teats telling the story of her years as a puppy mill breeding machine. We walked towards her, treats … Read more
In 1992, Annette Herfken’s partner of 13 years persuaded her to follow him on a romantic vacation; he never knew that would be his worst decision. Fifty minutes into the flight going to Vietnam, the plane suddenly plummeted into the mountains. When she woke up, everywhere was dark with people screaming. A dead passenger strapped … Read more
Freddie Mercury was so ill when the band recorded the song “The Show Must Go On” in 1990 that Brian May was concerned about whether he was physically capable of singing it. Recalling Freddie’s performance, Brian says, “The melody called for some very demanding high notes, and I’d only been able to demo them in … Read more
Bart Whitaker’s parents gave him everything he wanted: they bought him luxury cars in high school and a beautiful lakeside townhouse in Willis, Texas. And when he told them he had written his final exam in college, they bought a $4000 Rolex watch for him. All the sacrifices were not enough for Bart; he wanted … Read more
On January 26, 2011, 27-year-old first grade teacher Ellen Rae Greenberg was found dead in her apartment, having sustained 20 stab wounds. The Philadelphia Medical Examiner’s Office initially ruled her dea*th a hom1cide, but just months later, the ruling was inexplicably changed to sü1cide, sparking outrage from Greenberg’s parents, Sandra and Joshua, who were convinced … Read more
What was the last most shocking image you’ve ever seen? It looks innocent enough, at first glance. It is a woman, Kristel Candelario, enjoying some time on a beach. She posted it to her social media with the caption: “The time enjoyed is the time truly lived.” For ten days, Candelario had the time of her … Read more
On July 30, 1945, the USS Indianapolis was traveling through the Philippine Sea on its way back from completing a crucial mission: delivering the components of the atomic bomb that was about to be dropped on Hiroshima. But just after midnight, a Japanese submarine sank the ship and left nearly 900 survivors stranded in the … Read more
I am 62 and have been married and divorced 4 times. Poor track record, I know. First time was when we were both 19; simply too young, but had a wonderful son; divorced after 3½ years. Next I thought I’d found a good partner and step dad. We had a son but divorced after 10 … Read more
What is the most common red flag at the beginning of a relationship that people ignore? Profile photo for Sachin Jha Sachin Jha A very close friend of mine was all about this girl. He’d not get tired telling me about her and how good he felt being with her. It was the beginning all-perfect … Read more
If bad luck had a different name, it should be Richard Jones. Richard is just an average man with a job, a wife, and children. One day, he’s arrested by the police and found guilty of an armed robbery. Even though he says he’s innocent, he is sentenced to 20 years in prison. There are … Read more