On this day in history: In 1493, Christopher Columbus, sailing near the Dominican Republic, mistakes manatees for mermaids. In 1793, Jean-Pierre Blanchard made the first successful balloon flight in the U.S. And in 1902, New York State introduced a bill to outlaw flirting in public.

Aeropress Traveling – I love my Aeropress. It is one of the most simple, and tasty, ways to make coffee on the go. It usually finds its way into my bag whenever I travel, whether that is an overnighter, or for a longer period of time. If you don’t have one, you need one. Here’s the one I have.

10 Tips To Look Smart Fast – I love to look my best. More and more, I dislike looking sloppy and shoddy, even around the house. Here are a few tips to looking your best, and in this case, smarter.

5 Common Mistakes People Make Spending Their Time – I am all about being efficient, and being productive. As a result, I have made several tweaks and changes to my daily routines that help me make the most of my time. But sometimes, it’s good to get the big picture overview. This article sums that up nicely.

Read Scripture: Ecclesiastes – One of the books we tend to skip over, if inadvertently, is the book of Ecclesiastes. But this short book in the middle of the Old Testament is full of practical wisdom and sage advice for our lives, even today in the twenty-first century!

Christmas is right around the corner. And if you are like me, there are some people in your life who are hard to shop for. This edition of Coffee Break is dedicate to gathering and listing some great shopping lists, all in one place. Some of these links are curated lists from other blogs and sources, some are my own recommendations. Hopefully, you’ll find it helpful as you shop for those you love. As more lists become available, you’ll find them updated here.

Gifts For Men – These links are all on sites that are designed for men. However, there is also a great guide to selecting the right stocking stuffer for the woman in your life.

The Art Of Manliness Store
The Art Of Manliness – Gifts Under $50
The Art Of Manliness – Guide To Stocking Stuffers for Women
The Gentlemen Stationer – Holiday Gift Guide
Gentleman’s Gazette – Holiday Gift Guide

Gadgets – A pretty comprehensive gift guide can be found at The Verge. Not all of the items on this list are recommended, however, there are a few that I found interesting.

Coffee – No list would be complete without items pertaining to coffee. Of course, I always recommend the Hario V60, the Chemex, a great French Press, and the Aeropress.

Coffee Brew Guides – Black Friday & Cyber Monday Deals (Some of these are still great deals)
Coffee Brew Guides – Holiday Gift Guide
Coffee Compass – Holiday Gift Guide

On this day in history: In 1783, the first successful flight was made in a hot air balloon. The pilots, Francois Pilatre de Rosier and Francois Laurent, Marquis d’Arlandes, flew for 25 minutes and 5½ miles over Paris. In 1871, M. F. Galethe patented the cigar lighter. And in 1877, Thomas A. Edison announced the invention of his phonograph.

Three Coffee Podcasts You Need In Your Life – If you listen to podcasts, then you need to listen to these. The first on the list will give some great input in using your Chemex, or Hario V60, or even an Aeropress.

The Parker Vacumatic – If you know me, you know that I love vintage fountain pens, and in particular, vintage Parker Vacumatics. This article on The Pen Addict sums up the Parker Vac nicely.

Terraforming: A New Life With Plants Inhaled Into Marble And Concrete – This is simply beautiful!

The Secret Anti-Counterfeit Symbol – Did you know that there is a feature to legal currency that makes it impossible to copy it on a photocopier? After watching this, I had to try. It’s true. The video will explain it all.

On this day in history: In 1832, the first streetcar went into operation in New York City. The vehicle was horse-drawn and had room for 30 people. In 1851, Herman Melville’s novel Moby Dick was first published in the US. And in 1969, Apollo 12, the second manned mission to the moon, blasted off from Cape Kennedy, FL, with President Richard Nixon in attendance.

Coffee Bean Storage For Dummies – The biggest mistake most coffee drinkers make is storing their beans wrong. A fresh cup of coffee in my Chemex or Hario V60 needs the freshest beans in order to taste great. Here are a few tips to keep in mind.

