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Jodi Smith - Lists at Ranker

Shining a flashlight on real places around the world that are really haunted and really spooky.

Hello Is There a Ghost Here?

Supernatural & Paranormal

The world is full of ghostly tales concerning the creation of bridges. These <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/haunted-lakes-america/christina-chilin">ghostly sites</a> are a source of fascination and fear for many, especially those who experienced paranormal activity during a visit to these spooky locales. Some believe these architectural marvels could only be possible through deals with the Devil, creating origin stories that grow and change through generations of retellings.In other places, the prominence of violence or racial injustice in the towns surrounding bridges infused them with that brutality, and people create legends to deal with the reality of that difficult history.Flashing lights, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/craziest-cryptids-by-state/christopher-shultz">cryptic beasts</a> with the powers of men and animals, and wailing ghosts are all waiting at these supernaturally charged bridges around the world.

The Most Haunted Bridges In The World

General

Jodi Smith

Looking back at underrated scenes and clever details in our favorite 2000s movies of every genre.

Rewatching the 2000s

Horror

Horror movies tend to come in waves, with success spawning sequels and copycats that flood movie theaters as soon as possible. This leads to some <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-worst-horror-movies/jodi-smith?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">really bad horror movies</a> being released with similar plotlines, styles, or just the same characters from the same franchises in rapid succession. Sometimes that leads to something wonderful and classic in the annals of horror.Mostly it means that fans have that one movie they acknowledge as bad but love for one really great scene. Scream superfans, for example, might watch every single entry in the series, but maybe they'll only watch Scream 3 for Jennifer Jolie's unforgettable Ghostface run-in.The 2000s are a fertile source for these types of horror movies - the ones buffs and completists watch with crossed arms but secretly enjoy for a fantastic kill or reveal.

Great Moments From Bad 2000s Horror Movies

Film

Take the kids out for a fun day at the zoo! See wild animals in tiny recreations of their natural habitats! Watch as they suffer stress, indignity, unnatural climates, and public mating! ...Ooh, a monkey!!!

Locked Up: Animals Behind Bars

Graveyard Shift

Although it may seem difficult to believe, people have <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/animals-that-have-been-detained/valerie-complex">accused animals of crimes</a> and put them on trial for centuries. Possibly more surprising than the fact that people can sue animals in court is that this practice continues worldwide to this day. Medieval societies took the Greek idea of holding all living creatures and non-living objects accountable for any crimes they committed in an attempt to <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/famous-psychic-animals/emily-mast">prevent demons </a>from infiltrating their towns.Some believed that beasts of burden fell under the jurisdiction of man since they were owned and controlled by them - in theory. Insects, snakes, vermin, and other wilder animals were sometimes tried in church courts since only God could judge and control them. &nbsp;These are not cases of animals with owners who are taken to court in lieu of the creature. These are wild rats, insects, pigs, and other beasts, doing the things they are hardwired to do, facing imprisonment or the death penalty for inconveniencing humans. More horrible still, some faced trial and punishment for the wrongdoings of humans.&nbsp;

The Most Bizarre Cases Of Animals Put On Trial

Zombies are coming after your sweet, delicious brain meat.

Braaaaaaaaaains!

Zombies

Horror fans can credit the birth of the zombie genre as we know to George Romero and his 1968 film Night of the Living Dead. Not only did Romero introduce shambling, flesh-eating undead to audiences, but he also infused it with relevant social commentary.As decades of zombie movies wore on, some imitated while others elevated, adding speed and cunning to the undead's weaponry.The movies on this list continue the tradition of innovation by mixing their undead antagonists with comedies, love stories, and <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/which-era-would-you-want-to-live-in/jacob-shelton?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">different eras in history</a>. Some even made a zombie <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/hollyood-leading-man-year-you-were-born/anncasano?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">a leading man</a> instead of an outside force in someone else's account, looking for love and redemption instead of a way into someone's brain.

