Honestly, who wouldn't want their bank robbed by this guy? (Photo from Yahoo! Movies) In times of political and economic turmoil, it's common for villains to become heroes in the eyes of the public. From Robin Hood and Guy Fawkes in England to the outlaws of the American West, notoriety can become an admirable trait. One of the most popular figures of this ilk was John Dillinger, the (in)famous bank robber. Despite a short career spanning just over a decade (most of which he actually spent in jail), Dillinger became one of the newly formed FBI's most wanted criminals and a star in America's media. With his flashy style, leading-man good looks, charming demeanor, and creative robbery tactics, it's not surprising that Dillinger was embraced by the public. Moreover, his crime sprees occurred during an era when most Americans were feeling the effects of the Great Depression; thus, he (and other '30s era outlaws like Bonnie and Clyde) were viewed largely as latter-day Robin Hoods (albeit armed with machine guns, rather than with bows and arrows). The exploits of the Dillinger Gang (whose members included Charles "Pretty Boy" Floyd and George "Babyface" Nelson) were legendary; among Dillinger's supposed (mis)adventures were two jail breaks (one using a fake gun made of wood), staging a bank holdup as a movie shoot, pretending to be a bank security expert to gain access to vaults, and stealing an estimated $300,000 from various Midwestern banks (equivalent to nearly $5 million today!). Dillinger also dated a series of beautiful women and was a lifelong Chicago Cubs fan. Dillinger's death became nearly as legendary as his life. While attending a film ("Manhattan Melodrama") at Chicago's Biograph Theater, one of his girlfriends, Anna Sage (who became known as "the woman in red"), tipped off the FBI as to Dillinger's identity; the agents then shot him multiple times, and he died in the theatre's alley. Or did he? Several discrepancies with Dillinger's body and forensic evidence led many to believe the man who had been shot had been an imposter and that the real Dillinger was still alive. That story is unlikely, but it remains just another extraordinary aspect of Dillinger's brief life and (still living) legend -- such as that part of him ended up in the Smithsonian. Today marks the opening of Michael Mann's highly-anticipated film "Public Enemies," which details the various exploits of Dillinger (played by Johnny Depp), his relationship with singer Billie Frechette (Oscar winner Marion Cotillard), and the efforts of FBI special agent Melvin Purvis (Christian Bale) to capture him. The movie's release couldn't be more timely, considering current economic circumstances. It's likely to rekindle interest in Dillinger but will, hopefully, deter any would-be Robin Hoods from following in his footsteps. Perhaps his most lasting legacy is the reminder that crime does not pay. Suggested Sites... Public Enemy #1 - PBS "American Life" feature about the life and crimes of John Dillinger. "Dillinger" (1945) - watch the first Dillinger film, starring Lawrence Tierney. Dillinger On Screen - synopsis of "Dillinger," "Public Enemies," and other movies about John Herbert Dillinger. Bryan Burrough - official site for the author of "Public Enemies," the book upon which the movie is based. FBI Most Wanted Lists - crime may not pay, but it sure can make you popular.

Directory categories: John Dillinger, Public Enemies, Johnny Depp, FBI History, Outlaws

Archived under: 1930s, Actors, American History, Biographies, Celebrities, Chicago, Crime, Criminals, Dead Celebrities, Detectives, History, Law Enforcement, Movie Theatres, Movies, Mythology and Folklore, Society and Culture, United States, Urban Legends, Villains

