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CLASSIC: The Wild West Was Actually Pretty Chill
If you're like most people, the phrase "Wild West" conjures images of brutal gunfights in dusty, tumbleweed-ridden streets, visions of criminals slin…
2 years, 1 month ago
On Theme, Part Two: The Cyclical Evolution of Music
As Ernest Hogan reaches new heights of success, critics turn against ragtime and "coon songs," prompting a larger conversation about the cyclical nat…
2 years, 1 month ago
On Theme, Part One: Ernest Hogan's Success and Regret
Today the world agrees minstrel shows were horrific, weaponized stereotypes meant to dehumanize people. But not too long ago, minstrel shows and the …
2 years, 1 month ago
CLASSIC: How A Grudge Match Launched the Ford GT40
Today the Ford GT40 is one of the world's most iconic vehicles -- but this award winning automotive beast is, it turns out, the result of a serious g…
2 years, 1 month ago
The QWERTY Keyboard is Purposely Bad
If you're like most folks in the West, your laptop and phone use something called the QWERTY keyboard, named for the six letters at the upper left of…
2 years, 1 month ago
Auction Houses: It's Not *All* Money Laundering
We've all heard of auction houses. Nowadays, these are often best-known as specialized institutions catering to international institutions and a smal…
2 years, 1 month ago
CLASSIC: "Vitamin Donuts" Were A Real Thing
Donuts: they're sweet, delectable and dangerous. Nowadays they're best known as a sugary snack or a nice accompaniment to a cup of coffee, but this w…
2 years, 1 month ago
Thomas Nast, Part Two: A Cartoonist Conquers Corruption (and Moves to Ecuador)
Rising from humble beginnings, Thomas Nast soon became something very much like the conscience of America. His illustrated takedowns of corruption sp…
2 years, 1 month ago
Thomas Nast, Part One: The Cartoonist Who Shaped America
Tons of people have a soft spot for their favorite cartoon or comic strip -- yet few have attained the social status of the legendary artist Thomas N…
2 years, 1 month ago
CLASSIC: The Rotten, Sausagey Secret Origin of Botox
Today botox is one of the world's most well-known wrinkle treatments, as well as a go-to joke in the realm of pop culture. But where did this treatme…
2 years, 1 month ago