Unconventional Zombie Stories That Breathe New Life Into The Dead Genre

Resting Places

It's easy to believe an obsession with the macabre or even a passing interest in the dead is cause for concern, but the truth is, people's<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/cemetery-urban-legends/sonja-ska"> fixation on the dead</a> is healthy. Likewise, while choosing to dine at a cafe in a cemetery may seem odd, most patrons actually find the experience comforting.Furthermore, dining on <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/creepy-stories-from-cemetery-groundskeepers/bailey-brown">sacred grounds</a> that contains graves brings good luck in many cultures, possibly feeding into the success of some of the centuries-old pubs located in or near cemeteries. Anyone wishing to visit one of these darkly interesting dining locales can do so, with similar establishments located all over the world.

Cemeteries Around The World Where You Can Dine With The Dead

Cemeteries You Can Dine With The Dead

Unspeakable Times

It's every parent's nightmare: their child doesn't come home from school as expected. That's precisely what happened to Zenya Hernandez when her 14-year-old daughter, Abigail “Abby” Hernandez, went missing on October 9, 2013. After speaking with the school personnel, Zenya learned that her daughter left school on time. Police were called in immediately to begin searching for the teen.&nbsp;Abby was gone for nine months, during which time she was held only 30 miles away from her New Hampshire home. Abby endured awful abuse during her time with her captor, Nathaniel Kibby, but still managed to build a rapport with him in an effort to escape. Thankfully, her plan worked, and Abby was released from a shed on Kibby's property on July 20, 2014.Abby's decision to befriend her attacker was what likely saved her and allowed her to return home. In 2022, a movie based on Abby's ordeal was made, Girl in the Shed, to share her life-saving tactics with millions of people.&nbsp;

The Kidnapping Of Abby Hernandez And How She Escaped A Nightmare

The Kidnapping Of Abby Hernandez

Looking carefully behind us these horror plot twists we never saw coming.

Twisted Horror Twists

Plot Twists

Twist endings have always been a part of the horror genre. The groundbreaking Friday the 13th spends its entire runtime building up eventual killer Jason Voorhees, only to reveal his mother was the actual perpetrator. April Fool's Day from 1986 had a twist ending less satisfying to most viewers, as everything that took place in the movie was actually just a big prank.That said, the following movies all have twist endings that are either satisfying, infamous, or mind-blowing for their time. There are cult films, like 1983's Sleepaway Camp, with endings that still spark discussion and debate to this day; others are more recent additions to the cult oeuvre, like 2021's Malignant, which has an incredibly entertaining twist; even still, there are mainstream horror films like Sunshine or 10 Cloverfield Lane that still manage to pop in a surprise at the end.Here are some of the most successful - and shocking - twists in <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/underrated-halloween-movies/jacob-shelton?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">underrated horror movies</a>.

Underrated Horror Movies With Shocking Twists

Lists about the backstories and persistent legends that surround the many mythical figures that watch you as you walk alone in the woods at night.

Creepy Creatures of Ill Repute

Myths & Legends

Cats can be elusive, deadly creatures, so it should come as no surprise that there are several <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/craziest-cryptids-by-state/christopher-shultz">cryptid kitties</a> purportedly roaming the world.Great Britain, a country that logically shouldn't have large, predatory cats, reportedly has several Alien Big Cats terrorizing livestock and people in the countryside. Tanzania is reportedly plagued by a cat that developed a taste for human flesh, and Alaskans allegedly stay out of snowstorms to avoid the White Death hiding within.While some of these felines may seem whimsical, like the Cactus Cat, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/scary-christmas-creatures/lisa-a-flowers">each one is deadly</a> - and possibly waiting in the shadows for its first victim in decades.

Ferocious Feline Cryptids From Around The World That Really Creep Us Out

Feline Cryptids

Are we all alone in the universe? Probs not.

Close Encounters

Celebrity Facts

Government documents released in early 2023 reignited the public's fascination with UFOs and <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/strange-story-valiant-thor/jim-rowley">aliens </a>possibly walking among us. For some celebrities, this release of information is old news - they claim to have personally come in contact with extraterrestrials and unexplainable air crafts.Dan Akroyd's belief in aliens is well known, but the depth of his experiences - including multiple sightings of UFOs and <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/men-in-black-sightings/jodi-smith">strange phenomena</a> - is truly shocking. The same can be said for Tom DeLonge of Blink-182 and his famous interest in aliens, even going so far as writing multiple songs about the topic.Some celebrities' encounters may be even more surprising to learn about - especially given the casual way they often drop these stories in interviews.

