War is hell, but when it comes to rationing, humans have a knack for turning constraints into creativity. Here are 10 creative ways we outsmarted wartime rationing, proving that necessity truly is the mother of invention.

10 Creative Ways to Beat Rationing

10. Inventing The Twinkie

During World War II, bananas became a scarce luxury in both the United States and Britain because they had to be imported. They were a beloved ingredient in everything from English banana sandwiches to American dessert fillings. In England, cooks substituted mashed parsnips for bananas, but American bakers took a more inventive route, which eventually birthed an iconic snack.

The original Twinkie, introduced in 1930, featured a sponge‑cake filled with banana‑cream. By the early 1940s the banana shortage forced manufacturers to ditch the fruit and replace it with vanilla cream. The change was so well‑received that the new version stuck around even after bananas returned, and the mascot Twinkie the Kid made its debut.

Meanwhile, in wartime Britain a single banana could fetch a staggering price—auctioned in London’s Russell Square in 1942 for the modern‑day equivalent of about $125.

9. Liquid Stockings

Nylon stockings, launched in the late 1930s, became a fashion sensation so quickly that May 16, 1940 was celebrated as “Nylon Day.” However, a year later the material was diverted from women’s hosiery to wartime needs like parachutes, cords, and mosquito netting, leaving women without their beloved nylons.

Undeterred, women turned to cosmetics, painting flesh‑colored makeup onto their legs and drawing seam lines with an eyebrow pencil. This trend birthed “liquid stockings” sold under names like Leg Silque and Silktona, and department stores opened “Leg Makeup Bars” offering Leg Sticks, Leg Art, and Stocking Lotion to keep the look alive.

8. Carrots Instead Of Sugar

Sugar was heavily rationed, but carrots were plentiful, prompting Britain’s Ministry of Food to champion the orange root as a versatile substitute. Their mascot, Doctor Carrot, encouraged citizens to replace sugary treats with carrot‑based creations.

The Ministry’s 1941 competition sparked a flood of recipes: carrot treacle, carrot pudding, carrot jam, and even carrot‑water milk substitutes. Children swapped ice‑cream for carrot sticks, and London sweet‑shops advertised toffee‑dipped carrots as a superior alternative to traditional toffee apples. Other inventions included carrot fudge, marmalade, “cartomel custard,” curried carrots, and mock apricot tarts made entirely with carrots.

At the same time, the British government propagated the myth that carrots sharpened night vision, a clever cover for the Royal Air Force’s secret use of radar technology.

7. Whale Meat

Whale meat emerged as a protein source in several nations, but it truly took hold in Japan. By 1947, whale accounted for roughly half of the nation’s meat consumption, becoming a staple in school lunches and shaping post‑war dietary habits.

Research shows older Japanese adults are far more likely to still enjoy whale meat, whereas only about 30‑year‑olds consume it infrequently, and teenagers often have never tried it. Today, roughly 95 % of the Japanese population does not eat whale, a dramatic shift from the post‑war era when it comprised about a quarter of the diet.

Britain also explored whale as a meat alternative, commissioning food testers in the late 1940s. The trials were disastrous; a tester who’d endured famine in occupied North Africa declared that even the hungriest would refuse whale, effectively ending the British experiment.

6. Wrigley’s Gum And Orbit

Chewing gum was a beloved pastime before World II, but the conflict created a severe domestic shortage. Wrigley’s stockpiles were diverted overseas to supply troops, leaving American civilians without their favorite chew.

To fill the gap, Wrigley introduced a wartime‑only brand called Orbit, marketed as the “Good Wartime Chewing Gum.” Though Orbit vanished after the war, the experiment spurred Wrigley to explore new flavors, leading to the brand’s re‑launch in Europe in 1976.

5. Paperback Books

Paper rationing turned the publishing world on its head, giving rise to the modern paperback. Penguin’s affordable, portable editions thrived under strict guidelines that limited word count, margins, and design flourishes, making them ideal for both civilians and soldiers.

The government’s paper quotas forced publishers to adopt simple layouts, avoiding the elaborate covers of hardcovers. This austerity made paperbacks cheap, easy to transport, and perfect for troops in the field, cementing their popularity.

Seeing the success, other publishers jumped on board, establishing the paperback as a dominant format for decades to come.

4. Spam

Spam’s story is intertwined with the Great Depression, wartime rationing, and soldier morale. Launched in the late 1930s, it was hailed as “miracle meat” for its low cost and long shelf‑life. By 1940, it was in roughly 70 % of American homes and shipped in massive quantities to Britain and the Soviet Union under Lend‑Lease.

Its popularity was bolstered by the Hormel Girls—a troupe of singing, dancing saleswomen who toured the nation in white Chevrolets, promoting Spam by day in supermarkets and entertaining audiences by night.

3. The Black Market

Rationing was presented as a patriotic duty, yet many citizens sidestepped the system via a sprawling black market on both sides of the Atlantic. In the United States, the stamp‑and‑point system could be bypassed when grocers accepted cash or exchanged favors for unused stamps, with an estimated 20 % of businesses participating in such schemes.

In Britain, authorities recorded 114 000 prosecutions for black‑market activity. One audacious tactic involved thieves donning Air Raid Precautions wardens’ armbands to commandeer trucks during raids, loading them with goods under the pretense of “safekeeping.” In 1943, a single heist saw five million ration stamps disappear.

2. Vegetarian Sausages

World I left Germany facing a severe meat shortage, prompting Cologne’s mayor to devise a meat‑free sausage— the Kolner Wurst. The idea stemmed from a 1915 decision to slaughter nine million pigs, deemed a drain on food supplies by physiologist Nathan Zuntz.

Mayor Konrad Adenauer responded by crafting a sausage using flour, soy, rice, and barley. While debate persists over whether the product was truly vegetarian or merely low‑meat, it marked a pioneering shift toward plant‑based alternatives in a culture famed for its meat‑centric cuisine.

1. Imitation Makeup

The British government’s “Beauty is Duty” slogan urged women to stay glamorous despite rationing. Early wartime cosmetics came in patriotic shades like Regimental Red, but shortages soon forced companies to sell makeup as refill‑only packs without applicators.

Resourceful women turned to household items: beet‑root juice for lipstick, boot polish for mascara, chalk and margarine for powder and foundation. Extravagant ’40s hairstyles also served as a workaround for the scarcity of hats, with inventive solutions such as pipe‑cleaner barrettes keeping the glamour alive.

When it comes to the silver screen, there’s something irresistibly playful about famous personalities slipping into a role where they essentially play… themselves. In this roundup of 10 creative takes, we’ll travel from the roaring‑robin era of silent baseball legends to modern‑day sitcom stars who turn their own personas into comic gold. Buckle up for a tour of cameo‑rich cinema that proves reality can be just as entertaining as fiction.

