Yoooo it’s FRIDAY! 🎒🔥 So you know what that means. It’s time to take a look back at the insane week it’s been! From exposing the dark secrets of the NXIVM cult to uncovering evidence of extraterrestrial life in ancient texts, this week’s episodes explored everything to keep that mind of yours buzzing. Oh, and be sure to test your Camp knowledge by taking the quiz at the bottom of the newsletter! Let’s recap the highlights and make sure you’re all caught up! 🌌👽
But first, Today In History…
Crime: On December 20, 1986, three Black men were attacked by white teenagers in Howard Beach, Queens, after their car broke down nearby. The men sought help at a local pizzeria but were confronted by the teens, who yelled racial slurs. Michael Griffith, 23, was chased into traffic and killed by a car, Cedric Sandiford was severely beaten, and Timothy Grimes escaped. The incident heightened racial tensions in New York City and received national attention. John Lester, the ringleader who was 17 at that time was the one who led the attack. Haunted by the “guilt dreams“ the convict shot himself 31 years later.
War: On December 20, 1989, the U.S. invaded Panama to overthrow military dictator Manuel Noriega, who faced U.S. drug trafficking charges and was accused of suppressing democracy and endangering U.S. nationals. Noriega's forces were quickly defeated, and he surrendered on January 3, 1990, after seeking asylum. Initially recruited by the CIA in 1970 to combat communism, Noriega was removed from the CIA payroll in 1977 due to drug trafficking but was re-engaged after the Sandinistas took power in 1979. He became Panama's military dictator in 1983.
Religion: On December 20, 1576, Edmund Grindal, the Archbishop of Canterbury, took a bold step by sending a letter to Queen Elizabeth I, in which he expressed his strong opposition to her directive. The Queen had issued an order that required him to instruct preachers across England to significantly reduce the frequency of their sermons. She believed that delivering three or four sermons annually was more than adequate for the spiritual needs of the populace. However, Grindal, a staunch advocate for the importance of regular preaching, found himself in a difficult position, torn between his duty to the Queen and his commitment to the spiritual well-being of the people. He believed that frequent sermons were essential for educating and uplifting the congregation, fostering a deeper understanding of scripture, and promoting moral and spiritual growth. Grindal's refusal to comply with the Queen's directive ultimately led to a conflict with the monarchy, resulting in his suspension and a period of house arrest.
Mafia: On December 20, 2012, a Thai court decided to extradite Vito Roberto Palazzolo. Back in the 1970s and 80s, he was involved in laundering money for some of Italy's most notorious mobsters through New York pizzerias. This was all uncovered during the Pizza Connection investigation, which revealed a massive £1bn ($1.6bn) heroin and cocaine smuggling operation using these pizzerias as fronts from 1975 to 1984. In 2006, Italy convicted him and sentenced him to nine years in prison for his mafia connections. However, he managed to escape to South Africa, where having ties to the Mafia isn't considered a crime. Italian authorities finally caught up with him in March 2012 when Interpol nabbed him in Thailand while he was on his way back to his adopted home, where he went by the name Robert von Palace Kolbatschenko. The Bangkok criminal court mentioned that the extradition process would take at least 30 days, mostly to handle the necessary paperwork.
NXIVM Sex Cult: Hollywood’s Darkest Secret 🔪🎭
Frank Parlato Jr., the whistleblower who brought attention to the NXIVM cult, joined us to share his chilling inside story. From its charismatic leader Keith Raniere to the prominent figures entangled in its web, Frank broke down how the cult operated, indoctrinated its members, and committed heinous crimes. This episode dives into the cult’s Hollywood connections, legal battles, and the bravery it took to expose the truth. If you haven’t watched it yet, check it out to uncover the story behind one of Hollywood’s most infamous cults.
Evidence of Aliens in Ancient Texts | Dr. Ivano Dal Prete 👽📜
Dr. Ivano Dal Prete, a Yale University historian and astronomer, joined us in the tent to explore how ancient civilizations viewed extraterrestrial life. From the philosophical teachings of Pythagoras to Galileo’s theories on moon civilizations, this episode gave us an inside look at how some of the brightest minds in ancient history studied the cosmos. We even examined UFOs in historical texts and speculations about life on Mars. Whether you’re a skeptic or a believer, this episode explores every corner of belief. Check it out here
Camp Quiz📝
Which episode resonated with you the most this week? Let us know by replying to this email—we love hearing your thoughts! 💬✉️ Want to catchup? check out the channel for all the latest episodes. Stay close—there’s a LOT more to come, and you won’t want to miss a thing! 👀🔥
- Jaime