Natalia Cooke, Author at OddFeed

Signs and symbols used by hobos for communication were known as the Hobo Code. The symbol on this wall indicates a 'dangerous neighborhood'. (Photo: Shutterstock/OddFeed)

The Hobo Code: The Secret System for Itinerant Workers

The Hobo Code was a series of simple drawings—not unlike emojis today—that conveyed to other hobos vital information such as whether a place was hospitable to them or not.

The Pan African Flag with its red, black, and green bands was created by the members of the Universal Negro Improvement Association founded by Marcus Garvey in 1920. (Photo: Wikimedia Commons)

The History Behind the Pan African Flag

Natalia Cooke

Over a century ago, Marcus Garvey established the Pan African Flag as a unifying symbol for Africans and those of African heritage. Today, it continues to resonate as a powerful emblem, representing solidarity and resilience across generations.

What's most mysterious about Lost Lake Oregon is that every winter it gets lost, magically turning into a meadow. (Photo: Wikimedia Commons/Oregon Department of Forestry)

Lost Lake Oregon: The Lake That Disappears in Winter

Natalia Cooke

Every winter, Lost Lake Oregon drains through a mysterious hole, the origin of which has baffled scientists for years.

The original Museum of Bad Art was located in the basement of a theater in Dedham, MA, and was protected by a fake security camera. (Photo: Museum of Bad Art Facebook page)

Museum of Bad Art: Disastrous Results of Well-intended Art

Natalia Cooke

Based on the ethos of well-intended art with disastrous results, the Museum of Bad Art contains a number of unique pieces with a cult following.

Teru teru bozu are traditional Japanese handmade dolls usually hung outside windows by string. (Photo: Wikimedia Commons/Jun OHWADA)

Teru Teru Bozu: Ghost-like Figurines from Japan

Natalia Cooke

Japanese farmers hang teru teru bōzu, small handmade dolls made of white paper or cloth, outside their windows in the hope they will bring good weather.

Tamshiyacu Tahuayo Regional Conservation Area, Iquitos, Amazon Rainforest, Peru. (Photo: Wikimedia Commons/EdwinJs)

Shanay-timpishka: Peru’s Mysterious Boiling River

Natalia Cooke

A tributary of the Amazon River, the Boiling River is the stuff of legend: the spirit of a giant serpent, Yacumama, is believed to give birth to the river’s hot waters.

Queering the Map is a community-based online collaborative mapping project created by Montreal-based Lucas LaRochelle. (Image: Queering the Map)

Queering the Map: Documenting memories, moments and experiences

Natalia Cooke

A collaborative mapping project created by Montreal-based Lucas LaRochelle, Queering the Map started as a class project, which has since grown to a shared community space for all.

Whang-od Oggay is the oldest surviving Mambabatok, an expert in the ancient art of the Kalinga Filipino tribal tattoo. (Photo: Wikimedia/Mawg64)

Whang-od and the Art of the Filipino Tribal Tattoo

Natalia Cooke

At 101, Whang-Od is the world’s oldest and last living practitioner of Kalinga, a Filipino tribal tattoo practice

The Secret is 1982 book that serves a the basis of a treasure hunt started by Byron Preiss. Twelve treasure boxes were buried at secret locations in the United States and Canada. As of November 2019, only three of the 12 boxes have been found. (Photo: Boing Boing)

The Secret Treasure Hunt of Byron Preiss

Natalia Cooke

Byron Preiss’s novel The Secret set in motion a 30-year treasure hunt for 12 treasures scattered across Canada and the U.S.—only three of which have been found