Celebrities Who Claim To Have Had Extraterrestrial Encounters

Lists for fans addicted to horror films (and shows) and all the jump-scarin', blood-splatterin', "b*tch, get out the house!" adrenaline that goes with them.

Do You Like Scary Movies?

Underrated

Within the horror genre, a good film doesn't automatically equal box-office success. This can be attributed to many factors: Obviously, the general population's <a href="www.ranker.com/list/event-horizon-production/jim-rowley">aversion to being frightened</a> or disgusted is the first reason for this; another is that movie studios have no idea how to properly market horror to those who want to see it.Then you have incredible movies, like Jennifer's Body, that are considered failures due to marketing based on sex appeal rather than the film's actual plot. This leads to the next kiss of death for a horror film: casting. When Ashton Kutcher fans went to see The Butterfly Effect, they seemingly weren't ready for Kelso from That '70s Show to play a man who time travels to traumatic events in his childhood.Add to this entries in an endless series like Final Destination or the films people outright ignore (like Devil's Due) because of the oversaturation of found-footage films, and it's surprising any horror movie ever succeeds in theaters.Luckily, this also means there are plenty of horror films out there waiting to be <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-worst-horror-movies/jodi-smith">rediscovered by the right audience</a> at the right time.

'Bad' Horror Movies That Are Secretly Awesome

"Bad" Horror Movies That Are Secretly Awesome

California

Hollywood might be the more recognizable part of California to many people, but the state also has thickly wooded areas, mountains, beaches, and wildlands where some say mysterious monsters dwell.Visitors are likely to <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/creepy-michigan-cryptids/jodi-smith">see strange cryptids</a> with wings like demons and bodies like bats if they disturb nature in Lone Pine. There's also the desert full of Barrago Sandman, said to be responsible for decimating victims at a stagecoach stop.California also has a vampire and his bodyguard, two sea monsters, and a lot of <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/scary-cryptid-stories/sarah-blumert">other strange beasts</a> tucked away in its borders. Which encounter would scare you away from making a trip to the West Coast?

California Cryptids That Will Make Your Skin Crawl

Michigan

For some, Michigan might bring to mind football and the one-time car capital of the world, Detroit. But the state has another side - one only whispered about because of the high number of skeptics. This darker side concerns the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/scary-cryptid-stories/sarah-blumert">cryptids</a> living in the wilderness and lakes of Michigan.Although the Pacific Northwest shares a <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-pictures-of-bigfoot/roger-nackerman">Bigfoot</a>, Michigan has one (or more) of its own on the Upper Peninsula. Lake Superior is home to more watery creature legends than a book of fairy tales, likely explaining the body of water's propensity to sink boats. Many more terrifying creatures are hiding in the Wolverine State, such as mermen and a witch. Which legendary creature would be the worst to encounter alone in the dark?

Michigan Cryptids That Make Our Skin Crawl

Ohio

The most famous haunted location in Ohio may well be the Ohio State Reformatory immortalized in the 1994 film The Shawshank Redemption; however, this isn't the only place in the midwestern state with ghostly legends that have persisted for over 100 years.Legend has it that a self-proclaimed knight built a castle on the banks of the Little Miami River, and his spirit may still be there; the small town of McArthur has a tunnel connected to a long-abandoned railroad community hidden behind its small-town façade; an <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/haunted-houses-by-state/jodi-smith">abandoned funeral home</a> in Cleveland has ties to the city's Black roots and may house spirits from another era.While it may not be the first state people think of when they think “paranormal hotspot,” Ohio has <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/haunted-bars-restaurant-by-state/jodi-smith">more than its share</a> of wild legends and ghost sightings.

