Ancient Grains Archive
Words of Summer: (H)air Conditioning
Ancient Grains, History
Aug 19, 2013
Until the late 1920s, air was not conditioned, though it was circulated through fan blades. Thereafter, scientists developed a means for creating a cooling effect through the evaporation of chemical substances. Conditioning, or taking action to put something in a better condition, comes from a rather simple Latin word, condicere, or "to
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Knight of the Swan: A Longread
Ancient Grains, Family
Aug 16, 2013
The first time I heard about my father’s godfather was at a family dinner. We were in my grandmother’s dining room celebrating my father’s birthday. It was the usual ritual of slicing the cake with the silver triangle onto the square, flowered plates, passing each one to my grandmother to slowly scoop
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Toast Posts of Note
Ancient Grains, Meta
Aug 16, 2013
Here are our popular and notable posts. When I say "notable," I mean something David Brooks (stopped clocks, etc.) said about the New York Times Notable Books list: that these are the books the New York Times thinks you should have been reading, instead of the ones that are actually doing well.
So,
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Advice From Two Disparate Persons: Virgins, Toddlers, Chin Hairs
Advice, Ancient Grains
Aug 16, 2013
Welcome to The Toast's inaugural advice column from two disparate and imperfect persons. We are open to better names for it. Sometimes Mallory will take one, or Nicole will take one, or we'll both give it a shot. Like sleep, we will knit up the raveled sleave of care.
All right, look, I
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What Kind of Girl Do We Want?
Ancient Grains, Music
Aug 16, 2013
Just like the girl that married dear old dad
Who wears a short skirt and a long jacket
Like you
Who will laugh for no one else
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Meddling Scientists Unearth Another Passage To Hell
Ancient Grains, science
Aug 16, 2013
Previously in unfortunate scientific discoveries: the double coffin.
"Passage to Hell unearthed," they say. "Scientists discover ancient Gate to Hell. This one is definitely it. Those other gates to hell were but precursors to this gate, which is definitely the ultimate
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London’s Women-Only Pond
Ancient Grains, The Great Outdoors
Aug 16, 2013
Because of the taboo on torsal nudity, it is worse to overheat if you are a woman than if you are a man, and the last few weeks in London have been abominable. It isn’t just too hot for the British, with our reptile blood and undeveloped hearts – it is too
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Pennington’s Party Tips for the Reserved
Ancient Grains, Humor
Aug 16, 2013
PREPARING
Rest up. The same way an athlete stretches her muscles, we must prepare our faculties for partygoing. Some may prefer a dark room with no external stimuli, or a sunny quiet field. Others, a secluded shower stall where nobody can hear you crying. Others, a drink or three. I used ...Read More