10 Creative Takes: The Phenomenon Explained

10. Babe Ruth

Hall of Fame slugger George Herman “Babe” Ruth entered the world of motion pictures already boasting three World Series rings with the Red Sox when he agreed to star in Headin’ Home (1920). The film was a melodramatic biopic that claimed to recount his “true” life story, yet Ruth, who had never set foot on a soundstage before, was lured by a promised $50,000 fee—five times his baseball salary the previous season. The reality, however, was far less glamorous: after receiving $15,000 up‑front, the balance check bounced, leaving the Bambino with a short‑changed contract as dubious as the movie’s plot.

Ruth resurfaced on the silent screen in Speedy (1928), a zany romp where he bounces and grumbles through a chaotic cab ride to Yankee Stadium, driven by comedian Harold Lloyd portraying the fanatically devoted Harold “Speedy” Swift. The director wanted genuine footage of Ruth smashing a home run, and on filming day the legend obliged by launching a ball that sailed straight into the stands during his first at‑bat—no acting required, just pure baseball power.

9. Lou Gehrig

Speedy also granted a fleeting three‑second cameo to Ruth’s teammate Lou Gehrig, who strolls past the cab parked at the stadium, locks eyes with the camera, and sticks out his tongue in classic Iron Horse mischief. A decade later, Gehrig headlined the B‑movie western Rawhide (1938), a low‑budget production that imagined his (fictional) retirement prompting him to purchase a Montana ranch alongside a fictional sister. Together they rally locals to overthrow a protection racket, a plot cleverly tailored to Gehrig’s real‑life persona.

Because the Iron Horse had never ridden a horse before, the screenwriters ingeniously adapted the script: during a barroom brawl, instead of throwing punches, Gehrig dispatches the bad guys by launching billiard balls from a pool table, turning his athletic strength into comedic weaponry.

Gehrig was even considered for a Tarzan role. Edgar Rice Burroughs, creator of the jungle hero, summed up the screen test in a telegram that read, “Having seen several pictures with you as Tarzan… I want to congratulate you on being a swell first baseman.” Thus, Gehrig’s brief cinematic resume capped at two appearances.

8. Tom Harmon

University of Michigan football star Tom Harmon, a two‑time All‑American and the 1940 Heisman Trophy winner, leveraged his athletic fame into a $13,500 contract to headline Harmon of Michigan (1941). The film’s promotional push suggested a biographical tale, yet it was assembled mere months after his graduation. After stitching together authentic game footage to showcase his college exploits, the narrative veered into fantasy, inventing a marriage to his college sweetheart and a string of coaching gigs that never happened.

Injuries incurred while serving in the Army Air Corps curtailed Harmon’s professional football career, but his passion for the camera never faded. Post‑war, he returned to the screen in a string of self‑portrayals: Gentleman Joe Palooka (1946), Triple Threat (1948), Bonzo Goes to College (1952), and All American (1953). Each role let him play a version of himself, blending his real‑life sports credentials with light‑hearted storytelling.

His later work as a sports broadcaster earned him uncredited cameo appearances as an unnamed broadcaster in classic films like the Tracy‑Hepburn vehicle Pat and Mike (1952). A personal perk of his modest screen résumé was meeting actress Elyse Knox, whom he married in 1944; their son Mark later shone as a standout UCLA quarterback, achieving the acting fame his father never quite captured.

7. The Beatles

Before MTV turned music videos into a 24‑hour habit, The Beatles dazzled audiences in the black‑and‑white feature A Hard Day’s Night (1964). The film gifted fans an 87‑minute slice of John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr, each embodying a caricatured persona—the clever one, the cute one, the shy one, and the overlooked one. Shot on a $500,000 budget and released in the U.S. less than five months after their iconic Ed Sullivan Show debut, the movie offered a playful, day‑in‑the‑life romp complete with hit songs, screaming fans, a fictional grandfather, and a run‑in with the law.

United Artists conceived the project to exploit a contractual gap with Capitol Records, which did not cover soundtrack album distribution. The studio initially expected to profit from record sales rather than box‑office receipts, yet the film turned out to be a double hit—both a commercial success and a chart‑topping musical.

Riding the wave, The Beatles returned the following year with Help! (1965), a higher‑budget outing that amplified their zany self‑portrayals. In 1967, they delivered the psychedelic television special Magical Mystery Tour, a music‑heavy but plot‑light venture that John Lennon later dubbed “the most expensive home movie ever made.” To fulfill a three‑picture United Artists contract, they reluctantly allowed their likenesses to appear in the animated classic Yellow Submarine (1968), though voice actors performed the characters. Impressed with the final product, the Fab Four made a live‑action cameo in the film’s epilogue.

6. Detroit Lions

When writer George Plimpton sought material for a Sports Illustrated piece on the hardships of rookie quarterbacks, he persuaded the Detroit Lions to let him pose as a would‑be rookie. Two years later, his memoir morphed into the feature film Paper Lion (1968), starring Alan Alda as Plimpton. The movie’s disclaimer read, “This film is an amiable fiction… and is not intended to be a literal depiction of its author.”

The cast, however, was packed with real Lions personnel: head coach Joe Schmidt, offensive line coach Chuck Knox, wide receiver Pat Studstill, linebacker Mike Lucci, defensive back Lem Barney, quarterback Karl Sweetan, and defensive tackle‑turned‑tough‑guy Alex Karras. Their authentic presence lent the movie a genuine football atmosphere.

Several Lions alumni later resurfaced in other football‑centric movies. After hanging up his cleats, Alex Karras enjoyed a lengthy acting career, most famously appearing in Blazing Saddles (1974), Victor/Victoria (1982), and the long‑running TV series Webster (1983–1989).

5. Howard Cosell

Love him or loathe him, sportscaster Howard Cosell became a household name when he opened Woody Allen’s satirical film Bananas (1971) with a faux “live‑on‑the‑spot” report of the assassination of a fictional Latin American president. His delivery mimicked his iconic broadcast cadence, even likening the chaos to the excitement of Cassius Clay (later Muhammad Ali) battling Sonny Liston.

After the gunfire erupts, Cosell weaves through the crowd to capture the victim’s final words, then shakes the hand of the victorious new dictator, congratulating him. The film’s climax sees Cosell return for a post‑marriage play‑by‑play as the hero Fielding Mellish and his new bride consummate their union under the covers.

Cosell’s cameo résumé didn’t stop there. He popped up in TV episodes of The Partridge Family (1971), The Odd Couple (1972, 1975), and The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries (1977), as well as feature films Two‑Minute Warning (1976) and Broadway Danny Rose (1984).

4. Ed Koch

It’s often said the most perilous spot is between a politician and a camera, and former New York City mayor Ed Koch proved that point. After lending his voice to the New York‑based cop comedy Barney Miller (1978) and making an appearance in the sitcom My Two Dads (1988), Koch made his big‑screen debut among a star‑studded ensemble in The Muppets Take Manhattan (1984), playing the modestly titled role of The Honorable Edward I. Koch.