The Most Haunted Places In The State Of Ohio

Pop Culture

On the Isle of Wight in 1973, two children allegedly came face-to-face with a cryptid or entity so unique, their experience remains the only one on record. Dubbed Sam the Sandown Clown, this odd individual seems entirely harmless from the children's reported interaction, but his origin is still a complete mystery.Perhaps Sam was an alien who found solace in the English countryside and only wanted to make friends with the children. Maybe he was a scout who found humans lacking, warning the rest of his people away from our planet. If it was a hoax, to what end?Luckily, a detailed account of the encounter exists for amateur sleuths looking to solve the mystery.

The Sandown Clown Incident - Myth Or Alien Encounter?

Everyone has different criteria for planning vacations to the various states in America. Some like to visit state parks, while others enjoy roadside curiosities the most. Then there are the people who love to learn about ghosts and their ghoulish tales while they relax.Luckily, every state (save for one) has <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/haunted-houses-by-state/jodi-smith">an infamously haunted</a> bar or restaurant to gather 'round all the ghoul-seekers.These are the spots in which travelers and locals alike can hope for a <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/creepy-cursed-locations/jodi-smith">creepy spectral sighting</a> while enjoying dinner or drinks - or after hours while the staff is cleaning up.

The Most Haunted Bars And Restaurants In America By State

Ghosts

According to a survey conducted in 2009, 45% of adults in the United States believe in the existence of ghosts. In 2020, the world locked down to fight a pandemic, and lots of people found themselves sharing a living space with what they believed to be spirits of the dead.Many experts say the uptick in ghost sightings during the quarantine has to do with loneliness, anxiety, and fearfulness. Another explanation posits that perhaps the residents have never been inside to hear their home's normal sounds throughout the day and are mistaking them for something sinister.However, these hauntings felt authentic to the people experiencing them during what was likely one of the most confusing and anxiety-inducing times of their lives. With nothing but time on their hands, the reports of hauntings have gone up drastically, according to paranormal experts. Are these stomps, creaks, and slamming doors the result of a typical home with loud pipes - or <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/herrmann-house-poltergeist-inspiration/jim-rowley">something darker</a>?

Reports Of Haunted Houses Spiked While People Were Home During Quarantine

Haunted houses are as much a part of a state's history as any other building, with most of the ghost-occupied residences having deep roots in the community thanks to their age. It isn't any wonder, then, that each state in America is proud to share its most haunted house with everyone and encourage visitors.These haunted houses all have different lore based on the prevailing beliefs of the state's people. For instance, Hawaii's (reportedly) most haunted house is tied to the state's Japanese roots. Many others are tied to slavery, whether by their prominence as a stop on the Underground Railroad or as a plantation. Several have stories spanning generations of a single family and their misfortunes, while others have no clear cause for the alleged haunting.Whether you believe in the paranormal or not, the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/haunted-historical-sites/jeffrichard">most haunted houses</a> in America reveal a lot about a population and their views on the afterlife.

The Most Haunted Houses In America By State

Christy Mirack was a 25-year-old teacher at Rohrerstown Elementary in Lancaster, PA. When she didn't show up for work on December 21, 1992, her boss went to her apartment building and found the young woman deceased. She had been brutally beaten and sexually assaulted.That day set into motion 26 years of heartache for Mirack's family and friends as they waited for a suspect to emerge. It wasn't until genealogy tracing became popular in the US that authorities were able to track down Raymond “DJ Freez” Rowe through a relative's DNA. Rowe confessed to the crime and pled guilty on January 8, 2019, but has since attempted to recant.

A DJ Confessed To Christy Mirack’s Murder Almost 30 Years Later

Raymond Rowe Confessed To Killing Christy Mirack, Then Claimed He Didn't Do It

True Crime

In December 2004, the small town of Skidmore, TX, was rocked by the death of eight-months-pregnant Bobbie Joe Stinnett and the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/people-who-disappeared-mysteriously/alby-thompson">disappearance</a> of her fetus from the crime scene. Clues led police to a woman named Lisa Montgomery, who contacted Stinnett about purchasing one of the rat terriers she bred in her home.The heinous crime led to the rare outcome of a woman being convicted of murder and sentenced to death by execution. This made her the only woman on death row in the US at the time of her imprisonment and one of the very few women executed by the state. In fact, Montgomery was the first woman executed by the federal government in over 60 years.What led Montgomery to target Stinnett and make her the focus of Montgomery's own baby fever after the loss of her own child?

