Trees are Migrating West
From Nation, For Nation - Pulse of the Nation
Spending a Night at the Haunted Pennhurst Asylum
Up Close & Peculiar With a Cannibal Trophy Skull, This human skull was once worn as jewelry.
Headhunting as a Sacred Ritual
For the Dayak people, headhunting wasn’t violence for violence’s sake. It was believed that taking an enemy’s head transferred their spirit, strength, and wisdom to the victor. The skulls of defeated enemies were thought to protect the village, ensure fertile crops, and even bring in a bountiful rice harvest.
Claiming a head meant claiming power. Warriors who succeeded in battle were seen as protectors-strong, brave, and spiritually fortified.
A Symbol of Strength and Identity
Trophy skulls were highly cherished. Often preserved in bark boxes, these skulls were displayed in homes, worn in ceremonies, and even brought into future battles as talismans of strength and intimidation.
Headhunting was considered a “blood credit,” or a way to avenge a death within the tribe. It was so woven into Dayak identity that a warrior’s dowry could even include a human head, proving his ability to defend and provide for a family.
Visit This Spine-Chilling Relic in Niagara Falls
Come face-to-skull with this extraordinary relic at Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Niagara Falls. →
From Globe, For Globe - Pulse of the Planet
Ah, pound cake. A staple at picnics and family gatherings, this cake is as tasty as it is simple. Every seasoned baker has a pound cake recipe etched into their memory, as this dessert only requires the most basic of ingredients: flour, eggs, sugar, butter, and salt. Sure, there have been some variants over time, but the standard recipe for pound cake has not changed since it was created in 1747!
Tastiness aside, how did this classic cake earn its name? Did it cost a pound to make back in 1747? Did the final baked treat weigh a full pound? Nope, the name’s true origin is a bit more simple and calorie-packed.
The Origins
According to the first known recipe for the pound cake in Hannah Glasse’s The Art of Cookery Made Plain and Easy, the cake required exactly one pound of the aforementioned ingredients: one pound of flour, one pound of eggs, one pound of sugar, and one pound of butter and salt.
Why Simplicity is Key
If you think about the context of the 18th century, though, the recipe made total sense. Unless you were a member of the aristocracy, there was a strong chance that you could not read or write.
A recipe requiring exactly one pound of each ingredient made for one that’s easy to remember and bake at the drop of a hat. It also meant that you could easily halve the recipe if you didn’t feel like baking a massive cake for just your immediate family.
A Fan Favorite
The 1:1:1:1 recipe portions were extremely popular in Britain, the pound cake’s country of origin, and soon that popularity would quickly make its way to the colonies.
American Cooking by Amelia Simmons was the first cookbook published by an American, and it contained a recipe for the baked British export.
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