For the decade you were born, what was the most influential societal or cultural change?
From five years before your birth year, and five years after, that ten years, what development, event, or cultural change most effected your country or the world?...
Jack-o-Lanterns Orgins
Was thinking about this as Halloween is coming up. Where did the concept of jack-o-lanterns come from? When did people start making the shift from carving faces to carving whatever? Why use pumpkins? ...
New Year Resolutions - Where did this practice come from? Do people the world over set resolutions?
I've been asked quite a few times what my 2021 resolutions are, and it got me thinking. Where did this practice come from and when? And do cultures around the world also have this practice?...
What kind of last name is "Bumpass"?
Where does it come from? Does it mean something?...
How did gold become so important?
Gold doesn't seem to be a terribly useful mineral. It's too malleable to produce any sort of tools, so why did it become so valuable? Is it just because it's attractive? Today, of course, we use it for jewelry, currency, and in electronics, but this certainly wasn't the case when gold was first mine...
Can the confederate flag stand for states rights?
I have been driving through the southern states the last few days and have seen a lot of confederate flags. To me, it is a symbol of oppression and racism. How do people see it as anything else? ...
What time are period would you most like to live in?
Sometimes I will hear this question and it really throws me off guard. It seems to me that as a woman, we have the most opportunity and respect in a time period than we ever have before, as well as people of color and the LGBTQ community. Does anyone disagree? Which period and why? ...
Why does the west coast have more public land than the east coast
It’s so easy to find a national forest or park on the west coast, and incredibly sparse on the east coast. It’s not like there aren’t incredible natural formations on the east coast, they’re just mostly all privatized. Why is there more public land out west? ...
Serial killer H.H. Holmes wrote and sold a long confession while awaiting his execution. Is it possible to read this document today?
Although H.H. Holmes' confession was largely invented -- several of the 27 victims were actually still alive or never existed at all -- it would be a fascinating read. The piece was sold in 1895/6 to Hearst newspapers and it was generally dismissed as fantasy, but was it ever published? Where could ...
Why do different countries drive on different sides of the road?
My friend was in Ireland last summer (back when travelling was a thing) and was talking about how difficult it was for her family to readjust to driving on the other side of the road, especially since they ended up with a manual car. Why is it different between countries? ...