Lee Karanja
Bio
Curator of stories & articles that transport you to extraordinary places.
Stories (9/0)
The Real History Behind Dracula
Are they Real? A thousand years ago, Bulgaria is believed to be the birthplace of the vampire, an undead entity inflicting evil. However, it should be noted that this legend was limited to the Slavs and did not go beyond that. Literally, “vampire” means “ghost monster”, and this gives some insight into how people saw them in those times. Nevertheless all vampires have one typical feature—they feed on important body liquid usually blood. This explains why vampires make interesting characters because they feature so much in literature. Legend of Dracula whose essence lies in the beauty of images and culture Transylvanian-Romance. The exploration of this relationship does not only tell a spooky story about possible or real vampire, but also shows an outstanding city in which numerous splendid architectural masterpieces, extraordinary nature areas, and bright traditions are present.
By Lee Karanja10 days ago in History
The Aztecs
Who were they? This was a tiny and mysterious group of migrants from the northern deserts that arrived in Mesoamerica during the 12th century. The locals considered them inferior and unproductive and therefore did not accept them as such. After this, the Aztecs settled in Mexico Valley where they established their capital Tenochtitlan, in 1345, making it amongst largest towns at the start of the sixteenth century. In 1325, legend has it the Aztec people had been wandering around the desert, and when they found Lake Texcoco, it was regarded as their sign where they should settle down. This sign showed two snakes fighting against an eagle that has landed on a cactus. This was a push factor that made the Aztecs search for their capital city.
By Lee Karanja10 days ago in History
The Old Man & the Hyena
I happened to visit the zoo once when I was a kid with my grandpa and, was very excited at the thought of getting close to wild animals that I had only seen on television. I didn’t realize how huge the elephant was and just stood there, mouth open agape staring at its trunk and the two enormous tusks. Curious as any other kid I wanted to see everything all at once and kept yanking my grandpa’s hand moving into every direction I saw a cage. I had stuffed some green peas in my pocket to feed the animals and whenever no one was looking, I threw some to the lions coz my mum always told me to eat my veggies if I ever wanted to be as strong as a lion. The giraffe and zebra were surprisingly beautiful with their prints perfectly placed against each other making a gorgeous pattern, unlike my art project where the lines on the zebra ran front to back just like I had seen a zebra crossing and, my art teacher could hardly hold his laughter and had to step outside the class to gain his composure. We had almost viewed the entire zoo, when we came across the spotted hyena. Well, it was a funny looking animal and confusing at the same time; its legs didn’t match and spotted all over with no particular pattern. I asked grandpa about the hyena and he told me the following story.
By Lee Karanja12 days ago in Humor
The Package
Führer’s Package The muddy trench fills up as the torrential rain falls persistently, the lieutenant shouts and they all aim at the enemy on the other side, he orders them to fire and the German Karabiner rifles go off in sync. The enemy retaliates with the same valor and the bullets fly just inches above their green helmets of which they’re accustomed to. The battle ensues that morning while the general in the bunker orders for the young private to be called in. The private salutes and the general ushers him to the metal chair, on the table rests a small package wrapped in a weatherproof cloth that’s been securely tied with a string. The general asks the young soldier to guard the package with his life and make sure it’s delivered before six hundred hours the following morning. He’s given a coded map to the delivery location and salutes walking out the bunker with his mind and heart racing so fast he leans on the beam by the entrance to catch breath, it’s a damned mission ahead, he safely tucks away the package into the inner pocket of his green jacket. Two other privates escort him through the muddy trenches to the back, out of range from the enemy fire but that’s as far as they go.
By Lee Karanja12 days ago in BookClub
What makes a Cannibal?
