Archive for the ‘History’ Category

Maverick Monk: Man of Many Moods

Monday, February 22nd, 2010

Thelonious Sphere Monk.

It is fitting that one of the most recognizable symbols, images, of jazz, is the headshot of the High Priest himself, hunched over his piano keys smiling, singing Epistrophy or Round Midnight. Thelonious Sphere Monk captivated, but sometimes personal situations and most of all his high regard for originality (more…)

The “Chucks” Story: What’s Behind the Converse All Stars

Monday, January 25th, 2010

http://www.flickr.com/photos/welcome2bo/

If you don’t own a pair yourself, you probably know someone who does. That probably has something to do with the fact that over 750 million have been sold. Their look is unmistakable: a simplistic combination of cheap canvas and rubber (more…)

Till We Have Voices: The Evolution of Human Communication

Monday, January 4th, 2010

Copyright 2010. Flickr Commons Archives.

Thousands of years ago, in a fertile plain somewhere between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, the descendants of an ark builder looked into each other’s eyes and then up towards the heavens. (more…)

The Ever-Changing List of Must-Have Toys

Monday, December 28th, 2009

http://www.flickr.com/photos/laffy4k/  / CC BY 2.0

This year, the hottest toy isn’t a string rag doll like those that ancient Egyptian kids played with or a button-collecting game popular with kids of the Middle Ages. This Christmas, the hottest toy on every kid’s list is a robotic hamster. (more…)

Once Upon a Time When the World Was Occupied by War

Monday, December 14th, 2009

Inglorious Basterds. Copyright 2009.

If journalism is the first draft of history, then cinema is its editor, patrolling the border of our minds between what is accurate and what is glorified and romanced. (more…)