Freed from the demands of his mayoral duties, he continued to appear as “Ed Koch” in films such as Married to It (1991), Eddie (1996), First Wives Club (1996), and Redirecting Eddie (2008). He also made TV guest spots on episodes of Picket Fences (1993, 1995) and Sex and the City (2001).

His visage became so recognizable that when director Tim Burton cast Lee Wallace—who bore a striking resemblance to Koch—as the mayor of Gotham City in Batman (1989), a reviewer for The Hollywood Reporter mistakenly identified Wallace as Koch himself.

3. Howard Stern

When the biopic Private Parts (1997) hit the set, who better to play the lead than the shock‑jock himself, Howard Stern? After a grueling five‑day workweek broadcasting his morning show, Stern headed straight to the film set, only to discover he had to memorize scripted lines rather than improvise as he did on air.

Adjusting from radio to film, Stern grew particular about his on‑screen look, demanding a reshoot of a shot he deemed his “bad side.” Director Betty Thomas explained there were no alternative angles, prompting Stern to undergo a nose job to satisfy the visual requirement—reshoots were then done from enough distance to conceal the alteration.

While Stern’s sidekicks Robins Quivers and Fred Norris also played themselves, Luke Perry—then a star of Beverly Hills, 90210—declined to reprise his role as creator of the radio show’s Fartman character, fearing the film might flop.

2. John Malkovich

Screenwriter Charlie Kaufman placed a bold gamble on the casting of a very specific actor, and that actor was John Malkovich. The surreal comedy Being John Malkovich (1999) follows a struggling puppeteer who discovers a hidden portal into the mind of the eponymous star. He first rents out the 15‑minute experience to strangers, then eventually uses it himself, turning Malkovich into a flesh‑and‑blood marionette.

Initially, Malkovich adored the script and even offered to help produce the film, but he surprisingly suggested someone else might be a better fit for the role. After some deliberation, John Gavin Malkovich finally agreed to portray the fictional “John Horatio Malkovich,” approaching the part like any other role—crafting a distinct personality whose only similarity to his real self was the wardrobe.

1. Neil Patrick Harris

Neil Patrick Harris first learned about his cameo in Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle (2004) when a friend mentioned a bizarre version of him in a film for which the friend had just auditioned. Curious and wary of who might portray “him,” Harris had his agent follow up. When he finally read the script, he found it hilarious and felt flattered to be included.

The movie’s version of Harris—a foul‑mouthed, sex‑obsessed, drug‑loving hitchhiker picked up by the title characters—could not have been more different from his wholesome TV persona on Doogie Howser, MD (1989‑1993). The film leans into that contrast, even prompting Harold to wonder if his car had just been stolen by Doogie Howser.

Although Harris later confessed in an interview with film journalist Dave Karger that “I worry that Neil Patrick Harris playing ‘Neil Patrick Harris’ jumps the shark in theory,” the actor didn’t let that stop him. He reprised the wild version of himself twice more: in Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay (2008), where his alter‑ego swallows shrooms to hide evidence at a roadblock, experiencing a hallucination of rainbows and a unicorn; and in A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas (2011), where Harris sings and dances through a bizarre holiday medley, decked out in a red tuxedo, red top hat, and candy‑striped cane.

When you think of tanks, you probably picture hulking steel behemoths rumbling across battlefields. Yet history is littered with 10 creative tank experiments that never saw combat, each more eccentric than the last. Below we dive into these off‑beat machines, explaining why they dazzled engineers and why they ultimately vanished.

10 Creative Tank Innovations Overview

10 Louis Boirault Machine

Trench warfare, one of the most iconic battle strategies, was developed during World War I. With this form of warfare, people found new ways to overcome the terrain and get the upper hand on the enemy. One of these inventions, the Louis Boirault Machine, was called an “interesting ancestor of the tank.”

The problem with conventional vehicles and trench warfare was that wheels and ditches rarely got along with one another. Constructed by the French War Ministry in 1915, the Louis Boirault Machine aimed to tackle the problem of a vehicle crossing uneven terrain and ditches, especially the ones filled with enemy troops. It was a two‑man compartment that moved along an overhead rail, allowing it to conquer tricky terrain and crush enemy barbed wire.

While it did its job well, the Louis Boirault Machine moved too slowly, with a top speed of only 1.0 kilometer per hour (0.6 mph). It also took a radius of 100 meters (330 ft) to turn around. Eventually nicknamed the “Diplodocus militaris,” it was superseded by a superior track‑based tank called the Schneider CA1 in 1916.

9 Krupp Kugelpanzer

The Krupp Kugelpanzer was a wunderwaffe (“wonder weapon”) of Nazi Germany. Its name translates to “spherical tank,” which already tips you off to the unique aspect of this vehicle.

The Kugelpanzer was never seen on the battlefield. But we know it existed because the Soviets captured one in 1945. Close inspection showed that it was made by the Germans and shipped to Japan. It was powered by a two‑stroke engine and offered a small viewing port in front for the driver. It didn’t sport any weapons.

As it was never seen during World War II, many theories exist to explain what role this tank played in the theater of war. Some say that it was meant as a recon vehicle while others speculate that it was the next design in the Japanese kamikaze strategy. Another idea is that the vehicle was supposed to carry a weapon and could be used as a mobile pillbox or shelter. Whatever role it was supposed to fill, its unique shape has given us an interesting insight into old tank designs.

8 ‘Praying Mantis’ Tank

Some tank designs didn’t rely on large cannons and heavy armor to do their jobs. The Praying Mantis tried to tackle a problem that ground infantry had to face—shooting over walls while protected from return enemy fire.

In 1943, this tank was designed in the UK by County Commercial Cars Ltd. It featured a long arm with a gun on the end, which could be elevated to fire over obstacles. The crew would lie within the long arm and operate it from there. The first prototype needed only one man to operate it, but this version of the Praying Mantis was rejected because it placed too much work on a single person. The second prototype was built for a two‑man crew, a driver and a gunner.

It didn’t work out as well as hoped. The controls were somewhat finicky, which made maneuvering the tank tricky. If that wasn’t bad enough, the crew lying in various degrees of elevation while driving around gave them motion sickness. The idea was abandoned in 1944.

7 Mine Exploder T10

As well as trenches, tanks faced another problem when deployed onto the battlefield: the dreaded mine. In response, military intelligence began to research ways of clearing out minefields to allow tanks to pass through them without harm. Some of these ideas involved building special minesweeping tanks that could clear the way.

The Mine Exploder T10 had an unusual design that gave the impression of a tricycle, which is why it was called the “Tricycle Tank.” The front sported two huge wheels, each one spanning 3 meters (9 ft) in diameter. At the back of the tank was a single “roller” wheel with a diameter of 2 meters (6 ft).

