Capers and Cocktails

Sea Breeze (Cocktail) 1 ½ parts vodka 4 parts cranberry juice 1 part grapefruit juice 1 lime wheel for garnish (optional) Add all ingredients to a shaker with ice. Shake until chilled and combined. Strain over fresh ice.  Garnish with a lime wheel if desired. Sea Breeze (Mocktail) 1 ½ parts non-alcoholic vodka 4 parts cranberry juice 1 part grapefruit juice 1 lime wheel for garnish (optional) Add...

Saskatchewan Paralyzer (Cocktail) ½ part vodka ½ part Kahlua 2 parts cola 3 parts milk Cherry  Pour Kahlua and vodka into a glass with ice. Pour cola in next. Top with cold milk and a cherry, and add a straw. The drink should not be stirred, or the milk may curdle.  Saskatchewan Paralyzer (Mocktail) ½ part non-alcoholic vodka ½ part cold coffee 2 parts cola 3 parts milk Cherry Pour Kahlua and vodk...

In early 2023 in New Brunswick, New Jersey, a peculiar tale unfolded.  It was a story on its face of outright, strange deception. But underneath, maybe a sadder tale of longing and nostalgia, where the lines between reality and fiction blurred, leaving many perplexed and intrigued. At the center of it all was Hyejeong (Heh-jong) Shin, a 29-year-old woman who made a choice I really cannot relate to...

In the murky shadows of cybernetic legend, the name John McAfee looms large, a man whose life story reads like a suspense thriller. Yes, yes, that McAfee. John's journey twisted through the labyrinth of technology and intrigue, marked by brilliance, controversy, and a relentless pursuit of freedom. John McAfee's life was a tumultuous odyssey that blurred the lines between genius and madnes...

There are four major threats to the global order: pandemics, weapons of mass destruction, climate change, and as in today’s case, another threat barreling towards us – cyber threats. In the heart of Bangladesh, a digital heist unfolded with meticulous precision. Hackers, armed with sophisticated malware, infiltrated the central bank's network, orchestrating a daring scheme that shook the globa...

In the quiet town of Dublin, a series of burglaries shook the community to its core, leaving residents on edge and the night watchman nervous. The thieves showed a peculiar taste, selecting specific items like Hanover brand shirts, and even paused in their spree to enjoy a Dr. Pepper, leaving behind empty bottles as evidence. As the town grappled with the aftermath of the crimes, one thing became...

In the hallowed halls of university life, where wisdom and questionable decisions often collide, emerged the legendary borg - a concoction that makes scientists cringe and partygoers cheer. A borg, short for blackout rage gallon, is like a science experiment gone wrong, housed in a plastic jug with the potential for epic disaster. Picture this: vodka, flavored drink mix, and a dash of electrolytes...

Ah, the Great Toilet Paper Panic of 2020, the time when the world collectively decided that the key to surviving a global panini was hoarding toilet paper like it was the currency of the apocalypse. Forget about gold or silver; we all wanted those soft, two-ply squares of reassurance. Supermarkets became battlegrounds, and toilet paper rolls were the coveted treasures in a game of panorama plunder...

Today we’re headed to a British museum made famous by an eccentric guy who liked to travel the town in a carriage pulled by zebras. A museum that is home to dodo bird replicas, and odd-toed ungulates, and bird skins. A museum that was caught entirely unawares when a robber with deft fingers made off with a bag full of those bird skins, valued at millions of dollars. ----- Jungle Bird (Cocktail) 1...

Today we’re headed to Los Angeles in the late 1980s, where a rather distinctive-looking gentleman embarked on an unconventional bank robbing spree in Los Angeles that gathered him a rather unusual nickname: The Bozo Bandit. ----- Cherry Vodka Spritzer (Cocktail) 1 part vodka 2 parts tart cherry juice ½ part lime juice ¼ part simple syrup 1-2 parts seltzer Cherry for garnish (optional) Add vodka, c...

What do you get when you mix a cow’s teet, bald men, turbans, Virginia Woolf, manure, the British Royal Navy and one kooky dude? Well, the recipe for Great Britain’s number 1 practical joker, Horace de Vere Cole. Born in Ireland in 1881, he wreaked humorous havoc on several countries in Europe for several decades, and today, we dive into his life and pranks. ----- Irish Whiskey Sour (Cocktail) 2 p...

In Canada, maple syrup is King. Well, King Charles is also king, but maple syrup isn’t far behind. And in the heart of Quebec, between 2011 and 2012, where maple syrup flows like liquid gold, a gang of robbers orchestrated the disappearance of 18 million Canadian dollars worth of the syrupy treasure. Get ready for a tale where the strange pursuit of maple gold takes a turn into the world of the, I...

