On this day in history: In 1684, a patent was granted for the thimble. In 1859, ground was broken to begin the Suez Canal in Egypt. In 1901, New York became the first state to require license plates for cars. The fee was $1. And in 1928, a seeing eye dog was used for the first time.

Handcrafted Espresso – Hungarian coffee cinematographers Kavekalmar have made a beautiful video about making espresso. These guys have made other videos that are pretty incredible. This one is no different. Enjoy.

Barnacle Geese Jump Off A Cliff – Nesting on cliff faces to protect their young from predators, barnacle gees have one of the toughest survival strategies of all. This link leads to a video that shows this crazy phenomenon.

Heat Sensitive Mug Displaying The Northern Lights – This is just one of those things that needs to be shared. Simply because it’s awesome. I think I want one of these for my office…

A Map Geek’s Tour Of The World – We live in a strange world. This brief video shows just how the world is interconnected in ways that we don’t usually realize. It’s very fascinating to know some of the facts highlighted here.

On this day in history: In 1775, American revolutionaries Paul Revere, William Dawes and Samuel Prescott rode though the towns of Massachusetts giving the warning that the Regulars were coming out. Later, the phrase “the British are coming” was attributed to Revere even though it is unlikely he used that wording. In 1906, San Francisco, CA, was hit with an earthquake. The original death toll was cited at about 700. Later information indicated that the death toll may have been 3 to 4 times the original estimate. And in 1924, Simon and Schuster, Inc. published the first “Crossword Puzzle Book.”

The Chemistry Of The Perfect Cup Of Coffee – While Mental Floss is hardly the authority for finding the perfect cup of coffee, this video that they share does give some insights into the chemistry reactions that help make coffee, well, coffee.

Portable Pencil Sharpeners – As a pencil fanatic, having the right pencil sharpener is critical. But having one small enough to toss in a bag when you head out is also important. Joe Thorn reviews several different options, and his thoughts are spot on. Here are the two I carry with me and keep on my desk.

Photos From Inside A Captured WWI German U-Boat – This was the beginning stages of underwater warfare, and it was not easy. Modern submarines are much easier to live within compared to this. Crazy!

Frozen Soap Bubbles – Who knew that this could be so beautiful? It’s really rather mesmerizing to watch the frost crystals form.

On this day in history: In 1876, the stenotype was patented by John C. Zachos. In 1901, construction on the Empire State Building was completed. The building was dedicated and opened on May 1, 1931. And in 1970, Apollo 13 blasted off on a mission to the moon that was disrupted when an explosion crippled the spacecraft. The astronauts did return safely.

Lightness and Darkness in Roasting – Here is an in depth look at the light/dark roasting debate from someone inside the roasting community. Very interesting.

18 Magnificent Lighthouses – When we went to Maine a few years ago, I was fascinated by the few lighthouses we managed to see. I would like to go visit several of the ones on this list as well.

Your Last Pencil Roll – A couple of weeks ago, I linked to Joe Thorn’s article that detailed several different pencil rolls. It seems he has found one he like more than any other. And it looks incredible!

The (Unfortunate) Tale Of The 1850 Double Eagle – As one who collects coins, this made my stomach turn. What a shame. What a loss.

On this day in history: In 1818, a plan was passed by the U.S. Congress that the U.S. flag would have 13 red and white stripes and 20 stars and that a new star would be added for the each new state. In 1968, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is fatally shot while standing on the balcony outside his second-story room in Memphis, Tennessee. And in 1974, Hank Aaron tied Babe Ruth’s major league baseball home-run record with 714.

The Rafino – Coffee grinders have largely stayed the same over the years. There have been a few innovations, and they are great additions that help you keep your coffee grind consistent. The Rafino is a coffee refining system that delivers the most consistent grind with micron level precision. I’m seriously considering backing this on Kickstarter.

Government Reverses Its Course on Highway Fonts – Most people probably would never notice this change, but I found it fascinating.

