The definitive collection of San Francisco's odd, wacky, and most offbeat people, places, and things, for San Francisco residents and anyone else who enjoys local humor and trivia with a twist.

Beginning in the 1920s anthropologists, traders, and other admirers of traditional Native American cultures--appalled by the degradation of fine crafts into tourist trinkets--began cultivating a fine-arts market for indigenous textiles, jewelry, ceramics, and basketry. In More Than Curiosities, Susan Labry Meyn explores how this grassroots revival led to the founding of the Indian Arts and Crafts Board in 1935. Meyn demonstrates how the Board and its activities--such as development and marketing of quality arts and crafts, targeted loan programs, and the creation of artisans' cooperatives--not only aided in the development of a source of sustained income for Native artists, but also were pivotal in overcoming the larger Euro-American indifference toward Native culture. Under the leadership of René d'Harnoncourt, the Board facilitated cross-cultural understanding and provided the mechanisms that allowed Native American artists to revive traditional practices and adapt them to an Anglo market. Meyn's novel study will become an invaluable contribution to scholars of the period, artists, and anyone interested in Native American studies.

From Afghanistan to Zimbabwe: everything you never knew you never knew about every country on Earth.A scientist by training and an explorer by passion, Dr. John Oldale has logged half a million miles visiting more than ninety nations. Now, he celebrates our weird and wonderful world in a cornucopia of fascinating facts brought vividly to life through the unexpected stories behind them. Touching on history, travel, politics, natural history and more, he paints a unique portrait of each country from the mightiest to the most miniscule. You won't find the following in your average travel guide: · Why is kissing on trains banned in France? · In what country are litigants expected to present their case at court in the form of a poem? · Which war did women win in 1929 just by sitting down? · If Panama hats aren’t from Panama, where are they from? · Who eat fresh camel dung as a cure for dysentery (and why does it work)? · Why were US disk jockeys once told they could play birthday requests on any day except the one requested? · Which modern dictator banned old age, libraries and gold teeth, and was later replaced by his dentist? · And 2,000 more funny, trivial, poignant, and telling facts A must for active and armchair globe-trotters alike, A World of Curiosities will engross anyone who is at all curious about the world beyond their door. Explore and enjoy.

Your round-trip ticket to the wildest, wackiest, most outrageous people, places, and things the Emerald City has to offer!

Peter Lund Simmonds, an outstanding 19th-century author, affords a tasty exploration of world gastronomy in his masterful work, "The Curiosities of Food: Or, The Dainties and Delicacies of Different Nations Obtained from the Animal Kingdom." Simmonds, an English author and agriculturalist, invites readers on a charming journey via the various culinary landscapes of diverse cultures. In this illuminating tome, the subtitle, "Or The Dainties And Delicacies Of Different Nations Obtained From The Animal Kingdom," guidelines at the focal point at the animal state as a wealthy supply of culinary treasures. Simmonds delves into the abnormal and distinct ingredients loved by using exclusive societies, weaving together a story that combines history, lifestyle, and gastronomy. With a keen eye for detail, Simmonds in all likelihood explores the cultural significance of diverse dishes, dropping light at the numerous techniques of acquiring sustenance from the animal country. From time-honored traditions to innovative culinary practices, the book is probable a treasure trove of statistics at the methods in which exceptional nations have harnessed the bounty of nature for his or her gastronomic delights.

The definitive collection of Nevada's odd, wacky, and most offbeat people, places, and things, for Nevada residents and anyone else who enjoys local humor and trivia with a twist.