Yoooo Camp! 🎒🔥 It’s Wednesday, and that means it’s time to look back on last week’s incredible episodes! Not only did we have another Religion Camp episode, but we explored everything from the life and myths of Alexander the Great to the mind-bending mysteries of black holes and alien life. If you missed out on the tent last week, don’t worry! Let’s recap the highlights! ⚔️🌌
But first, Today in History…
Mafia: On December 11, 1978, in the quiet hours of the night, six masked men stormed into the Lufthansa Airlines cargo terminal at New York’s JFK International Airport. It was during the graveyard shift when they pulled off what was, at the time, the largest heist in U.S. history, making off with $5.8 million in cash and jewels. In just 64 minutes, this group of small-time crooks, with ties to the Lucchese crime family, managed to snatch $5 million in untraceable bills (equivalent to $22.4 million today) and $800,000 in jewels (worth $3.6 million today). It was speculated that a notorious Lucchese crime family associate James Burke known as "Jimmy the Gent" organized the heist. It was believed that he was behind the series of deaths and disappearances of those involved in the robbery in the following months. The authorities never recovered the stolen cash or jewels, they were kept busy by a trail of at least a dozen bodies and mysterious disappearances linked to the heist.
War: On December 11, 1994, in the biggest Russian military move since their 1979 invasion of Afghanistan, thousands of troops and hundreds of tanks rolled into Chechnya, which was trying to break away from Russia. After the USSR fell apart in 1991, Chechnya, like many other regions, declared its independence but it was seen as one of the many republics within the Russian Federation. Russian President Boris Yeltsin, who allowed the Soviet Union to dissolve, was not willing to let a region within Russia itself break away. The Russian forces reached the outskirts of Grozny, the Chechen capital without any major resistance. However, they had to face several thousand Chechen volunteers who were ready to fiercely defend their land.
Religion: On December 11, 1475, Pope Leo X was born into the famous Medici family of Florence. He was the second son of Lorenzo de' Medici, the leader of Florence. In 1489, he became a cardinal. After Pope Julius II died, Giovanni was chosen as the new pope with the help of younger cardinals. During his time as pope, he presided Fifth Council of the Lateran but had trouble making the agreed changes happen. In 1517, he led an expensive war to make his nephew, Lorenzo di Piero de' Medici, the Duke of Urbino, which resulted in a significant reduction of the church’s wealth.
Crime: On December 11, 2008, Bernard Madoff, a well-known investor, was arrested at his apartment in New York City. He was accused of organizing an enormous Ponzi scheme, which was later estimated to involve about $65 billion, marking it as one of the largest investment frauds in Wall Street's history. Madoff, who was born in Queens, New York, in 1938, started a small trading firm under his name in 1960. He initially funded the business with money he earned as a lifeguard. In just two decades Madoff’s firm had become a major player in the securities industry, helping to change the way stocks were traded. This success allowed him and his family to enjoy a lavish lifestyle, complete with multiple homes, boats, and a collection of expensive art and jewelry.
Yale Historian Explains Alexander The Great’s Genius ⚔️🌍
Last week, we were joined by Dr. Joseph Manning, a renowned Professor of History at Yale University, who took us on a journey through the life and legacy of Alexander the Great. From his unparalleled military strategies to the vast empire he built stretching from Greece to India, this episode unpacked the complexities of Alexander’s genius. We also dove into the myths surrounding this legendary figure and revealed the truths that shaped history. If you’re curious about one of the most influential figures in the ancient world, this is a must-watch!
Aliens, Killer Asteroid, & Black Holes Explained 🌌🛸
David Kipping, an astronomer and associate professor at Columbia University, joined us to explore the universe’s greatest mysteries. From the hunt for exo-planets and ancient civilizations, to theories about black holes and the perfection of the moon. This episode is packed with everything to keep you entertained! Kipping gave us an inside look at groundbreaking astronomical discoveries, the potential for advanced species, and even the future of humanity in space. Whether you’re a space enthusiast or just love the unknown, this one’s for you!
LOST Bible Books Explained: Thomas, Judas, Magdalene, Solomon & MORE 📖✨
On Religion Camp, we got a little apocryphal. We broke down some of the most fascinating and mysterious lost and banned books of the Bible. From the Gospel of Thomas and its stories from Jesus’ childhood, to the Book of Enoch and its depiction of heavenly realms and giants, this episode was packed with ancient texts and history that you don’t want to miss!
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- Jaime