The tank was meant to drive over the minefield and clear a path, which is why its underside was armored with steel just under 3 centimeters (1 in) thick. Thankfully, the tank was remote controlled, so no one had to drive it over the mines. However, this tank wasn’t used because of its extreme weight.

6 Kettenkrad

The Kettenkrad was one of the smaller World War II cousins of the tank. It stems from the German ketten (meaning “tracks”) and kraftrad (meaning “motorcycle”) and is exactly what it sounds like—a motorcycle that used tracks for locomotion. It also had an armored transport “tail” that could carry two soldiers and 500 kilograms (1,100 lb) of munitions.

The Kettenkrad was patented and produced in June 1939 to be used by paratroopers. It was designed so that it could fit within a Junkers Ju‑52, one of the most famous German air transports in World II. Despite this, the Kettenkrads were mostly used to transport ground‑based scouts, especially on the Eastern Front in 1941. These tanks were so dependable that they were even used as artillery tractors and runway aircraft tugs.

In fact, they were so well‑received that 8,300 of them were produced during World II. However, that’s as far as it went. After the war, the concept of a tracked motorcycle died away. In 1948, the Kettenkrads became agricultural tractors, firefighter vehicles, and transports for logging camps.

5 Progvev‑T

Unlike other minesweepers that depended on flails and wheels to trigger the mines, the Russian Progvev‑T blasted mines with so much heat that they detonated on their own. Built on the base of a T‑54, the Progvev‑T looked more like a futuristic laser cannon than a tank.

Instead of using a normal cannon, it used the engine of a MiG‑15 fighter jet to blast heat at potential minefields to clear them out. The 37‑ton Progvev‑T contained enough fuel to clear 6 kilometers (4 mi) of road.

It failed because it was too big and noisy to hide from the enemy. Also, the use of a heat cannon couldn’t ensure that every mine would be cleared from a minefield.

4 Goliath Beetle

Sometimes, the best way to fight fire is with fire. That was the philosophy behind the Goliath Beetle, a tiny tank whose job was to blow up much larger tanks.

Designed by French engineer Adolphe Kegresse, the Goliath Beetle was developed by Germany during World II. After learning that the Germans had taken an interest in his design, Kegresse attempted to hide the prototype by throwing it into a river. But the Germans found it and handed it over to automaker Carl F.W. Borgwand to complete and produce.

It was remote‑controlled, 0.3 meters (1.0 ft) tall, and packed with 90 kilograms (200 lb) of explosives. Its goal was to drive under enemy tanks and detonate, a similar tactic used by the Russians with live dogs instead of machines. The Goliath Beetle first saw action in 1942, but its electric motor cost far too much for a tank that was going to blow itself up. When the Germans replaced the electric engine with a gas‑powered one, the Goliath Beetle became too noisy when operating. This allowed the Allies to hear its approach. They could disarm the tank with artillery fire or by simply catching up to it and snipping its control wires.

Although this tank didn’t catch on, some people believe that the Goliath Beetle may have been the first step into remote‑controlled war machines, such as the modern military drone.

3 Mendeleev Rybinsk Super Heavy Tank

The Mendeleev Rybinsk super heavy tank was designed between 1911–1915 by Russian scientist Vasiliy Mendeleyev. Before you think that he made a typo while naming his tank, it’s worth noting that his father was a famous scientist called Dmitri Mendeleev, which explains the origin of the name.

Revolutionary for its time, the Mendeleev sported a 127 mm main gun, carried armor of thick steel, and used gas suspension. This gas suspension allowed the tank to lower its own hull so that it could protect its tracks from enemy fire. There was a machine gun turret placed on the top, which could be retracted into the main body using the gas suspension.

With a boxy design that looked more like a heavily fortified shipping container than a tank, this technological marvel proved to be too revolutionary. The Mendeleev never made it past the concept stage.

2 Krupp Landkreuzer P.1500

The Krupp Landkreuzer P.1500 was born from a simple idea: to combine the raw power of an artillery strike with the mobility of a vehicle. However, the recoil of an artillery gun needed to be handled appropriately to stop the vehicle from tearing itself apart. Thus, the concept for a “supertank” was born.

If it had made it onto the battlefield, this massive tank would have been 42 meters (138 ft) long and would have used a main cannon that was 10 times larger than normal. The tank had retractable legs that came out when artillery was needed, turning the vehicle into a gigantic cannon. The portable artillery was equipped with field guns and AA guns to stave off any form of attack.

After toying with the idea of running the tank on preset rails, the engineers ultimately decided to have it drive around by itself, thus earning the nickname “Self‑Propelled Gun.” Needing 100 men to operate it, this tank would have sported four diesel engines, which were usually reserved for U‑boats.

However, the strategic aspect of a gigantic mobile artillery platform was too cumbersome. It would have been hard for it to drive down anything but the largest roads.

1 Screw Tanks

In 1907, James and Ira Peavey used a screw‑propelled vehicle to transport lumber through muddy and snowy environments. The ability for screws to make easy work of such environments was exactly why they were researched for military tanks.

During the Allied invasion of Norway in 1940, it became evident that it would be hard to drive vehicles through the thick snow. Inventor and journalist Geoffrey Pyke proposed the screw‑based tank to the War Office in London as a means of solving the problem, but it wasn’t green‑lighted.

The idea had to wait until 1941 when Louis Mountbatten took the role of Chief of Combined Operations and had prototypes made. The tank was called the Weasel, but its final design dropped the screws altogether and went back to tracks.

Screw tanks reappeared during the Cold War when Russia experimented with the memorably named ZIL‑29061. However, they didn’t intend to use it for war but instead to recover astronauts if they landed in treacherous terrain. The tank’s development was kept secret, and little footage of it remains. But like its World War II cousin, the ZIL‑29061 never made it into mass production.

We all adore that steaming mug of joe to kick‑start the day, but those aromatic beans can do way more than just perk you up. In fact, there are 10 creative ways to use coffee beyond the cup, from keeping pests at bay to giving your home a fresh new scent. Let’s dive into the surprising tricks you can pull off with leftover grounds and brewed liquid.

10 Creative Ways to Repurpose Coffee

10 Insect Repellent

Mosquitoes are the ultimate party‑crashers, buzzing around and leaving you swatting in the dark. Their relentless buzzing can turn a pleasant evening into a frantic battle of slap‑and‑miss.

Surprisingly, coffee grounds double as a natural mosquito deterrent. The EPA confirms that spent grounds are safe and effective at keeping these pests away, and research shows caffeine can even halt mosquito larvae from maturing into adult insects, with no resistance developing.

To craft a smoky repellent, gather your used grounds and spread them in a foil‑lined bowl. Let the grounds dry, then light them like incense, positioning the flame upwind of your gathering spot. Toss in a few fresh bay leaves for extra aromatic punch.