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The forest-mimicking columns inside Gaudi's temple La Sagrada Familia, Barcelona, Spain (Photo by Juan Salmoral) If there is any one principle that resonates through the work of architectural legend Antoni Gaudí, it's that nothing beats the beautiful ingenuity of Nature. Born on this day in 1852, Gaudí was infatuated with the natural world. He immersed himself in nature's forms -- from sea shells to mushrooms. Organic shapes inspired Gaudí's stunningly original monuments in and around Spain's cultural mecca, Barcelona. His bizarre buildings are wrought with swirling ceilings, gill-like window vents, molten façades, ruffled rooftops, and whimsical chimney creatures. Even the structural elements of Gaudí's buildings take on surreal, nature-inspired forms through tree-like columns, bone supports, helicoid staircases, and rib-shaped rafters. Despite his innovations, Barcelonians didn't think much of him during his lifetime. Aside from the few rich clients who adored (and funded) his artistry, most civilians -- and frankly, most of Gaudi's colleagues -- scoffed equally at his major works. Nevertheless, the Catalan creator of biomorphic curves eventually earned posthumous praise from master architects and artists, solidifying his status as a forefather of Modernism. Suggested Sites... Casa Battló (1905-1907) - Gaudí's gaudy apartment, inspired by sea forms. Casa Milà (1905-1907) - Gaudí's undulating building called "The Quarry." Parque Guëll (1900-1914) - Gaudí's park, featuring his home, bridges, mosaics, terraces, and sculptures. La Sagrada Familia (1882-2026?) - his massive masterpiece-in-progress, full of cave forms and unforgettable towers. NYC Grand Hotel Plans (1908) - Gaudí fans proposed his design for the new World Trade Center.

Directory categories: Antoni Gaudi, Master Architects, Barcelona Local Guides, Art Nouveau

Archived under: 19th Century, Antoni Gaudi, Architects, Architecture, Arts, Birthdays, Buildings, Creativity, Design, Europe, History, Regional, Spain, Tourist Attractions

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Thompson's Switchback Railway On June 13, 1884, at Coney Island in New York, the world's first roller coaster opened. It was called the "Switchback Railway," cost a nickel to ride, and peaked at almost seven miles per hour. The coaster was designed by LaMarcus Adna Thompson, whose inspiration was most likely the Mauch Chunk Switchback Railway -- an 1827 Pennsylvania mine train that was used for entertainment during slow work days. The "Switchback Railway" was pretty simple: Guests would climb up a high tower and be seated in a large, bench-like car. The "operators" would physically push the car down the 600-foot track, and after a ride over a few rolling hills, the passengers would end up at the top of a tower on the other side. The car would be switched over to the other track to repeat the same ride for the second tower's guests. Needless to say, roller coasters have come a long way since then. There are dozens of types, such as inverted, suspended, stand-up, floorless, spinning, and flying coasters. Theme parks around the world are constantly pushing the envelope and competing to break new records to feature the tallest, fastest, or most unique coasters. Here are a few of the best modern coasters: "Kingda Ka" - Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, New Jersey -- the "rocket launch" coaster reaches 128 mph at 456 feet high. It is currently the fastest and highest coaster with the longest drop (418 feet), a record it's held for four years. "Steel Dragon 2000" - Nagashima Spa Land in Japan -- the tallest (318 feet) and fastest (95 mph) of the traditional steel coasters. "X" (now "X2") - Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia, California -- a fourth-dimension coaster, it's a combo of a "flying" coaster and an inverted one, since the seats actually swivel, changing the view and position of each rider throughout the ride (and turning grown men into scared little girls). "Superman: The Escape" - also at Six Flags Magic Mountain -- the tallest (415 feet) and fastest (100 mph) of the "shuttle" coasters. "The Beast" and "Son of the Beast" - Kings Island in Mason, Ohio -- "The Beast" opened in 1979 and still holds the record for being the longest wooden coaster at 7,359 feet, with a four-minute ride time! Its sequel, "Son of the Beast," opened in 2000, and holds the records for the tallest (218 feet), fastest (78.3 mph), and longest drop (214 feet) for a woodie. "Wicked" - Lagoon in Farmington, Utah -- a one-of-a-kind coaster that seats only  eight people and combines several elements of other types of coasters. "Superman: Ultimate Flight" - Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, New Jersey -- one of the best flying coasters. "Fairly Odd Coaster" - Nickelodeon Universe (inside the Mall of America) in Bloomington, Minnesota -- an indoor coaster in which the small cars spin on the track. "X Scream" - Stratosphere in Las Vegas, Nevada -- only partially a roller coaster, but probably the scariest of them all, since it "drops" you from the top of the hotel -- 900 feet above the city. Now that's some scary sh--! Suggested Sites... Roller Coaster History in America - more details about the switchback railways and other early coasters. Ultimate Rollercoaster - information on record holders and a history of thrill rides. Roller Coaster DataBase - searchable database of pics and stats on more than 2,000 roller coasters. HowStuffWorks: How Roller Coasters Work - examines the principles and hardware that keeps roller coasters running.

