Banksy is a pseudonymous England-based street artist, political activist, and film director whose real name and identity remain unconfirmed and the subject of speculation. Active since the 1990s, his satirical street art and subversive epigrams combine dark humour with graffiti executed in a distinctive stenciling technique. His works of political and social commentary have appeared on streets, walls, and bridges throughout the world. Banksy's work grew out of the Bristol underground scene, which involved collaborations between artists and musicians. Banksy displays his art on publicly visible surfaces such as walls and self-built physical prop pieces. Banksy no longer sells photographs or reproductions of his street graffiti, but his public "installations" are regularly resold, often even by removing the wall they were painted on. You can support the channel if you wish, any help is much appreciated https://www.patreon.com/strangetalespod

Vault 7 is a series of documents that WikiLeaks began to publish on 7 March 2017, detailing the activities and capabilities of the United States Central Intelligence Agency to perform electronic surveillance and cyber warfare. The files, dating from 2013 to 2016, include details on the agency's software capabilities, such as the ability to compromise cars, smart TVs, web browsers and the operating systems of most smartphones including Apple's iOS and Google's Android, as well as other operating systems such as Microsoft Windows, mac OS, and Linux. A CIA internal audit identified 91 malware tools out of more than 500 tools in use in 2016 being compromised by the release. You can support the podcast if you wish, any help is much appreciated https://www.patreon.com/strangetalespod

In the early morning hours of March 18, 1990, thirteen works of art were stolen from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston. Guards admitted two men posing as police officers responding to a disturbance call, and the thieves tied the guards up and looted the museum over the next hour. The case is unsolved; no arrests have been made and no works have been recovered. The Federal Bureau of Investigation has valued the haul at $500 million, and the museum is offering a $10 million reward for information leading to the art's recovery, the largest bounty ever offered by a private institution. The stolen works were originally procured by art collector Isabella Stewart Gardner (1840–1924) and intended for permanent display at the museum with the rest of her collection. Among them was The Concert, one of only 34 known paintings by Johannes Vermeer and thought to be the most valuable unrecovered painting in the world. Also missing is The Storm on the Sea of Galilee, Rembrandt's only seascape. The FBI believes that the robbery was planned by a criminal organization. The case lacks strong physical evidence, and the FBI has largely depended on interrogations, undercover informants, and sting operations to collect information. They have focused primarily on the Boston Mafia which was in the midst of an internal gang war during the period. If you would like to support the show any help is much appreciated  www.patreon.com/strangetalespod

Zheng Yi Sao also known as Ching Shih meaning wife of Ching was a Chinese pirate leader who terrorized the South China Sea from 1807 to 1810. She was a prostitute who married a pirate and rose to prominence after his death. Regarded as one of the most powerful pirates in human history, she commanded her husband's fleet after his death. While the fleet she inherited was already large, she further increased the number of ships and crew. At its height, her fleet was composed of more than 1,500 ships and 80,000 sailors. She controlled much of the waters of the South China Sea. Her ships entered into conflict with several major powers, such as the East India Company, the Portuguese Empire, and Qing China. After years of piracy during which she defeated several attempts to capture her, the Qing government offered her peace in 1810 and she was able to retire and married her second-in-command. You can support the podcast if you wish, any help is much appreciated https://www.patreon.com/strangetalespod

Pink Floyd were an English rock band formed in London in 1965. Gaining an early following as one of the first British psychedelic groups, they were distinguished for their extended compositions, sonic experimentation, philosophical lyrics and elaborate live shows, and became a leading band of the progressive rock genre, cited by some as the greatest progressive rock band of all time. Pink Floyd were founded by Syd Barrett, Nick Mason, Roger Waters and Richard Wright. Under Barrett's leadership, they released two charting singles and the successful debut album, The Piper at the Gates of Dawn in 1967. Guitarist and vocalist David Gilmour joined in December 1967; Barrett left in April 1968 due to deteriorating mental health. Waters became the primary lyricist and thematic leader, devising the concepts behind the band's peak of critical and commercial success with the albums The Dark Side of the Moon, Wish You Were Here, Animals and The Wall You can support the podcast if you wish, any help is much appreciated https://www.patreon.com/strangetalespod

Pink Floyd were an English rock band formed in London in 1965. Gaining an early following as one of the first British psychedelic groups, they were distinguished for their extended compositions, sonic experimentation, philosophical lyrics and elaborate live shows, and became a leading band of the progressive rock genre, cited by some as the greatest progressive rock band of all time. Pink Floyd were founded by Syd Barrett, Nick Mason, Roger Waters and Richard Wright. Under Barrett's leadership, they released two charting singles and the successful debut album, The Piper at the Gates of Dawn in 1967. Guitarist and vocalist David Gilmour joined in December 1967; Barrett left in April 1968 due to deteriorating mental health. Waters became the primary lyricist and thematic leader, devising the concepts behind the band's peak of critical and commercial success with the albums The Dark Side of the Moon, Wish You Were Here, Animals and The Wall You can support the podcast if you wish, any help is much appreciated https://www.patreon.com/strangetalespod