When John Price failed to appear at his workplace that morning, his employer dispatched a colleague to check on him. Upon arriving at John's residence, a concerned neighbor was already present, as they had noticed his car still parked in the driveway. They proceeded to knock on his front door, but received no response. Attempting to rouse him, they tapped on his bedroom window, but to no avail. It wasn't until they peered through one of the windows and spotted blood that they realized something was amiss. This incident underscores the gravity of the situation. This article unveils the monstrous acts of Katherine Knight and sheds light on her notorious distinction as the first woman in Australia to receive an irrevocable life sentence. Growing up amidst a household plagued by violence, Katherine's mother Barbara Rafin had previously been married to a man named Jack, with whom she had four sons. However, Barbara's extramarital involvement with a man named Ken Knight led to their departure from Jack and their four sons, relocating to a different town alongside Ken. Eventually, Barbara and Ken had four children together, including twin girls, one of whom was Katherine. Tragically, Ken Knight proved to be an abusive and alcoholic individual who subjected Barbara to rape up to ten times a day. Disturbingly, Katherine's mother openly shared intimate aspects of her sex life with all her daughters, expressing her disdain for sex and men. Paradoxically, she advised her daughters to endure these distressing encounters and refrain from voicing their grievances. This disheartening narrative exposes the extent of the psychological and physical torment imposed upon Katherine and her siblings.
By Lee Karanja17 days ago in Criminal
What is Happiness
What is Happiness? The concept of happiness may initially seem peculiar, but is it really? Can you accurately define what happiness is? While there is no definitive definition or universally accepted framework for happiness, we have made significant progress in understanding it over the past few decades. This article aims to explore the scientific aspects of happiness, its true nature, and its significance. The Oxford English Dictionary provides a slightly more useful definition of "happy" as "feeling or showing pleasure or contentment." When philosophers discuss "happiness," they typically approach the subject from one of two perspectives, each corresponding to a different interpretation of the term: In the first scenario, our focus is primarily on the psychological aspect. Just as inquiries about pleasure or depression delve into psychological matters, the study of happiness in this sense referred to as the (long-term) "psychological sense" essentially examines specific mental states.
By Lee Karanja17 days ago in Humans
The Shakahola Massacre!
In the serene and rural area of Shakahola, a horrifying narrative unfolded, shedding light on the sinister side of religious fanaticism. Paul Nthenge Mackenzie, a former taxi driver turned self-proclaimed pastor, led a life that took a malevolent turn. Born in 1976, Mackenzie's descent into madness left a trail of despair and death in its wake. The Shakahola Massacre, as it became known, serves as a chilling reminder of the perils of unbridled extremism. In 2017, Mackenzie's radical preaching caught the attention of authorities, leading to legal action against him. The investigative commission assigned to delve into his activities unearthed a disturbing web of manipulation and exploitation. Shockingly, the criminal justice system failed to prevent Mackenzie's atrocious deeds from occurring within the confines of Shakahola.
By Lee Karanja18 days ago in Criminal
Saved by the Village
Saved by the Village Am sitting at the bar having a drink with my uncle when a black sports car comes into the parking lot, the driver looks aggravated and asks for the manager to the fine establishment who’s a friend to my uncle. They get into some sort of argument and the driver gets back into the sports car and speeds off. My uncle calls the manager and asks what’s up with the guy, and the manager explains that the young man wanted a special designated spot with a security guard to keep off people from touching his car and messing up the polish. So the manager told him that he couldn’t have bought such a pretty car coz people will want to touch, take pictures and hell, even steal it and that’s why he got mad and took off. We laugh it off and my uncle asks us if we want to hear a crazy story, and this is how it goes.
By Lee Karanja18 days ago in Families
How did we Evolve?
How did we evolve? Homo sapiens, the newest addition to the Earth's inhabitants, emerged approximately 300,000 years ago. These upright walkers, known as humans, would go on to accomplish remarkable feats such as creating magnificent cave paintings, constructing Machu Picchu, and even inventing credit scores. However, before all of these achievements, humans were simply the ambitious newcomers, joining three other closely related ape species that already roamed the Earth. These early humans were not so different from us; some of them discovered the power of fire and began cooking their food, while others even practiced burial rituals and created art, just like we would eventually do. Although we often perceive ourselves as the dominant figures in the story of humanity, wielding fire and crafting tools, the truth is that for the majority of our existence, we shared this planet with other species. These ancient neighbors challenge our understanding of what truly defines a human. As a scientist, I prefer to reserve the term "human" exclusively for Homo sapiens.
By Lee Karanja18 days ago in History