Directory categories: Roller Coasters, Roller Coaster Physics, Amusement and Theme Parks, Coney Island

Archived under: 19th Century, Coney Island, Entertainment, History, New York, Records, Roller Coasters, Summer, Travel

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The always-dapper Babe Ruth styles for the camera Today is National Tailor's Day; a day dedicated to the men and women who sew and fashion our clothes so that we always look our best. On such an occasion, our minds turn naturally to that most American of outfits, the baseball uniform, for it was on this day in 1849 that the New York Knickerbockers became the first baseball team to wear uniforms. In the century-and-a-half since, the uniform has undergone many changes: pants have been both tighter and looser, as well as shorter and longer. Sleeves have been long, short -- and even non-existent. Materials have changed, from flannel wool to polyester to today's poly-cotton blends. While some teams have maintained the same look for decades, others seem to change with the seasons; sometimes bland, sometimes colorful -- sometimes downright bizarre. While many of us have a mental image of how baseball players are supposed to look -- mid-calf pants, stirrup socks and sanitaries (usually, but not always, white), and short jerseys with colored undershirt -- that combination has all but disappeared in recent years, though some younger players are trying to restore the classic look. Believe it or not, there are some folks who are obsessed with this kind of thing; who create spreadsheets to track the various uniform combinations their favorite teams wear. But let it not be forgotten that all those variations on uniforms are cash cows for Major League Baseball teams, who schedule games saluting individual players, Negro League teams, or who "turn back the clock" to wear modern versions of vintage kits -- all in the hopes of selling replicas to fans. Unfortunately or (fortunately), the teams' ability to salute the past exceeds their ability to predict the future. A 1999 multi-team promotion that "turned the clock ahead" gave teams the chance to wear some designer’s idea of what ballclubs would wear "in the future;" the event provided fans with a bizarre collection of jerseys that made the teams look less like professional athletes than an assignment on "Project Runway." But for every giant compass or silver helmet that the future may (or may not) hold, traditionalists can rest assured that pinstripes and team names rendered in script will never go out of style. Suggested Sites... National Baseball Hall of Fame: Dressed to the Nines - historical archive of every uniform ever worn by every major league club. Uni Watch - Paul Lukas's blog dedicated to the obsessive study of athletic aesthetics (meaning "uniforms"). Wikipedia: Baseball Uniforms - history of how the modern uni came to be. Mitchell and Ness - manufacturer of authentic and replica uniforms for Major League Baseball and other sports. Ebbets Field Flannels - maker of reproduction minor league and Negro League uniforms.

Directory categories: Baseball, Baseball History, Athletic Wear Manufacturers, Men's Custom-Made Apparel, Sporting Goods

Archived under: 19th Century, Anniversaries, Apparel, Athletes, Baseball, Baseball Players, Clothing and Accessories, Collectibles, Design, Events, Fanatics, History, MLB, Sports