This inexpensive, DIY method creates a fragrant barrier that keeps those bothersome insects from spoiling your night.

9 Stain Wood Furniture

DIY enthusiasts are always on the hunt for fresh projects, and giving wooden pieces a coffee‑infused hue is a standout idea. While the market is flooded with synthetic stains, a strong brew can serve as a natural, chemical‑free alternative that deepens over time.

Start by brewing a pot of coffee and allowing it to cool; the richer the brew, the darker the tint. Sand the wood surface with fine‑grit paper, then mix the cooled coffee with a pinch of alum in a plastic container to help the pigment cling. Using a rag or sponge, spread the mixture evenly, let it soak for 10‑15 minutes, and repeat for a richer shade.

There’s a special kind of satisfaction in knowing you’ve transformed a piece of furniture with nothing more than the humble coffee you already have at home.

8 Create Air Freshener

Unpleasant odors creep into every corner of a house, from the kitchen to the car. When a commercial spray isn’t handy, you can whip up a natural deodorizer using coffee.

Unlike many synthetic fresheners that merely mask smells, coffee‑based air fresheners actually absorb odors. Think of coffee beans as the culinary equivalent of baking soda for your nose.

Grab an old sock, a tall glass, and some fresh grounds or beans. Slip the sock into the glass, roll the excess over the rim, fill the sock with coffee, knot it, and place it wherever you need a scent boost. For a polished look, tuck the sock into a decorative bowl.

7 Dry Rubs For Steak Or Chili

While most of us sip coffee, the grounds themselves can act as a flavorful spice. Their deep, earthy notes pair wonderfully with red meats and even desserts, delivering an espresso‑like twist.

You can incorporate coffee into marinades for roasts, braising liquids for short ribs, barbecue sauces for grilled chicken, or even drizzle it over fried eggs and pancakes. Mixing coffee with your favorite herbs creates a robust dry rub perfect for burgers, pork, or lamb.

Experimenting with coffee in the kitchen adds a layer of richness that elevates ordinary dishes into something extraordinary.

6 Exfoliate Your Skin

Beyond internal benefits, coffee works wonders on the outside too. Its grounds help balance skin pH and are packed with antioxidants that combat free radicals, making them an excellent exfoliant.

All the ingredients you need for a DIY face mask or body scrub are likely already in your pantry. Coffee‑based scrubs can smooth rough patches, diminish fine lines, and even add a healthy shine to hair when used as a mask or rinse.

5 Compost And Fertilizer

Instead of tossing used grounds into the trash, consider feeding them to your garden. Coffee grounds are a nitrogen‑rich addition to compost piles, boosting the overall nutrient profile.

You can simply stir them into the compost heap or use them directly as a fertilizer. The grounds improve soil drainage, water retention, and aeration, creating a healthier environment for plants.

Additionally, coffee grounds act as a natural deterrent against slugs and snails, protecting your seedlings without chemicals.

Many coffee shops, like Starbucks, run a “Grounds For Your Garden” program, offering free bags of used grounds to help you recycle and reduce waste.

4 Clean Out Garbage Disposal

Just as baking soda freshens fridges, coffee grounds can deodorize a smelly garbage disposal. Used grounds work just as well as fresh ones for this purpose.

Create a cleaning pad by mixing coffee grounds with Epsom salts, baking soda, and vinegar. Form small balls with a measuring spoon, let them dry overnight, then drop one into the running disposal. The result is a pleasant, coffee‑scented rinse that eliminates foul odors.

3 Coat Sidewalks During Winter

When winter brings icy sidewalks, most people reach for salt, which can harm the environment and nearby plants. Coffee offers a greener alternative.

Save your used grounds and sprinkle them generously over icy patches just as you would with salt or sand. The grounds act as an abrasive, providing traction, while the coffee’s acidity helps melt ice faster.

Using coffee in this way lets you stay safe on winter walks while being kinder to the planet.

2 Wash Your Hair

Swap your regular shampoo for a coffee‑infused rinse to reap several hair benefits. Coffee’s lower pH helps balance the scalp, while its gritty texture gently exfoliates, stimulating follicles.

The caffeine in coffee can also block the hormone DHT, potentially reducing hair loss and encouraging faster growth.

Use coffee as a rinse to deepen color, as a mask for softness and shine, or blend it into a hair oil to boost root health.

1 Protect Dog From Fleas

While we love coffee, our furry friends certainly do not—especially when it comes to fleas. Coffee grounds act as a natural repellent that can help soothe an itchy pup.

Give your dog a regular bath, then work a generous amount of coffee grounds into the shampoo. Rinse thoroughly, ensuring any loose grounds are removed. The coffee scent deters fleas and provides a fresh feel.

Enjoy a flea‑free companion thanks to this simple, garden‑sourced solution.

I’m just another bearded guy trying to write my way through life. Visit me at www.MDavidScott.com

Most of the time, when someone upsets us, we try to stay calm, forgive, be the bigger person, and move on. But every so often, the urge for sweet retaliation bubbles up. In this article we count down the top 10 most creative and funny revenge acts that people have actually pulled—some harmless, some downright mischievous. Buckle up and enjoy the ride.

Why the Top 10 Most Creative Revenge Tactics Stick in Our Minds

Revenge stories are part of folklore because they combine drama, ingenuity, and that satisfying “gotcha” feeling. When the payoff is clever rather than violent, the tale becomes share‑worthy, spreading across social media and inspiring others to think outside the box.

10 The Lone Tattoo

When a partner discovers infidelity, the typical response is a heated confrontation. One Twitter user, however, stayed cool‑headed and plotted a subtly savage revenge. She coaxed her cheating boyfriend into getting matching tattoos—only she let him go first, and she never followed through.

His fresh ink now serves as a permanent reminder of his misstep, a constant, skin‑deep guilt trip that he can’t easily erase. It’s a quiet, yet unforgettable, way to teach a lesson.

9 The Big Rock

Divorce can ignite a fierce desire for payback, as demonstrated by Dany Larivière, mayor of a tiny Canadian town. After his marriage fell apart, he decided to give his ex‑wife the “big rock” she’d joked about.

She’d hinted at wanting a sparkling diamond, but he took her words literally, dropping a 20‑ton boulder onto her front lawn on her birthday and spray‑painting “Happy Birthday” across it. The stunt landed him in legal trouble, proving that even the most literal gifts can backfire.

8 Dance, Thief, Dance!

Having a laptop stolen is infuriating, but a Massachusetts man turned the tables with tech savvy and a dash of embarrassment. He remotely accessed his own stolen laptop, discovering the thief had recorded a 12‑minute video of himself practicing dance moves on the webcam.