7 & 7 (Cocktail) 1 part Seagram’s 7 7 Up Pour the Seagram’s into an ice-filled glass (preferably a highball glass). Top with the 7Up to taste. 7 & 7 (Mocktail) 1 part non-alcoholic whiskey 7 Up Pour the non-alcoholic whiskey into an ice-filled glass (preferably a highball glass). Top with the 7Up to taste. Non-alcoholic whiskey: tinyurl.com/noboozewhiskey   ----- LIVE show request! https:/...

In this intriguing tale, we're diving into an unexpected heist that unfolded during the festivities of SantaCon. San Francisco police have just unveiled pictures of a man dressed as Santa Claus who successfully robbed a bank in Union Square. This last episode of season 3 will wrap up as we uncover the details of this audacious crime, where a simple note and a Santa suit were used to execute a...

Step into the tumultuous year of 1977, where a gripping tale of desperation and audacity unfolds. In a shocking turn of events, Anthony Kiritsis, driven by a turbulent mix of frustration and resentment, takes a mortgage broker named Richard Hall hostage at gunpoint. Today I tell the riveting story of Anthony Kiritsis, exploring the depths of his motivations, the media frenzy that ensued, and the e...

Twice in five weeks in Sweden, can you believe it? I don’t know how that happened, but here we are! Today we delve into the gripping story of a daring daylight heist that shocked Sweden and captured international attention. In this episode, we uncover the details of a brazen robbery that took place in a historic cathedral, where priceless seventeenth-century crown jewels were stolen by two thieves...

When was the last time you checked out a movie from a movie rental store? Like, went to a Blockbuster on a Friday night, walked up and down those aisles trying to find just the right pick, and grabbed some movie theater candy and popcorn from those stands on the front of the check-out desk before checking out and heading home to watch it on your small, but very heavy, television at home? Maybe som...

Today, we’re going deep into the annals of scientific history as we unravel the intriguing tale behind one of the most audacious hoaxes ever perpetrated in the world of anthropology. In this podcast, we delve deep into the enigmatic origins of the 'apeman' hoax, a cunning deception that shook the foundations of human evolution research. Discover the intricate web of intrigue, mystery, and...

For just over 50 years, the media, true crime aficionados, and regular every-day humans have been using a term coined to describe a strange phenomenon. At a time in someone’s life where they should feel one way toward someone causing them harm, they instead develop empathy, and even loyalty. Today we explore this well-recognized concept, surprising though it is, which refers to instances where cap...

At the top of the tallest building in a cluster of red brick buildings overlooking a neighborhood in South St. Louis, there is one building towering above the rest. Painted on that building, one sign stands taller than the others and cannot be covered up; it is visible from all parts of the nearby metropolis. At the tallest point of the brewery, a bold white letter spelling out "Lemp" is...

At one point, Julie Keith considered donating the unopened $29.99 Halloween graveyard kit she had purchased the year prior. It was just gathering dust in storage, and who needs ANOTHER set of Halloween decorations. Then she had an idea - why not open it up and use it to decorate for her daughter’s fifth birthday? But when she opened up the package, she would be stunned to find a mysterious letter...

In early February 1987, Allen and Debbie Tallman brought home a $100 bunk bed they bought at a used furniture store. They put it together and stored it in the basement. But the night they moved it upstairs to their daughters’ bedroom, and the girls slept in it, it marked the beginning of nine months of horrors for the entire family. In a story straight out of a horror film, or maybe not quite a ho...

Although there have been sporadic stories and urban tales regarding tainted Halloween sweets, genuine occurrences are extremely uncommon. In one well-known incident from 1974, a man in Texas very much on purpose murdered his eight-year-old son by giving his own kids cyanide-laced Pixy Stix, a story we covered last year on Margs & Mayhem. Today, we delve, albeit shallowly, into the tale of one...

In the world of crime, there are those who master the art of deception, who orchestrate audacious heists that leave authorities baffled. Gerald Blanchard is one such enigma. But, how did a mastermind known for his sophistication and elaborate schemes end up entangled in a simple shoplifting incident? Uncover the truth behind Gerald Blanchard's transformation from a jet-setting thief to a Vanco...

For today’s caper, we dive into the intriguing case of Bobbi Parker, a woman entangled in a web of love, escape, and alleged manipulation. With conflicting narratives of love and coercion, we explore the twists and turns of this captivating story. From Bobbi’s controversial romance to the alleged threats and a fateful disappearance, we seek to uncover the truth in a story where the line between ca...