In the 1800s, across the harsh, windswept plains of Texas, the carcasses of millions of buffalo lay scattered — victims of mass slaughter that had brought the native peoples’ sacred animal to the brink of extinction. Most white folks saw the buffalo (aka bison) as a relic of a dying past. But Mary Ann (“Molly”) Goodnight saw them differently. In 1876, among the carnage of … [Read more...]

 When Chinese businessman Jack Ma was a boy, he rode 17 miles on his bicycle each day for nine years to work as a tour guide for foreigners. The goal – to practice his English – eventually paid off. But this determined young man faced other challenges. Jack Ma (born Ma Yun), struggled academically, and it took him two years to gain acceptance to an ordinary Chinese high school, … [Read more...]

When was the last time you used a pay phone? For younger folks, the answer may be never. In many places, these analog throwbacks no longer exist. Or, they’ve been creatively repurposed into fish-filled aquariums, as in Japan. But one rural Vermonter decided to bring them back as a public service project. “I realized, wow, there’s no cell service for 10 miles in either … [Read more...]

Auto, a six-year-old boy from Thailand who was dying of cancer, was granted his last wish not long ago — to see Moo Deng, the young pygmy hippo who’s become an Internet darling. When the Khao Kheow Open Zoo just south of Bangkok heard about Auto’s wish, they invited him for a visit. As if sensing the boy’s need, Moo Deng, who usually sleeps in the water, remained on land that … [Read more...]

In 1904, stenographer Elizabeth Magie was granted a patent for her creation, The Landlord’s Game. A big hit with her friends in Maryland, Magie’s circular board game featured properties for sale and a ‘Go to Jail’ space, much like its later, more famous iteration – Monopoly. But Magie’s version had a much different purpose. She created it as a teaching tool to show the dangers … [Read more...]