Old Fashioned Insults – There are a few on this list that I may have to begin using. If I didn’t, I’d be all hat and no cattle.

Men And Women Have Grown Taller Over The Last Century – Have you ever looked at an exceptionally tall person, and wondered how they go to be so tall? It seems as if such height is seen more and more. One study shows that it is becoming more frequent, and gives some international and inter-ethnic statistics to show where it’s happening the most.

Why Do Old Books Smell So Good? – You know the smell. But do you know why it occurs, and why you like it so much?

On this day in history: In 1860, Abraham Lincoln was elected to be the sixteenth president of the United States, while in 1861, Jefferson Davis was elected as the president of the Confederacy. In 1894, William C. Hooker received a patent for the mousetrap. And in 1923, Jacob Schick was granted a patent for the electric shaver.

Buying A French Press – Many people like to make their coffee using a French Press. I prefer a pourover, such as the Hario V60 or the Chemex. But if you are in the market for a press, make sure you get the best one you can. Here’s a quick guide to picking the right one. I have this one.

What The Oregon Trail Looks Like Today From Above – Did you know that you can still see portions of the Oregon Trail? After almost 200 years, the ruts left by the thousands of wagon trains are still visible, especially from the air. This is simply amazing!

How Do Hummingbirds Fly Without Crashing? – Hummingbirds are amazing creatures, and their ability to make split-second decisions while flying is simply amazing. These little birds are one of God’s most amazing creations!

Fall Leaves Of Colorado – I love the fall. And I love Colorado. I especially love fall in Colorado. Enjoy this footage of some spectacular fall foliage. You’ll need to watch it in full screen mode and turn up the music. It’s worth it.

On this day in history: In 1836, Alonzo D. Phillips received a patent for the phosphorous friction safety match. In 1901, a 63-year-old schoolteacher named Annie Edson Taylor becomes the first person to take the plunge over Niagara Falls in a barrel. And in 1939, nylon stockings were sold to the public for the first time in Wilmington, DE.

The Barista: Not Just A Job Anymore – One of the best opportunities for social interaction is coffee. And there are people who have set aside other career opportunities to pursue this industry. And the results are very interesting. It will be intriguing to see where this trend leads.

Genie, The Feral Child – This is both fascinating and very disheartening. The fact that this girl lived like this for any amount of time at all is not good at all. And it reinforces the fact that we are broken people, in need of a Savior.

The Sound So Loud It Circled The Earth Four Times – Have you ever wondered what the loudest sound on earth could possibly be? Over a hundred years ago, a volcano erupted and what resulted is truly mind boggling.

Does Grammar Matter? – I have become more and more a fan of the TED Talks. These brief bits of education are often very enlightening, and you can find just about every topic covered. This one is on grammar, and why it matters.

On this day in history: In 1888, the first issue of National Geographic Magazine was released at newsstands. In 1931, Al Capone was convicted on income tax evasion and was sentenced to 11 years in prison. He was released in 1939. And in 1933, News-Week appeared for the first time at newsstands. The name was later changed to Newsweek.

Some Observations On Hand Pours – If you know me at all, you know my preferred method of making coffee is with a pourover, such as the Hario V60 or the Chemex. In my opinion, there is no better way to brew a cup of coffee, and pourovers draw the most flavors out of the coffee beans. I stumbled across this article via a Facebook page the other day, and it has some very interesting thoughts and observations. I’m not certain I agree with all of them, but they are very interesting to think about.

Four Tie Knots Every Man Needs To Know – If you wear a tie, you need to know how to tie it. But most people don’t seem to know that there is more than one way to tie a tie. Here are four basic knots every man should know and use.

The World’s Largest Model Railroad – As a kid, one of my grandfathers introduced me to model railroading. He was hooked, and I was fascinated. One of these days, it is a hobby I wouldn’t mind pursuing more, but space and time are limited. In the meantime, I can live vicariously through the work of others, like this article about the world’s largest setup. Simply incredible!

Making Medieval Manuscripts – As a fan of books, I found this video to be extremely interesting. The amount of work that went into something I tend to take for granted is overwhelming.