He uploaded the footage to YouTube under the title “Don’t steal computers from people who know how to use computers.” The thief, mortified, returned the laptop and begged for the video’s removal—something the owner never obliged to do, securing both his device and a sweet, public shaming.

7 A Song About Luggage

When airlines mishandle luggage, most passengers grumble; Canadian musician Dave Carroll decided to turn his frustration into a chart‑topping anthem. After his guitar was damaged during a flight, he wrote and posted a catchy song detailing the ordeal.

The track went viral, and within four weeks the airline’s market value reportedly slipped by 10%, a hit worth enough to replace over 51,000 guitars. His melodic revenge proved that a good tune can hit harder than a lawsuit.

6 Don’t Eat My Food

Revenge is supposed to be sweet, but for a Leeds office worker, it tasted like a punch of English mustard. Fed up with colleagues pilfering his doughnuts, he secretly injected each pastry with a generous dollop of mustard using a syringe, then resealed the bag.

The resulting surprise left a lingering, spicy bite that deterred any future doughnut thefts. The prank was harmless yet unforgettable, reminding coworkers that sharing isn’t always free.

5 Got Change?

In 2009, Jordan Renken faced a classic towing nightmare: his car was impounded, and he owed $88 to retrieve it. Instead of paying the fine normally, he handed the attendant a sack of 8,800 pennies.

The cashier balked, thinking he was insane, but Renken knew the law required acceptance of legal tender. After a police officer arrived and the situation turned into a comedy of errors, Renken secured his car and gave the employee a memorable lesson in patience.

4 Thru Trickery

Public confrontations can be noisy, but a quiet, sly move at a McDonald’s drive‑thru stole the spotlight. After a woman behind him started honking and berating him for taking too long, he calmly paid for both his order and hers.

When he arrived at the pickup window, he presented receipts for both meals, collected the two bags, and drove away with the woman’s food. The incident became an urban legend, proving that a little generosity can double as sweet revenge.

3 The Shopping List

In March 2019, blogger Baby Sideburns (real name Karen Alpert) grew tired of her husband lounging while she handled all the chores. She crafted a fake grocery list filled with nonexistent items and handed it to him for a trip to the store.

The clueless husband spent precious time searching for “unsour cream,” “seedless strawberries,” and “diet diet coke—it’s new,” among other fabricated products, while Karen silently enjoyed the spectacle. The prank highlighted the perils of blind obedience.

2 Airport Arrest

Londoner Angel Exford discovered her boyfriend was a fraud after he used her credit card to buy Instagram followers and other luxuries. When he planned a getaway with a second girlfriend, she exposed his scams online, garnering thousands of likes and shares.

Not settling for viral fame alone, Angel arranged for his public arrest at the airport, preventing his escape and delivering a dramatic, justice‑serving finale to his deceitful plans.

1 The Airport (Doggy) Mess

Stand‑up comic Steve Hofstetter witnessed an obnoxious traveler at an airport in 2017. The woman was loudly on the phone, oblivious to the fact that her dog had just pooped beside her. When asked why she hadn’t cleaned it up, she replied, “They have people for that.”

Seizing the moment, Steve sat next to her, asked where she was headed, and then mischievously told her her flight had been moved to a different gate, causing her to rush away and ultimately miss her flight. Though unintentional, his prank turned a rude traveler’s day upside down.

Swears are fun and all, but, similar to what Cookie Monster says about cookies, “They are sometimes words.” Now, of course, every family and social situation is different—some people don’t care if the F-bomb is their child’s first word or if sh–t is uttered by students.

But generally speaking, we refrain from swearing in front of kids, those who we are trained to respect (elders, teachers, community leaders, etc.), and you know, like, in church, synagogue—whatever it may be for you. Still, the urge to let an expletive fly is sometimes so strong that you can’t help it. You just have to say it.

If this is you and you are the caring type who believes that maybe you should stop using such language, there is hope. History’s wordsmiths have blessed us with creative alternatives to Carlin’s infamous seven (and more). Here are ten creative expletives that aren’t swears at all.

Related: 10 Amazing Ancient Insults

10 Sugar-Honey-Ice Tea

We start this list with sugar-honey-ice tea. It’s a nonsense expletive, meant to express frustration over a particular event. Stub your toe? “Sugar-honey-ice tea!” Did your pen explode in your pocket? “Sugar-honey-ice tea!” You get the gist. It’s best used as a replacement for sh-t, though we imagine that “son of a dirty wh–re!” would better grasp the emotion behind it.

9 Shut the Front Door!

This dreadful expression has been around for a long time, and I’d rather people say the real thing than use it. I honestly can’t stand it. However, it’s creative enough in that it sounds like you’re about to say “f–k up,” but you replace it with “front door.” Emphasize the f sound to get a rise from your parents and then surprise them with the non-offensive phrase. What are they going to do? Ground you? If they ground you for suggesting you maintain privacy by closing an entrance, they can shut the feck up.

8 Holy Swear Word, Batman!

The original Batman television series (Adam West and Burt Ward) is campy, fun, and a relic of the 1960s. Several subsequent action shows and parodies have been based on the show’s aesthetic (Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy, anyone?). We’ve adopted some of the series language quirks without even realizing where it comes from.

One example is Robin’s ability to turn “Holy sh–t!” into a running list of contextual, creative alternatives. All he does is replace the swear with something relevant to his situation. And you can use them, too! Here are some of our favorites:

• Holy Split Seconds
• Holy Venezuela
• Holy Bowler
• Holy Unrefillable Prescriptions
• Holy Frying Towels
• Holy Slipped Discs

I mean, there are so many of them. Pop culture has given us these gems; let us not allow them to go to waste.

7 Nut-hook and Tripe-Visaged Rascal

Good old Bill Shakespeare; leave it to him to come up with a creative swear or insult and for us to ignore its genius. He is very niche. Anyway, there’s one in particular that we like to throw around: nut-hook. You wouldn’t say nut-hook into the wind; you would undoubtedly direct it to someone, possibly at them.

A nut-hook is not what your mind would go toward these days, you dirty birds. It is not a hook that graces the male genitalia. It doesn’t even come close to that. It is:

1. A police officer or constable
2. A thief
3. The hook at the end of a pole that pulls branches down for easier nut harvesting

Pretty innocuous, right? Well, in this case, it’s not. Its original intent in Shakespeare’s Henry V was to call someone a pig (the derogatory term for a cop).

Doll Tearsheet (who is pregnant) is arrested, accused of murder, and she’s just not having it. So she calls the arresting officer a nut-hook. To add to the offense of the passage, she also calls the other woman in the scene a “damned tripe-visaged rascal.” Translation: flabby-faced moron.

It seems pretty tame these days, I know. So we are giving you permission to call someone a nut-hook and imply that they are a hook that hooks onto um…balls. A creative replacement for the usual sh–t head or d–k face, I guess.