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Even if you're a nerd, you don't have to make your poor dog suffer (Photo by Felipe Ibanez Guzman) There's a moment in everyone's life when they come out of the closet -- not necessarily that closet -- but rather when they realize that that thing they’ve always been interested in and fascinated by isn't something to be embarrassed about, but is something to be acknowledged and celebrated. In my own case, it was (and is) comic books. Even though I've been reading them for half a century, when I was in high school, it was worst sort of social embarrassment to admit that not only did you read and enjoy them, but you also collected them. When I got to college, I met men and women who were smart, funny, and who actually read comics -- and admitted it. Since then, I've been more than proud of my fanboy status -- even if some of my fellows are still stereotypically geeky. May 25th is Nerd Pride Day, a holiday that started (in Spain, of all places) in 2006, and is dedicated to allowing all of us the freedom to be geeks or nerds about anything we like -- no, not just like, but are really into. With that in mind, I polled my fellow Sparksters to find out what floats their particular boats. Robert: As far as nerdy and geeky interests, there's too much to choose from, so I’ll just go with role-playing games -- "Dungeons and Dragons" in particular; a game that even nerds call nerdy. I used to play "Dungeons and Dragons" back in the '90s when TSR was still around and supported the "Ravenloft" (gothic horror) and "Dark Sun" (kind of like "Mad Max") campaign settings. These days my D&D lust is satisfied by war games like "Warhammer" and board games (especially horror games) like "Arkham Horror," which is a perfect meld of board games and another nerdy interest of mine: H.P. Lovecraft and the Cthulhu mythos. But, still loyal to my old passion, I keep a bad-ass "Dragons of Krynn" painting I got way back in high school hanging in my room. Sarah: I am a total history junkie. I will read, watch, or listen to anything involving history (as you can probably tell from my Sparks). I'm partial to European history, especially anything weird, corrupt, or scandalous -- and it’s even better if it involves the monarchy. But surprisingly, I've never been to a Renaissance Faire. Suzi: This Memorial Day, I hope to be sitting by the pool, soaking up the sun, enjoying a bevy of tunes from my iPod Classic, whilst reading some lovely literary selection on my Kindle. I'm sure I'll be in contact with loved ones, as my Blackberry Pearl never leaves my side. Yes, folks, I am an unabashed gadget girl. I wear my Nerd Pride badge, well, proudly. Richard: I became painfully aware of my status as a gay nerd while creating a spreadsheet of "Golden Girls" episodes that I wanted to rip to my iPhone, organized by season, disc, and featured musical number (where applicable.) Jessica: I am nerdy about snowboard construction. My own snowboard has a Kevlar core for strength and flexibility (and in case bad guys are after me on the slopes, a la James Bond). It's pretty new, but the latest in board tech is bamboo veneer, which, in addition to being sustainable and looking very board-like indeed, reduces vibrations on icy snow and at high speeds. So cool. Adrienne: I collect Japanese toys. Okay, I'm not a master collector, but I still spend too much money of ugly vinyl monsters and fanciful plastic windup toys. Source of neurotic nerdiness: Crying over Gamera's apparent demise ("Don't die, Gamera! Don’t die!") in a fellow 3-year-old’s Gaithersburg, Maryland basement. It's one of my earliest memories. Do manicured lawns spawn escapist fantasies? Chris: I am an unapologetic sci-fi nerd. A good sci-fi novel/movie inspires you to think deeply, often forcing you to consider possibilities that never occurred to you. The prescription for all closed-minded individuals who just can't show any empathy or sympathize with any unknown point of view is an assigned list of the best sci-fi. Mike: I am a Disneyland nerd and proud of it! Since I was 10 years old, I’ve been going there at least once a year. After my first son was born, I have shared my poison, I mean passion, for it with my family -- my eight-year-old son has been there 15 times. I know ... it's nuts. And that’s why it's the nerdiest thing about me. Suggested Sites... Wikipedia: Geek Pride Day - we call them nerds, they call them geeks -- and there's probably a subculture dedicated to determining the differences. Nerd Country - "your complete nerd resource." Wikipedia: Trekkies - for some, these are the ultimate of geekdom. 501st Legion - for me, it doesn't get any lower than this, though. Okay, you think Boba Fett is cool; we get it, already! Kelly's World of Airsickness Bags - see, there's nothing that doesn't have afficionados.

Directory categories: Comic Books, Consumer Electronics, The Golden Girls, Collectible Toys, Disneyland

Archived under: Authors, Board Games, Books, Celebrations, Collectibles, Comic Books, Comics, Counterculture, Cultures, Disney, Disneyland, Entertainment, European History, Extreme Sports, Fanatics, Fiction, Gadgets, Games, Gay Pride, History, Hobbies, Holidays, In Character, James Bond, Japan, Literature, Monsters and Creatures, Parenting, Royalty, Science Fiction, Sitcoms, Society and Culture, Sports, Star Trek, Star Wars, TV, Technology, The Spark, Toys, Winter Sports, Yahoo! Directory

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