Inflation-busters for the creative — I’m not sure if you’ve noticed, but things are getting expensive around here. The only things that haven’t gone up are our salaries, leaving many of us needing to haul in some extra cash, pronto. That’s where I come in with my handy-dandy untried and untested tips that’ll make one…

Origins of the first song ever played on MTV — At 12:01 am on 1 August 1981, “Video Killed the Radio Star” by The Buggles became the first music video aired on MTV. The English new wave band, The Buggles, released “Video Killed the Radio Star” in June 1979. The song went on to become a 1980s anthem. However, did…

No, Canada is not America’s hat — My friend once saw a tee shirt that said “Canada — America’s hat”. While I chuckled, it got me thinking. People make lots of silly assumptions about different parts of the world. Like that a certain dictatoring Russian president is made of fries, cheese and gravy.

An Appalachian retelling of David Copperfield — It’s only March but I can already tell you that Barbara Kingsolver’s Demon Copperhead is one of the best books I’ll read this year. Like Charles Dickens’ David Copperfield, Demon Copperhead tells the tale of a young boy growing up in poverty. …

Big hair, big ambitions, and the Big Day Out — As a Gen Xer, I love a bit of nostalgia so I was super excited to see the “17 Question High School Days” challenge doing the rounds. A friend once told me I’m stuck in the 90s, to which I replied “whatever”. Thanks to Lu Skerdoo for starting this fun…

From vaudeville to rock ’n’ roll — In 1926, a sweet little vaudeville number named “Baby Face” was recorded for the first time. It was performed by Jan Garber and his orchestra, with a vocal refrain by Benny Davis. Songwriter Harry Akst wrote the music, and Davis wrote the lyrics. “Baby Face” became a performance standard, recording…

A jazz standard and a doo-wop hit — In 1936, American songwriter, violinist, and pianist Billy Hill wrote a tune called “The Glory of Love.” That same year, Benny Goodman and his orchestra produced the first recording of the song, with vocals performed by Helen Ward. The version of “The Glory of Love” I’m most familiar with is…

Is the 74-year mystery of the Somerton Man finally solved? — In December 1948, the body of a man was found on Somerton Beach, South Australia. He was well-dressed and in good physical condition. But his identity was a mystery. Until now. During the Cold War, people assumed that an unidentified, well-presented and physically fit man must surely be a spy…

For lovers of history, poetry and the absurd — Henry’s brother died, So Henry married his wife, Then he divorced her. Henry wants a son, It plagues him and his wives’ heads, Then Henry’s son dies. From two rooms away, Henry the VIII’s sore leg smells, Adieu, many heads. Nine years old and king, Edward’s uncles rule for him, …