The 'Fetal Kidnapping' Of Bobbie Jo Stinnett's Daughter Led To A Rare Execution

Why Lisa M. Montgomery Was Executed For Fetal Kidnapping Bobbie Joe Stinnet's Baby

Based on the number of films, TV shows, and documentaries made about them, it's pretty clear that a lot of people believe in extraterrestrials - or at least want to. Nearly every drawing, costume, puppet, or <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/scariest-aliens-in-movies/bailey-brown">CGI creature</a> featured in these films and shows depicts a specific type of alien: the Gray.However, many people believe there are several types of extraterrestrials in the universe, just as there are different types of people. There are possibly multiple alien body types and personalities to choose from, whether it be the Anunnaki the Sumerians allegedly worshipped or the Draconians supposedly living among us. There are also several <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/strange-story-valiant-thor/jim-rowley">other types of aliens</a> one might encounter, so it's probably best to get an idea of their backgrounds.

You May Have Heard Of The Grays, But Did You Know There Are Other Types Of Extraterrestrials?

Curses

Around the world, many locations are thought to be cursed. Students at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland dodge the initials “PH” laid in stonework lest the curse of the man who died on that spot attaches itself to them. Buried treasure is said to exist on Charles Island, but who would be foolish enough to take it home hexed?These are just a couple of the strange curses placed upon entire swaths of land or a family's ancestral home. Here are some locations with centuries-old curses and tourists curious enough to chance a visit.

The Creepiest Cursed Locations Around The World You've Probably Never Heard Of

Criminals are always a strange and compelling sort, but there may be none more curious than the imposter. The way that seemingly regular people are able to convince others of their famous parentage, ability to sell a nation's symbol, or prowess at surgery is <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/famous-poltergeist-hauntings/diana-price">like magic to most</a>.Since the dawn of modern society, there have been criminals who used their powers of deception to move themselves up in status or career. Imagine attempting to sell the Eiffel Tower to someone, let alone twice, as Victor Lustig did. What kind of person would do such a thing? A criminal imposter.

Famous Criminal Imposters You Might Not Have Heard Of

Documentaries can cover a wide array of subjects, but perhaps the most notorious of them cover true crimes and world events. Most documentaries seek to aim a spotlight on wrongs, whether that means bringing the <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/most-controversial-documentaries/patrick-thornton">truth behind a murder case</a> to a wider audience or pointing to accomplices missed by the judicial process.In fact, several documentaries have aired and garnered a new set of eyes at a police station to reopen a case. Some have presented evidence that wasn't provided to the original investigators due to science restrictions at the time or other roadblocks to gathering clues. Several times, documentaries have presented new theories about cases that turned out to be just what was needed.&nbsp;

True Crime Documentaries That Helped Get A Major Break In The Case

Lists about the fascinating, unbelievably beautiful things the planet is doing while the rest of us are busy with our boring lives.

Mind-Blowing Natural Phenomena

Nature is a beautiful thing, with lots of gorgeous animals and&nbsp;plants, and plenty of places to visit. Of course, nature can be terrifying, too, as illustrated by natural disasters, bloodthirsty creatures, and the strange pits and holes found in it.&nbsp;

Sometimes these holes are man-made, created when people&nbsp;search for precious metals or gems in the earth. Other times, they&#39;re created naturally and exude even more danger just by existing. Whatever the case may be, these are some holes and pits that no one wants to visit on vacation or stand near, just in case they somehow have the power to pull people inside.

Scary Holes And Pits We Don't Want To Go Near

Ghostface has been terrorizing Woodsboro and its surrounds since 1996. Will the screams never end?

It's a Scream, Baby

Scream Franchise

Scream&nbsp;took horror fans by storm when it premiered in 1996, taking on the genre&#39;s tropes head-on and turning them upside down. Since then, four more&nbsp;Scream&nbsp;films have reunited core characters while adding even more people and places to the franchise lore.