6 “Son of a Nutcracker!”

Since it’s winter, we might as well include this one on the list. You may recognize “son of a nutcracker” as Buddy the Elf’s response to getting hit in the face by a snowball. Will Farrell’s delivery of the line is in every way, shape, and form “son of a b–tch,” but the joke’s on PG-13 movie ratings! It’s a nutcracker (and so the movie rating stays at PG).

Fun Will Farrell fact, while we’re on it. He recently produced a Netflix docuseries featuring Nicholas Cage called History of Swear Words. No, they don’t say “son of a nutcracker,” but they do go into the etymology of a rainbow of expletives.

5 Dad-Sizzle and Dadgum

No, you are not implying that someone’s dad sizzles like a piece of bacon, and Snoop Dogg didn’t come up with it. Dad-sizzle is a stand-in for “g–d damn.” In terms of levels of anger, dad-sizzle is pretty high up there. So if you were alive in the 1800s and heard someone say this, you knew they meant business.

Other swear alternatives, like Dadgum, use the “dad” prefix, and all mean some variation of “damn.” Dad-blasted, for instance, is used to indicate frustration, surprise, and anger, though it’s not as angry as dad-sizzle.

4 Alan Rickman!

The late and great Alan Rickman was best known in the 21st century for playing Professor Snape in the Harry Potter franchise. The role successfully launched a Millennial generation cult following and added to a long list of film achievements, including Die Hard, Sweeney Todd, Dogma, and Galaxy Quest. And for some reason, his name turned into an expletive.

We can’t pinpoint the origin of shouting “Alan Rickman!” when you’ve stubbed your toe, hit your funny bone, or hurt yourself in other humorous and inconvenient ways, but it exists. And I guess there’s enough oomph to his name (that k drills the pain home) to get your point across. We would assume what you want to say is “Mother f–ker!”

But Rickman is not the only celebrity who has the honor of being a swear. “Kelly Clarkson” was screamed by Steve Carrell in 40-Year-Old Virgin during the chest hair waxing scene. Judas Priest, the British heavy metal band, has been a popular swear alternative for a long time. Even Mr. Slave from South Park conjures Judas Priest instead of the Christian figure.

3 Barnacles!

If you grew up watching Spongebob, you know this one very well. Almost every main character in the series uses it at least once, and it has proved to be incredibly versatile. That means that it could mean—pardon the censorship—sh–t, f–k, damn, d–k (when they call someone a barnacle head), etc. Barnacles may not be a popular alternative to anyone born before 1990, but anyone who was a parent in 1999 and on should be familiar enough with “barnacles” to get it.

As we know, this isn’t the only made-up swear in the Spongebob universe. If it weren’t for the creativity behind such words, Spongebob would be an entirely different show. Other popular swears include:

• Fish paste
• What in the name of Davy Jones’ locker?
• Tartar sauce
• Jumping jellyfish

However, the Spongebob swear that takes the cake is the 11th bad word: *dolphin noises*. If it weren’t for the fact that making dolphin noises is so unnatural for humans, it’d take the number three slot instead of barnacles.

2 Heavens to Betsy

Another oldie, but a goodie. Heavens to Betsy falls into the blasphemous category (100+ years ago), originating sometime between the late 19th century and the start of World War I. At the heart of the phrase, it means “for God’s sake” or, if said with more emphasis, “Jesus Christ.” The idiom is far from offensive nowadays and raises eyebrows for how antiquated it sounds.

1 Bratchny and Skitebird

If you’ve read A Clockwork Orange, you know that it’s a literary trip. The protagonist, who is actually an antagonist to some extent (his dystopian teenage angst and delinquency is his own worst enemy), Alex, is a disaster—and not one of those lovable disasters either. Part of you feels like he should receive greater punishment than he does, and yet, at the same time, you can’t help but feel for him as he’s forced to watch the disgusting acts of history.

If his character arc isn’t enough, elements of British slang and a slew of made-up, Russian-inspired words confuse the heck out of the reader. One of which is bratchny, which means, roughly, bastard, and another is skitebird, which means sh–t head.

Saying bratchy and skitebird probably won’t get you into a fight since no one will know what the eff you’re talking about. It’s obscure. But for an English student or Anthony Burgess fan, they should get the hint that you’re upset with something or someone.

Other naughty words and expletives in A Clockwork Orange include:

• Lubbilubbing for sex
• Pan-handle for erection
• Sharries for butt

Have fun with those, droogs.

In the past, we’ve covered just how expensive war can get and, as many people know, the defense budget of a country like the United States or Russia is enough to make Elon Musk break into a sweat. But not every victory has to break the bank and there is more than a little precedent to suggest some effective and devastating tactics don’t need to cost very much money at all. Let’s take a look at ten of history’s cheapest but most creative military tactics. 

10. The WWII Ghost Army

Anything known as a Ghost Army is probably going to be cool no matter what it entails, but in the case of the Ghost Army most famously deployed during the Second World War, it’s also incredibly creative and more than a little sneaky. 

Otherwise known as tactical deception, the Ghost Army was a tool meant to deceive Hitler and the German forces during the war and it relied not on the strength of soldiers and weapons so much as the creativity of artists. 

Known as the 23rd Headquarters Special Troops, this division built fake armies. Inflatable tanks and rubber airplanes were combined with radio transmissions that were designed to be intercepted by the enemy. They featured actors playing out parts, making it seem like troop movements and deployments were happening when, in reality, everything was for show. They even set up speakers in forests to broadcast the sounds of war and make it seem convincing to those on the ground.

This army of fakers numbered around 1,100, but their work was able to create the illusion of around 30,000 soldiers. Their work was effective enough that they were able to draw German forces off and save lives as a result. Records obtained from Germany after the fact indicate the deception was a total success, meaning tens of thousands of lives and millions worth of equipment were spared. It was also kept secret from the public stateside until 1996.

9. Aerial Ramming 

The deadliest fighter pilot of all-time was Erich Hartmann, who has been credited with 352 kills in the air. Now, many of his victims were Soviet fighters, but, for the sake of argument, let’s say he took out 352 P-51 Mustangs, one of the most common US fighter planes of the war (pictured above). At a cost of about $58,000 at the time, he would have destroyed over $20 million in fighter planes. That’d work out to over $340 million today. Obviously, shooting the man down didn’t work out very well at the time, so what else could have been done? One lost cost alternative to a traditional dog fight is the extremely dangerous technique known as “air ramming.”

Like running another car off the road, air ramming involves hitting an enemy plane with your own plane. You can see why this is a tactic that isn’t done often. The goal is to not get yourself killed in the process, so it takes a steady hand, a keen eye and nerves of something a little harder than steel. And it’s a tactic about as old as flight itself. 

