Ragsdale and Company

07/09/2025

Toggle navigation 2025 City of Oklahoma City Resident Survey Caution: JavaScript ex*****on is disabled in your browser or for this website. You may not be able to answer all questions in this survey. Please, verify your browser parameters. Perception of the City idbkp 190 190 IPGL Location data from...

07/09/2025

Deborah Donovan-Navarro

Why do old books smell so good? The secret is in their pages—a hidden chemistry that turns wood into a subtle vanilla scent. 📚

Many people enjoy that distinct smell you find in an old library or a used bookstore.

That aroma isn't just dust or age. It actually comes from the slow chemical decay of the paper itself.

Paper made from wood pulp contains a natural substance called lignin. Over many decades, this lignin begins to break down.

As it degrades, it releases a variety of different chemicals into the air, which we detect as a unique smell.

One of these chemicals is vanillin. This is the very same compound that gives vanilla its familiar and pleasant fragrance. 👃

So when you smell an old book, part of what you're smelling is a natural vanilla scent that took decades to form.

Modern books often don't have this smell because newer papermaking processes remove most of the lignin, but the classic scent lives on in older volumes. 📜

Sources: Protein Data Bank in Europe, Science History Institute, Compound Interest

07/09/2025

After spending 20 years fighting in the Trojan War and struggling through a long journey home, Odysseus finally returns to Ithaca—disguised as a beggar. He wants to quietly observe the changes in his home and see who stayed loyal. While no one recognizes him, one old friend does: his faithful dog, Argos.

Once a strong hunting dog, Argos is now weak, sick, and lying forgotten on a pile of manure. But the moment he sees Odysseus, he recognizes his master right away. His tail wags gently in joy, showing his loyalty even in his final moments. Odysseus is deeply moved but stays silent, afraid to reveal who he really is too soon.

Moments later, Argos peacefully passes away, having waited years just to see his beloved master one last time. His story stands as a timeless symbol of loyalty, love, and quiet sacrifice.

07/09/2025

Spring Hill, KS. Urgent rescue needed.

07/09/2025

In a time when the French thought potatoes were only for pigs, Antoine-Augustin Parmentier had a plan to make them crave the vegetable.

Parmentier was a French pharmacist and army veteran who got a taste for potatoes in an unusual way.

During the Seven Years' War, he was captured by the Prussians and spent time as a prisoner. His main rations consisted of potatoes.

At the time, the French believed potatoes caused disease and even banned them in 1748. But Parmentier learned firsthand that they were not only safe, but also nutritious.

After the war, he devoted himself to convincing his country to eat potatoes. He used science to get the ban lifted in 1772, but the public was still skeptical.

So he tried a clever trick. He planted a large potato patch on the edge of Paris and had it patrolled by armed guards during the day. 🥔

This created a buzz. People assumed that any crop needing that much protection must be very valuable and probably reserved for royalty.

But the guards were under secret orders to accept bribes from anyone wanting to sneak in and 'steal' the potatoes at night. And they did. 👨‍🔬

The plan worked perfectly. The desire for the 'stolen' potatoes spread, and the humble crop eventually became a staple food in France, helping to prevent future famines.

Sources: Farmers Almanac, Cook'n With Class

07/09/2025

Mark Bustos, a full-time stylist at a high-end salon where haircuts start at $150, dedicates his only day off, Sundays, to a remarkable act of kindness. He walks the streets of New York City, offering free haircuts to individuals experiencing homelessness. This initiative provides not just a fresh look, but also dignity and a moment of connection to those often overlooked.

07/09/2025

In 1964, a group of high schoolers ditched class hoping to see The Beatles live. They never made it into the concert—but something even crazier happened. While driving, Ringo Starr pulled up next to them and snapped a photo. When they told their friends, no one believed them.

Fast forward 50 years—Ringo releases a book of his personal photographs. And there they were, captured in that unforgettable moment. The group reunited decades later to recreate the shot—this time, with a story no one could deny.

07/09/2025

07/09/2025