History
The History of Military Service Star Banners
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- Written by Doris Montag Doris Montag
A service flag or banner is one that family members of those serving in the U.S. Armed Forces can display.
The History of Ordinary Things: The Multiple Sources of Multipurpose Gelatin
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- Written by Doris Montag Doris Montag
Gelatin has been a silent ingredient in our food since the Middle Ages. For the castle lifestyle, gelatin was used to create jelled dishes flavored with vinegar, wine, almond extract, and such to produce a tart rather than sweet flavor. The foods to be glazed were more often meats than sweets.
It Was 50 Years Ago Today: ‘Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)’
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- Written by Randal C. Hill Randal C. Hill
Well-respected rock-music critic and historian Dave Marsh is normally quite sparing in his praise, but Marsh once could barely contain his enthusiasm when he reviewed a Marvin Gaye single and proclaimed it to be “the greatest piece of music ever written in favor of the survival of the environment on the greatest Black pop album ever made.”
Celebrating August’s Senior Activism
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- Written by James E. Patterson James E. Patterson
In the history of senior Americans, August is an important month for a law that a former U.S. president called “one of the great peacetime achievements of the American people.”
The History of Ordinary Things: The Egg Carton & Other Egg Tidbits
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- Written by Doris Montag Doris Montag
Did you know?
‘We Hold These Truths to Be Self-Evident …’
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On July 4, Americans celebrate the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
The Curious Beginnings of Our Everyday Customs
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You cross your fingers for good luck or to excuse yourself from lying, but do you ever wonder how customs like that originated?
Booming Voice: The Greatest Generation’s Last Witnesses
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- Written by Bill Levine Bill Levine
Recently, my retiree-age literature class was discussing the classic ’50s conformity novel, The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit, as if it were a gripping novel of World War II. In fact, there were raw scenes of the main character’s PTSD-inducing war experiences that impacted his rung climbing in the 1950s corporate world.
The History of Ordinary Things: Cracker Jack
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- Written by Doris Montag Doris Montag
Cracker Jack is an American brand of snack consisting of molasses-flavored, caramel-coated popcorn and peanuts, well known for being packaged with a prize of trivial value. Some food historians consider it the first junk food!