What Made Emmett Ashford, Major League Baseball’s First Black Umpire, an American Hero
(via Smithsonian) During his 20-year professional career, his boisterous style endeared him to fans but rankled traditionalists
Read more
Et Cetera
Things that don’t fit in one place
Around the World in Pandemic Street Art
(via Atlas Obscura) Messages of respect, hope, and frustration have appeared in our largely empty public spaces.
Read more
11 Authors Who Hated the Movie Versions of Their Books
(via mental_floss) Some of the most beloved movies ever were based on books. But just because we loved them doesn’t
Read more
Diving For Golf Balls in America’s Most Famous Water Hazard
(via Great Big Story) Golf isn’t known for being a forgiving game, and the 17th hole at TPC Sawgrass in
Read more
12 Things You Should Know About the United States Postal Service
(via Mental Floss) Snail mail doesn’t sound thrilling, but the United States Postal Service is anything but boring. USPS workers
Read more
The Colorful History of the Troll Doll
(via Smithsonian) With the release of Trolls World Tour, and a new generation entranced by the ugly-but-cute toy, it appears
Read more
Recently Discovered Drawings for the Statue of Liberty Hint at a Last-Minute Change
(via Smithsonian) Sketches from the workshop of French engineer Gustave Eiffel suggest a different plan for Lady Liberty’s upraised arm
Read more
When the Government Banned Beer, Pabst Made Cheese Instead
(via Atlas Obscura) Selling dairy products helped the brewery survive Prohibition.
Read more
In 19th-Century America, Fighting Disease Meant Battling Bad Smells
(via Atlas Obscura) The history of unpleasant odor, or miasma, has unexpected relevance in the time of COVID-19.
Read more
European Plague Doctor Garb Was Black, Beaked, and Very Bleak
(via Atlas Obscura) These haunting uniforms make today’s masks look tame.
Read more
How a Globemaker Navigates a Digital World
(via Atlas Obscura) “It’s kind of a joke, but in some sense, I almost feel like I could start a
Read more
7 of the World’s Quirkiest Statues
(via Mental Floss) Public sculpture can inspire, illuminate, and provoke curiosity. Look at the Lincoln Memorial or Auguste Rodin’s famed
Read more