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Picture yourself in Britain in the spring of 1957. You are sitting in your comfiest chair, nestled in to watch "Panorama" on the BBC starring the trustworthy Richard Dimbleby. The BBC calls this show an "investigative documentary series revealing the truth about stories that matter." If you hear something here, it must be gospel. The video shows a collection of budding trees as Dimbleby welcomes viewers to Ticino, a region in Switzerland along the Italian border. Apparently, this region is experiencing an early spring on the heels of a remarkably warm winter, which has "resulted in an exceptionally heavy spaghetti crop." Wait. What?

When it comes to seeking culinary wisdom, home cooks tend to gravitate towards the gastronomical gurus, otherwise known as "celebrity chefs." It is important to note, however, that they, alone, do not hold all the answers to your cooking queries. Sometimes, sage kitchen advice springs forth from the mouths of unexpected sources. Like comedians and late night television hosts. 

The human toe is an oftentimes overlooked part of the human anatomy. Sure, we have a children's rhyme that compares these appendages to little piggies and new moms marvel at their baby's ten perfect toes. And while folks line up for pedicures when sandal season arrives, for the most part, these humble digits find themselves ignored. It's a shame too, as your toes are really quite fascinating. Medical science enables surgeons to replace lost thumbs with big toes (via The Atlantic); some use these digits in toe-wrestling, an actual sport with a World Championship and all (per CBC); and artists who are born without arms can paint masterpieces using their toes (via Smithsonian Magazine). Also, dismembered toes make a noteworthy addition to an ordinary cocktail. Insert jaw-drop.

If you've ever imagined yourself appearing on a prime-time reality television show, it's likely that you have also envisioned yourself spending your downtime in the lap of luxury. Whether you had images of a posh hotel room or an upscale apartment dancing in your head, the daydream you painted for yourself was a glamorous one. What is it really like when the lights go down and the cameras stop rolling? Do reality TV show contestants get to rest their weary heads in style? 

While Frasier and Niles Crane belong to a wine club that grants them access to a highly learned group of wine experts, for most, wine drinking is a comparatively casual affair. Generally, you won't see anyone letting their vino "breathe." No one takes a sip and spits it out. And few know the proper way to hold their glass. 

If, however, you admire the Crane brothers' ability to debate perfect wine pairings and toss around words like cuvée, demi-sec, and noble rot — don't fret. You, too, can become an accomplished oenophile.

 For some people, Jerry Seinfeld's character on Seinfeld seems like top-notch dating material. He's witty, exceptionally tidy, and he rarely seems to be short on cash. He's dated a large collection of attractive and highly successful women including a supermodel, a doctor, Bette Midler's understudy, and a virgin who went on to date John F. Kennedy Jr. 

With so many clever lines, outrageously funny scenes, and memorable moments, it's nearly impossible for a Seinfeld fan to choose just a few of their favorite episodes. Is it the one with Jerry's puffy shirt, George's prescription swim goggles, Kramer's Mary Hart-inspired seizures, or another much-loved creation of Seinfeld's witty writing team?

 If you know all the words to Ernie’s Rubber Duckie song, can speak “ubbi dubbi”(the secret language of Zoom), or count yourself among Mister Rogers’s neighbors, you were part of the children’s television revolution. In Sunny Days, a fascinating new release from author David Kamp, we learn the remarkable history of a group of television pioneers who sought to create educational content for underprivileged children — and in doing so, inspired millions across the country. 

It’s almost time for work and you don’t have a clue what to wear. You’ve plowed through heaps of sweaters, knocked several blouses off their hangers, and have a pile of pants accumulating on your bed. And the clock is ticking.

We’ve all been there—buried in a monstrous mountain of clothing...

Entering your local Starbucks is much like crossing the mighty threshold of the pantheon to the coffee gods. And, inside this world wonder, lurks the famed barista–a highly skilled maven of java who, at a feverish pace, manages to transform the mere coffee bean into a glorious grande of Utopian nectar...

 If you have wandered down the pasta aisle at your local grocery store lately, you have likely noticed some significant changes. White noodles are having to give up some of their "elbow" room--sorry for the pun--to make way for the healthier varieties that our nutrition-conscious society demands...

 The great thing about creating an alien is that no one has a clue as to what one actually looks like – except, perhaps, for a few Government employees in the Nevada Desert, but that’s a whole other story. For the most part, writers and animators have the pleasure of starting with a blank slate. 

 There are some rites of passage that are unavoidable—the first time someone calls you "Ma'am" instead of "Miss," the realization that sitting on the floor is no longer a comfortable option, and that moment when you discover that your gray hairs are starting to outnumber their non-gray brethren...

Imagine having your store stocked with exactly the right products that your customers desire in the precise quantities that they wish to buy. You are completely unburdened by slow sellers. Your website contains all the right keywords. And drastic markdowns are a thing of yesteryear. Unless you are a master psychic or you have access to each of your customers’ personal shopping lists, achieving this degree of inventory perfection seems like an impossibility. 

Meet Brant Pethick—an Ottawa born and bred musician with a flair for inspirational lyrics, a guitar-driven sound, and catchy melodies that you’ll find yourself humming hours later...

 If you long to be at one with nature, but don't wish to sacrifice the first class amenities of the civilized world, a luxury fly fishing vacation in Canada's north may be your ideal getaway...

 You announce your plans to become a web designer, expecting a barrage of congratulatory back patting, bear hugging, and reassurances that you are going to be the best in the business. Instead, your announcement sparks a cartoon-like silence—with cricket noises and all—followed by spirit-dampening advice like “make sure you have something to fall back on...” 

What if your roof could do more than just protect you from precipitation, strange insects, and mammalian invaders? What if it could actually earn you money? Thanks to the increasingly popular solar-powered shingle, you can watch your electricity bill shrink and your bank account balance blossom... 

If shag carpeting, Spirograph, and Farrah Fawcett’s feathery hairdo played a role in your childhood, you likely also encountered a Stretch Armstrong or two. Yes, nothing proved more enjoyable than grabbing an arm belonging to this gel-filled, muscle-bound action figure with perpetually clenched fists and pulling with all your might. While his severely stretched arms gave 1970s’ youths something to laugh at, Stretch Armstrong, himself, likely loathed being pulled in two directions. The victim of a human tug-of-war..

 “I aspire to work for a mediocre company where I can, at the very least, tolerate my job.” Very few people actually start out their careers with this goal in mind, but many wind up doing exactly that–enduring day after day of dissatisfying drudgery for an employer that they feel no connection with or loyalty to. But things are changing. Today’s increasingly skilled workforce is no longer satisfied with job security and a paycheck. They want more from their careers. And much more from their employers...

 1937 seems like a long time ago--seven and a half decades to be exact. After that long on earth, most of us start to show signs of wear and tear... 

Stone tablets, cave drawings, and ancient scrolls are all we have left of many of the civilizations that came before us.  Through these rudimentary mediums, our ancestors are able to speak directly to us–sharing their knowledge, their values, and details about their everyday lives. But not all tablets, pictographs, and scrolls survived. And each one that has been lost equates to information that we will never know...