Tag: Society
The Literary Legend Behind The Legend of Zelda
Long before she was a pixilated princess guiding Link on fantastical quests, Zelda was a real-life literary darling of the early 20th century. The iconic video game heroine actually inherited her name from Jazz Age writer and socialite Zelda Fitzgerald, wife of The Great Gatsby scribe F. Scott Fitzgerald.
The Surprising Origins of Chinese Takeout Boxes
The folded paper containers with wire handles that carry billions of orders of Kung Pao chicken, lo mein, and egg rolls each year actually originated right here in the United States. The quintessential Chinese takeout box was invented in Chicago in 1894 by an American named Frederick Weeks Wilcox.
Melbourne, Australia gave email addresses to 70,000 trees
Strolling though a shaded Melbourne park, a gnarled tree with twisting branches catches your eye. Its solid presence exudes sage experience weathering city life’s commotion. So on a whim back home, you email this stalwart tree a friendly update on your week - and soon receive a thoughtful treemail response!
Caligula’s Pleasure Barge uncovered by Mussolini
The fascinating history of Rome is filled with intriguing tales and mysteries, but few are as captivating as the story of Caligula's pleasure barge. Uncovered by none other than Italian dictator Benito Mussolini, this tale combines ancient Roman debauchery, a stunning lake, and the iron-fisted rule of a 20th-century fascist leader. Join us on this adventurous journey as we explore the luxurious world of Caligula's pleasure barge and the lengths Mussolini went to uncover it.
Pepsi was originally called “Brad’s Drink”
Every story has a beginning, and for one of the most recognized beverages on the planet, it began not in a sprawling corporate lab but in a modest pharmacy in New Bern, North Carolina. Pepsi, that bubbly and effervescent drink known worldwide, started its journey as a quaintly named "Brad's Drink." And at its heart was a pharmacist with a vision – Caleb Bradham.
The Surprising History of Toothpaste in Ancient Egypt
When you squeeze minty fresh toothpaste onto your brush each morning, you’re participating in a ritual with ancient roots. Long before the first tube of Crest rolled off assembly lines, ancient Egyptians were concocting their own tooth-cleaning pastes. They valued oral hygiene and invented some of the first breath mints, toothpicks and toothpaste recipes.