The surprisingly messy history of flag cake
When you picture a Fourth of July cake, there’s only one that comes to mind for most people — a rectangular cake with white whipped cream icing, red…
Category: General Interest
June brides still follow ancient traditions
Wedding ceremonies are full of traditions that reach far into history. * The practice of keeping bride and groom apart until the ceremony was important…
Sleeping single: Why some couples choose separate beds
He snores. She’s restless. He likes to fall asleep watching television. She likes complete quiet. People who love each other may often have completely…
A close-shaven history of the beard
The beard: It’s gone in and out of fashion over the millennia and alternately been associated with kings and commoners, criminals and scholars, soldiers…
How far can you drive on empty?
It has happened to most people: Suddenly, you realize you need gas. The needle is on empty. The next place to fill up is 30 miles away. But, can you drive…
Oxford University coat of arms
Ancient universities and famed graduates The oldest universities in the West were established during the High Middle Ages (1000 to 1300 A.D.) and their…
On the question of skydiving ants
You see an ant on a countertop. You brush it off to the floor. Does it die? Heck, no. That ant comes back to annoy you again and again. How far could it…
The most expensive photo ever?
This month, a photo taken in 1924 is set to go to auction and it is believed to be the highest-ever estimated value for a photograph. The black-and-white…
Dirty finances: Crypto money laundering on the rise
By now, you’ve likely heard of bitcoin and other so-called cryptocurrencies. These assets have become hot investment vehicles in recent years, especially…
Top videos snag billions of views
In the 1960s and 1970s, CBS News drew 27 to 29 million viewers every night in a time when most people could count the available channels on one hand….