Category: Culture
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The invention of edible underwear and why it actually sold
Edible underwear sounds like a punchline, but it became a multi-million-dollar product line. Here’s the actual history and why the novelty was the whole point.
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DIY skateparks: how skaters build their own spots from concrete and grit
From Burnside to FDR, skaters have built their own parks under bridges and in forgotten lots. Here’s how the global DIY skatepark movement actually works.
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Yaka Mein: The New Orleans Chinese-Creole Noodle Soup with a Murky Past
Yaka Mein is a New Orleans staple with disputed origins, a devoted following, and a reputation as the city’s favorite hangover cure. Here’s the murky story.
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A man who legally changed his name to Beezow Doo-Doo Zopittybop-Bop-Bop
In 2011 a Wisconsin man legally changed his name to Beezow Doo-Doo Zopittybop-Bop-Bop. The story is funnier — and stranger — than the headline implies. Here’s what happened.
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Pro skater video games: how Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater changed skateboarding forever
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater introduced millions to skate culture and altered how the sport grew. Here’s the impact a video game had on real-world skateboarding.
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Documentary filmmaking ethics in the post-9/11 era
After 9/11, documentary filmmakers gained new access and new responsibilities. Here’s how the genre’s ethical standards shifted — and where they still strain.
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The bizarre world of extreme ironing
Yes, people iron clothes on cliff faces and underwater. Extreme ironing is a real, occasionally dangerous subculture, and its appeal is stranger than it sounds.
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Childhood in 12 Notes: The Psychology of the Ice Cream Truck Jingle
The looping melody of the ice cream truck triggers powerful nostalgia by design. Here’s why those 12 notes are one of the most effective audio brands ever made.
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Botas Picudas vs. Traditional Botas Vaqueras: A Style Comparison
From the dance floors of Matehuala to ranch country across Mexico, two boot traditions reflect very different regional identities and aesthetics.
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Spuds MacKenzie and Target: how bull terriers became advertising icons
Bull terriers went from working dogs to advertising royalty in two famous campaigns. Here’s how Spuds MacKenzie and Bullseye reshaped breed popularity.