Sports Illustrated Cover Jinx

Like the Madden Curse, the Sports Illustrated Cover jinx is well known. Many fans have started to watch out for their favorite players/teams from any sport, fear plaguing their minds as to what misfortune awaits.

It all started in 1954, when a picture of Eddie Mathews hitting a ball was featured. The Braves would go on to lose their game after that. And it's not always players and teams that are effected. If anyone if featured on the cover associated with sports in any way, they could become a victim as well. A notable example of this is John F. Kennedy.

Madden Curse

The Madden Curse is famous. In fact, it is perhaps one of the more well known curses in the modern day. It is right up there with the Sports Illustrated Cover Jinx.

This is, of course, referring to the Madden NFL games that get made every year. Since 1999, the game featured a well known player prominently on the cover rather than it's name sake, John Madden. This was against what the creators wanted, but it still happened. John was never effected, the curse only targeted those that took over his place as a prominent figure on the cover.

The first player to be featured on the cover was Garrison Hearst. He was breaking several records set to get into the Hall of Fame before he was honored with the cover. Then, he got the 49-ers to the playoffs. That is when it happened. He broke his ankle. Hearst was unable to play for two seasons after that, and his game was never the same. Thus, the curse claimed its first victim.

The House of Mirrors

There is a house in the old part of the Spanish city of Cadiz in Mexico. The house is known as "La Casa de los Espejos" or "The House of Mirrors". It is an imposing, yet elegant, three-story house the architecture that evokes it's Spanish past. However, the innocent facade fools no one in Cadiz, because everyone believes in ghosts and knows the old home's history. They steer well clear of it at night.

The legend goes that, years ago, an important Admiral of the Spanish Navy lived in the house with his wife and young daughter. The Admiral's job meant that he was often gone for long periods of time, traveling from port to port. He visited many different and exotic foreign countries because of these business trips

Killer Cop

One night, a woman hears a knock on her front door. She is worried as she wasn't expecting company. When she answers her door, she is greeted by a police officer, which she is relieved.

That is, until she hears him say that a murderer is in the area. The officer asks to enter the house to discuss the matter in further detail. Naturally, the woman wants to know more about the threat in her quiet neighborhood.

The Black Kimono

One day in Japan, a man wanted to meet up with a girl he had gone to school with named Asako. They arranged to meet a popular location in Tokyo. But, on the day they were to meet, he waited for a few hours. Asako never showed up. He thought she may have forgotten or that it was the wrong day, he went home.

He called her that night and she was mad at him for not showing up. She had been at the meeting place on time, but they had missed each other. It was kind of strange, but Tokyo was big and the meeting spot busy, so the two laughed and made plans to meet at a smaller train station outside of the city.

The Boy with the Brass Buttons

Years ago, there was an old-fashioned house in Stuyvesant Square. It had been vacant for a while, but in 1883, winter had settled on the city. A father bought the house and moved into it with his wife and daughter. They decided that the house needed to be renovated to better suit their needs. Years before, the attic of the house had been made into a playroom years before, so they sent their six-year-old to go play while the work took place on the floors below.

After a few weeks, the rooms were almost finished, giving the mother time to play with her daughter. However, despite this, the child kept sneaking up to the attic to play. Eventually, her mother asked her why.

Seventh of the Seventh

Both above are modern examples of the legend of the seventh son of the seventh son. But what is the seventh son of the seventh son and what is it supposed to represent?

The seventh son of the seventh son is a concept from folklore regarding special powers given to or held by such a son. He must come from an unbroken line of sons. Meaning, no girls can be born before him. For a seventh daughter of the seventh daughter, the concept is the same, but no boys can be born before her. Any of the opposite sex being born anywhere in the line makes everything null and void.

Terror in Paris

We all know that on Friday, October 13, 2015, France was attacked by the terrorist group known as ISIS. Above is a picture of the scene. One hundred eighty people were killed in this horrific incident.

All around the world, people and nations are rallying behind France in a show of solidarity. Land marks that constantly have lights on them appear in the colors of the French flag. The Eiffel Tower lights were shut off in memorial. The last time such an event happened was on September 11, 2001.

Turkey Myths

It is  November, which means golden turkeys, over eating, and desserts to die for. A time to go over the hill and through the wood to grandma's house. A day to put your diet aside and wear stretchy pantsfor more room in your stomach. The month women call "No Shave November" then regret that decision in December.

But the turkey! Soft, warm, juicey. Then the food coma and leftovers. What do we really know about this bird? And is it true? Here are some common myths that have been debunked.

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving. A day of good food, family, and... misconception?

Believe it or not, the Thanksgiving story we all learned is as fake as George Washington's wooden teeth. Was turkey actually served? Did the Native American people really come with good intentions? And was it actually called "Thanksgiving"?

Chiajna Monastery

Chiajna Monastery is just outside of the capital of Romania, Bucharest. Construction began sometime between 1774 and 1782, when Alexander Ypsilanti reighed. It wasn't finished until Phanariote Nicholas Mavrogenes filled in 1786 to 1790. It is 43 m (141 ft) long and 18 m (53 ft) long, and the walls are 1-2 m (3-6.5 ft), making it quite a large building for the times.

The church was  meant to be a place of importance for the local religion. However, it was never meant to be as it never got properly blessed. The Monastery was abandoned early in its construction.

Death By Fan

In South Korea, people believe that electric fans can kill. Yes, it is strange that some of the world's smartest people believe in something we Americans don't even think twice about. However, stranger things have happened and are believed in everyday.

Many in South Korea think that you will die in your sleep if an electronic fan is in you room at night, but only if the doors and windows are closed. For this reason, fans sold in South Korea have timers built in so they will shut off after a while.

Pompeii

When Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79 A.D. We all learned this in school. Nearly everyone in the city of Pompeii died. Many were encased in rock, looking like they were still running away, sleeping, or gathering things from their homes. This natural disaster was seen as punishment from the Gods.

Women, children, men, elderly, all were wiped out in an instant. Those that survived had problems later on due to breathing in the ash from the eruption. Many of the surviving children didn't live long after due to smoke and ash in their little lungs.

Georges Rodenbach Grave

George Rodenbach was a Belgium writer. He was born on July 16, 1855. His mother was French, his father was German.

He wrote many things during his life, from poems to short stories to novels to stage performances to criticisms. His most famous work was Bruges-la-Morte. David Bowie made reference to him in the song "Dancing Out in Space" on the 2013 album, The Next Day.

The Werewolf of Bedberg

Peter Stubbe also went by Peter Stumpp and Peeter Stumpf. You can look him up under those names or his nickname, the Werewolf of Bedburg. This is a true story.

For many years, farmers of Bedburg, Germany, were baffled by the sudden death of their cattle and sheep. They were found dead in the fields and partially eaten. The farmers suspected that a wild and vicious Wolfe wax behind the attacks.