Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth, the Holy Bible famously says. Blessed are women with big…
A Brief History Of Spam From Margaret Thatcher to Your Mailbox via Monty Python
Spam is a four-letter word we all love to hate. Ever wondered where it came from, though? Of course you…
The Dying Art of Handmade Paper Journals
Did you know that 17 trees have to be cut down to make 1 ton of paper? This means over…
How Captain Charles Boycott Unwittingly Gave the Word Boycott to the English Language
Ever wondered where the word boycott comes from? The short answer – from Ireland, where it was first applied to…
From Tupac to 2Pac: A 500-year Old Legacy of Rebellion
Tupac is a name the world today associates with hip-hop. To be more specific, the rage, rebellion, and violence of…
The Jute Story: From Empire to Oblivion and Back
Until the middle of the 20th century, jute was the second most consumed fiber in the world after cotton. Surprised?…
A Short History of the American Log Cabin: An Enduring Architectural Heritage
There is this lingering pop-cultural image of America, which, even if you don’t follow pop culture, you’re likely familiar with.…
The Tooth-puller, the Mad Queen, and the Longest Gold Rush in History – The Story of Tiradentes of Brazil
Tiradentes in Portuguese means “tooth-puller”. This was the name that the Brazilian freedom fighter Joaquim Jose da Silva Xavier was…
The World of Amish Crafts – A Little Known Slice of American Heritage
Utter the words Amish and a few images come to mind – rolling farmlands, windmills, horse-drawn buggies, handicrafts, and a…
The Pintao Hat of Panama – The Story of a Dying Cultural Heritage
You’ve undoubtedly seen the Panama hat even if you don’t know what it is. They’re white hats that look like…