While there are plenty of eagle-eyed viewers who have picked out <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/scream-franchise-small-details/damon-davis" target="_blank">facts about the movies</a>, the actors have more anecdotal Scream&nbsp;behind-the-scenes facts to share with adoring fans.

Behind-The-Scenes Details From The 'Scream' Franchise

The fascinating, sometimes tragic lives of identical twins joined in utero who beat the odds, survived infancy, and became people of interest around the world.

Conjoined for Life

Biology

Conjoined twins have long been the subject of great&nbsp;curiosity&nbsp;due in part&nbsp;to the rarity of the&nbsp;condition. Not to mention,&nbsp;many different ways exist&nbsp;for siblings to become <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://www.ranker.com/list/real-answers-to-questions-you_ve-always-had-about-conjoined-twins/katia-kleyman">anatomically connected</a> to one another.&nbsp;Fueled by that curiosity, a Soviet physiologist named Pyotr Anokhin&nbsp;- who&nbsp;studied&nbsp;the development and structure of human circulatory and nervous systems - made&nbsp;Masha and Dasha Krivoshlyapova&nbsp;the focus of many of his science experiments -&nbsp;experiments that were conducted&nbsp;for the majority&nbsp;of their lives.These USSR-approved&nbsp;experiments on <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://www.ranker.com/list/conjoined-twins-daisy-and-violet-hilton-facts/nicky-benson">conjoined twins</a> subjected the sisters to torture, isolation, and a life greatly lacking in typical human interactions. Adding to the complexity of&nbsp;Masha and Dasha Krivoshlyapova's situation, the sisters had diametrically clashing personalities - one showing the traits of a psychopath and the other an empath.

One Was A Psychopath, One Was An Empath: Conjoined Twins Trapped In The Same Body

One Was A Psychopath, And One Was An Empath, But These Conjoined Twins Were Trapped In The Same Body

Horrifying facts and disturbing details about real cases that shocked.

In Cold Blood

Brandon Teena

The&nbsp;assault and&nbsp;homicide of 21-year-old Brandon Teena in 1993 is&nbsp;one of the most shocking hate crimes in living memory. Hilary Swank won her first <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-actresses-to-win-oscar-for-best-actress/ranker-film" target="_blank">Best Actress Oscar</a> in 2000 for portraying the transgender young adult&nbsp;whose life was tragically cut short, but the true story behind&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/full-cast-of-boys-don_t-cry-actors-and-actresses/reference" target="_blank">Boys Don&#39;t Cry</a>&nbsp;is more complicated and detailed than the Hollywood version audiences saw.

Brandon Teena&nbsp;was designated female at birth, born&nbsp;to an extremely impoverished&nbsp;single teen&nbsp;mother in&nbsp;Lincoln, NE, in 1972.&nbsp;As a high schooler, he began identifying as male, dressing in traditionally male clothing, binding his chest, dating women, and assuming a provider&nbsp;status in his relationships.

When Teena&nbsp;dropped out of&nbsp;high school,&nbsp;his love life eventually drew him into a social sphere&nbsp;that included the two offenders who eventually ended his life,&nbsp;his girlfriend, and another mutual friend because of Teena&#39;s identity. Though the men had attacked&nbsp;Teena&nbsp;previously, the sheriff refused to arrest them. This neglect eventually proved lethal. Because of the lack of legal protection and understanding surrounding trans people at the time, the law did very little to advocate justice on behalf of Teena. His&nbsp;story continued to be misunderstood and simplified&nbsp;long after his slaying - even by the most well-meaning parties, including the journalist who wrote the original story on which Boys Don&#39;t Cry was based.

Although dialogues and education about <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/transgender-people-in-history/devon-ashby" target="_blank">trans&nbsp;people</a> and the disproportionate struggles they face&nbsp;are slowly&nbsp;being elevated, there is still a long way to go in creating legal protections and de-stigmatizing&nbsp;conversation around those who identify as trans or simply don&#39;t identify on the traditional gender binary. Brandon Teena&#39;s story is a tragic, but important&nbsp;cornerstone to starting that conversation.&nbsp;

The Tragic Story Of Brandon Teena, Whose Case Inspired 'Boys Don't Cry'

The Tragic Murder Of Brandon Teena, Whose Case Inspired 'Boys Don't Cry'

Lists about the things you can eat, pop, smoke, snort, and inject into your body to chase dat euphoria.

