Why do so many people around the world choose to start a new year almost naked in freezing waters?

Rather a lot of people ask me what it’s like being “the only gay in the village.” Of course, I’m probably not – just the only out gay in it. When my girlfriend visits, the queer population doubles and every walk on the beach feels like a pride march.

The earthquake occurred offshore from the northeast coast of Honshu Island, in the prefecture of Iwate. The epicenter was ninety miles from shore.

A West African territory and German colony as of 1884. After centuries of intermittent contact with Europeans eager to trade for slaves, ivory, rubber, and palm products, Cameroon was colonized by Germany and quickly became the largest and most important of its West African possessions.

A hurricane of strength three struck South Carolina and Georgia in 1893 killing 1,500, making it the deadliest U.S. storm prior to 1900.

A monstrous typhoon struck Haiphong, Vietnam, killing 300,000. Haiphong, poorly prepared in 1881 for typhoons, was devastated.

A brief overview of the history of southwestern British Columbia.