A Quiz : The Letter G – The Good Book Company has been releasing a few quizzes such as this. These are fun and show that you probably know more about the Bible than you think you do.

How We Got To Third Wave Coffee – The term “third wave coffee” may be something you are unfamiliar with, but should be something you know. This is currently the best coffee available. And before you start thinking it’s to “pricey,” look into it. It’s not as expensive as many assume it to be.

On this day in history: In 1797, Nathaniel Briggs patented a washing machine. In 1865, outdoor advertising legislation was enacted in New York. The law banned “painting on stones, rocks and trees.” And in 1979, a major accident occurred at Pennsylvania’s Three Mile Island nuclear power plant. A nuclear power reactor overheated and suffered a partial meltdown.

A Coffee Variety Family Tree – This would look so good framed and hung on my office wall! I may have to think that over and see where it might hang…

Pencil Rolls – I love pencils, especially Blackwings. I have a Twist Bullet Pencil that I carry daily in my pocket. But how to carry several other pencils, that is the question. Joe Thorn looks at some of the best options.

30 Totally Random Life Hacks – There are some great suggestions here. 2, 21, 22, and 31 are my favorites.

Exhale – I have been captivated recently by timelapse videos of nature and scenic shots. This is the most recent find. It’s well worth watching in full screen and full volume.

On this day in history: In 1851, Yosemite Valley was discovered in California. In 1871, journalist Henry Morton Stanley begins his famous search through Africa for the missing British explorer Dr. David Livingstone. And in 1963, Alcatraz Prison in San Francisco Bay closes down and transfers its last prisoners.

A Coffee Spoof Video – Some people accuse me of taking my coffee seriously, very seriously. But I’m not like this guy. No way. I’m not. At all…

Planet Earth 2 – I love the video series that BBC released a few years ago called Planet Earth, as well as Blue Planet, which is about the oceans.. The images and footage they captured are stunning. And now they are making a second series, featuring the hypnotic voice of Sir David Attenborough. I can’t wait!

A Map Of The Whole Universe – This is a map of the known universe, showing the entire thing in one disc shaped image. Granted, it is difficult to display something that exists in three dimensions at this size in a two dimensional image, but here is a good attempt. And just ignore the evolutionary big bang language.

An Airplane Made Of Paper – As a kid, I made tons of paper airplanes. I could make a dozen different varieties, and all of them would fly well, more or less. Singapore Airlines also builds paper airplanes. This video shows how detailed they are.

On this day in history: Today is Pi Day! Pi, in its simplest form is 3.14, and since today is 3/14, there you go. Also on this day, in 1794, Eli Whitney received a patent for his cotton gin. And in 1879, Albert Einstein was born, the son of a Jewish electrical engineer in Ulm, Germany. Today also would have been my own father’s 70th birthday. Happy Birthday Dad!

Stovetop Espresso Brewing Tutorial – One of the most interesting ways to brew coffee is using the Moka Pot, sold under the name Bialetti. Although used more in Europe, especially Italy, this is still a method that can make great coffee, if you know what you’re doing.

How 43 Giant, Decaying Presidential Heads Ended Up In A Virginia Field – “In Croaker, Virginia stands a sight that would make just about anyone stop in their tracks. 43 ghostly effigies of presidents past crowd together in the tall grass.” I want to see this.

3 Best Beginner Fountain Pen Kits – As one who loves fountain pens, especially vintage Parker Vacumatics, I am always on the lookout for great deals on pens. Ed Jelly has put together a few kits, with prices, that can help beginners know what to buy.

Yosemite Natural Firefall – This world has so many beautiful locations. I happen to live in one of them, the Ozark region of southern Missouri, and I am thankful for that every single day. Another such place is Yosemite National Park, and one day, I will visit there. Until then, videos such as this one will have to be sufficient. Watch it in full screen with the volume up.