High Times

Admit it: you raved all night at Burning Man, and the whole experience&nbsp;was otherworldly. But&nbsp;now you&#39;re heading back to work wondering&nbsp;how long your week of fun will&nbsp;remain in your system.&nbsp;It&#39;s important to plan ahead for these kinds of things, particularly since failing a test for substances can mean the difference between everything from keeping a&nbsp;job to maintaining&nbsp;a place on your sports&nbsp;team to saving a life. There is no clearcut <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/us-timeline-of-illegal-drugs/jeffrichard" target="_blank">timeline of drugs</a> making their way through a person&#39;s liver and kidneys before being flushed out of the&nbsp;body via sweat, urine, or defecation: the best idea for passing a test is&nbsp;to avoid certain substances in the first place.&nbsp;

But if you&#39;ve gone ahead and partied already, you will want to know how your body processes them.&nbsp;The way your body works through hard substances depends on the type of drug, the level of use, the health of the kidneys and liver of the user, and one&#39;s fitness level. The type of test being administered and what bodily fluids are used for detection determines the timeframe for testing positive for&nbsp;use. The <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/the-worst-drugs-for-you-v1/brettski" target="_blank">worst drugs for you</a>&nbsp;to ingest can be found in blood, urine, saliva, and even hair for days or weeks after use. But each drug is different, and looking at the whys and hows is fascinating - and may lead to more caution&nbsp;in the future.

How Long Do Drugs Stay In A Body's System?

Drug

How Long Do Drugs Stay In Your System?

Lists about the world's most perfect predator, which has stalked every sea and consumed whatever it wishes for the last 420 million years.

Every Week Is Shark Week

Sharks

Jason Statham's 2018 movie may be a work of fiction, but there is a real-life monster behind&nbsp;The Meg: the 60-foot-long prehistoric <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/most-horrifying-sea-creatures-of-all-time/eric-vega" target="_blank">sea creature</a> known as the megalodon. The movie paints the shark-like monster as something that still lives in the ocean, but this apex predator likely died out millions and millions of years ago -&nbsp;or did it?Fossils prove the megalodon&nbsp;was real, and in fact went extinct. But that doesn't stop some believers from claiming&nbsp;the creature still swims the depths&nbsp;like a real-life Godzilla. These megalodon facts paint a formidable picture: It was larger than any creature now living, and it could destroy a Tyrannosaurus rex.

Megalodons Were One Of The Most Horrifying Creatures To Swim The Seven Seas

Classrooms have always buzzed with rumors of <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/student-teacher-romantic-relationships/samantha-dillinger" target="_blank">relationships between teachers and students</a>, but for years it appeared school administrators quietly dimmed any case that came to light with resignations and tight-lipped excuses. If it seems like reported misconduct&nbsp;and convictions occur more frequently these days, the reason may involve one of the most bizarre and upsetting &#39;90s scandals.

Mary Kay Letourneau&nbsp;was a schoolteacher in&nbsp;Burien, WA, when 12-year-old Vili Fualaau&nbsp;entered her Shorewood Elementary sixth-grade class in 1996. The artistic student reportedly suffered an abusive home life, and soon became close with&nbsp;Letourneau&nbsp;and her husband Steve,&nbsp;accompanying them and their four children on trips.&nbsp;

In June 1997, Letourneau and Fualaau&nbsp;began a sexual relationship and&nbsp;produced two daughters, capturing&nbsp;the public&#39;s attention and leading to jail time for the 34-year-old teacher. Twenty-four hour news stations and talk show hosts could not get enough of the story; Letourneau believed she found love with a child, and defied all common sense and court orders to stay with him.

After two prison sentences and a pair of children, the two married in 2005 before slowly fading from the limelight. All these years later, where is Mary Kay Letourneau and is she still with Fualaau? Was it love, lust, or mental illness bringing Letourneau and Fualaau together, despite the age difference and illegal nature of their relationship?

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