Rumors of the tactic date back to even before WWII, but many people considered them wholly unreliable. After all, what kind of maniac could or would do such a thing? But consider if you’re out of ammunition, head to head against an enemy in the air and fully expecting to be shot down, what do you have to lose?

Back in 1956, two Soviet fighters took on two Hungarian planes and witnesses on the ground watched one of the Soviet pilots very clearly maneuver his plane into the enemy, destroying them both in the process but allowing the Soviet, who knew when he’d need to jump ship, float safely to the ground with his parachute. The pilot denied it was intentional, but witnesses say his intent and the result were very clear. The pilot later admitted that, when his guns failed him, he rammed the plane to take it out. 

8. Quaker Guns

Sometimes your best chance for victory is just to make the enemy think you’re going to win, even if you can’t. Like the Ghost Army, you can achieve this by making them believe you have more resources than you really do. And in the American Revolutionary War, this took the form of Quaker cannons, named for the pacifist religious group.

From a distance, a Quaker cannon looks like any other cannon. But get close enough and you’ll notice it’s less a powerful piece of artillery and more of a painted log. Colonel William Washington had his men turn a pine tree into a fake cannon and threatened to take out men in a fortified barn if they didn’t surrender. They all gave up. Nearly 100 years later, the same trick was being used during the Civil War.

7. Chu Songs from Four Sides

In the year 202 in China, the Chu army had reached a place called Gaixia and were trapped in a canyon. They were surrounded by the Han army. Many of the Chu army were destroyed or captured and as night fell, only a small force remained. The leaders of the Han army had their soldiers, and the captured Chu army begin to sing traditional songs of Chu. 

The Chu army, confronted with songs of their homeland on all sides, began to fear that Chu had fallen and they were all that remained of their people. Many soldiers deserted and the leader of the Chu army is said to have taken his own life, causing the remaining forces to surrender. 

6. Hammering U-Boats

German U-Boats were a powerful force during WWI and sank upwards of 5,000 ships. Defeating them was a serious priority, and detecting them was not easy. Sonar did not exist at that time, so a vessel hidden underwater was all but invisible. Sometimes the most low-tech methods prove surprisingly effective. 

For a time, the best way to deal with a submarine was to detect and disable the periscope. At night, small boats would go out on patrol with just a couple of soldiers on board, hunting for periscopes. When they found one, they’d cover the periscope with a bag and then smash it with a hammer. If the U-Boat wanted to see anything, it had to surface, and that left it open for attack.

5. Operation Christmas

They say war is hell, so if you can make the enemy focus on something better, maybe they’ll give up the fight, right? There’s evidence it works. Just look at Operation Christmas.

In an effort to counter the guerilla forces in Colombia, the military opted to decorate some Christmas trees. Deep in the jungles where the guerilla forces were known to move about, soldiers would pick massive trees and drape them in thousands of Christmas lights. They even filmed it to make commercials. The lights would activate on a motion sensor and a banner would light up that said, “If Christmas can come to the jungle, you too can come home. Demobilize. At Christmas, everything is possible.”

The tactic resulted in about 300 guerillas, 5% of their total force, giving up and going home. They tried a similar tactic the year after and another 180 packed it in. 

4. King Harald Faked his Death

King Harald Siggurdson’s life is steeped in unbelievable tales of heroism and strength. It’s said he triumphed in countless battles against countless enemies through strength as well as intelligence and few stories exemplify that as well as the tale of his Sicilian campaign.

It’s said that he laid siege to four different towns during the campaign, often under-manned compared to his enemies. If he couldn’t starve his enemies out, he’d use some trickery to gain the upper hand, which happened during the fourth campaign. 

The town was well fortified and seemed unbeatable, so he began to spend his days in his tent. Eventually rumor spread that he was gravely ill and, finally, his men gave word to the enemy that he had died. His final wish? As a Christian man, he wanted to be laid to rest on church grounds. Inside the town.

So the town opened its gates and a coffin containing Siggurdson was brought in by his men who used it to block the gates, allowing the whole army and a very much alive Siggurdson to sack the town. 

3. Zhuge Liang’s Victory by Shame

No one likes a show off but, as it happens, showing off and rubbing someone else’s face in your greatest can apparently save lives if you do it enough. That was what happened when Zhuge Liang, military strategist and Prime Minister of the Chinese state of Shu back between 221 and 263, was tasked with defeating Meng Huo, an enemy chieftain.

The story of Meng Huo’s defeat has become the stuff of legend because it kept happening. According to those legends, Liang captured Huo on the field of battle. Instead of killing or torturing the man, he gave him a tour of his army, showing off how great it was and asked what he thought, Meng Huo was not impressed, so Liang released him. They did this a total of seven times. 

After seven captures, Meng Huo realized that Zhuge Liang’s forces were superior, and he voluntarily surrendered himself and ended up joining the other side.

2. The Battle of Pelusium 

Getting into your enemy’s head can be invaluable and turn the tide of any battle. But what does that mean in a practical sense, and how could it best be exploited? Arguably one of the greatest examples of this occurred when Cambyses II, a Persian king, met the Egyptians during the Battle of Pelusium. This was a major battle that essentially put Egypt in the hands of Persia and started Egypt’s 27th Dynasty. 

Cambyses II was taking on the forces of Pharaoh Psametik III, and he was an experienced tactician. He was also aware of the Egyptians’ beliefs and, in particular, their reverence for all forms of life, in particular those creatures that they viewed as earthly representations of their gods. 

For Egyptians, cats were associated with the goddess Bastet. The goddess was both nurturer and fighter and had a prominent cult of followers. Few Egyptians would dare harm a cat lest they earn the goddesses ire. So Cambyses littered the battlefield with them and painted their images on the shields of his men. 

The Persians carried cats into battle, which caused the Egyptians to fear loosing arrows against them. Cambyses let loose dogs, ibises, sheep and any other animals he thought the Egyptians would be too afraid to harm. The tactic worked, and the Egyptians either fled or were slaughtered.

1. The Whistling Sound of Falling Bombs

Psychology has a lot of impact in war as we’ve seen. Dive bombers used to mount Jericho trumpets on the front of their planes so that when they went into a dive, the plane would blare out that iconic wailing sound we associate with them and cause panic. Likewise, most of us recognize the high pitched whistling sound of a bomb being dropped if from nowhere else than old movies and even cartoons. It’s even the sound a cartoon will use for a character falling.

If you’ve watched any modern footage of war zones as bombs are deployed, you would not have heard that telltale whistle. Like the dive bombers of WWII, only certain bombs made that sound because an actual whistle was attached to the casing. 

The sound and pitch change as the bomb drops, thanks to the Doppler effect. This meant that, on the ground, you had an audio warning of the speed and distance to the bomb, which you have to assume played havoc with a lot of people’s minds. Knowing your potential destruction is closing in fast would have chilled even the hardest soldier and severely shaken the nerves of all who survived. All that for the cost of a whistle.