History
The History of Ordinary Things: Opening Cans over Time
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- Written by Doris Montag Doris Montag
The can opener has its own unique history, but first: the can, which arrived in the late 1700s without a means of opening it.
The Last Word in Hucksterism
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- Written by Randal C. Hill Randal C. Hill
Motorists zooming between Los Angeles and Las Vegas today will pass a highway sign announcing a turnoff at Zzyzx (ZY-zix) Road.
The History of Ordinary Things: Feathers in Fashion
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- Written by Doris Montag Doris Montag
We aren’t the first to wear feather accessories!
The (Sort of) True Origin of a Treat
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Americans love hot dogs. Every year we eat about 7 billion of them between Memorial Day and Labor Day alone. And the typical American eats about 60 a year.
Share These Facts about the Declaration of Independence
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You know July 4 is for fireworks and parades, but how much do you know about its history? The facts may surprise you.
The History of Ordinary Things: Festive Fireworks
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- Written by Doris Montag Doris Montag
A firework requires three key components — an oxidizer, a fuel, and a chemical mixture — to produce the color. When any element burns, its electrons get excited, and it releases energy in the form of light — in this case, fireworks. But how was this discovered?
The History of Ordinary Things: What Could Be More Ordinary than Salt?
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- Written by Doris Montag Doris Montag
Salt, or sodium chloride (NaCl), is one of the oldest forms of food seasoning and is essential to human and animal health.
How the Ancients Celebrated the First Day of Summer
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Summer begins in 2023 on June 21 with the summer solstice, the day when the Earth’s axis tilts our northern hemisphere most prominently toward the sun.
The History of Ordinary Things: ‘Keepsies’ and Your Marbles
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- Written by Doris Montag Doris Montag
Playing with small, round balls may have started with cave people. Clay balls have been found in the tombs of Egypt, in Native American burial grounds, and in the ancient Aztec pyramids.