On this day in history: In 322 BC, Aristotle, the Greek philosopher, died. In 1876, Alexander Graham Bell received a patent (U.S. Patent No. 174,465) for his telephone. And in 1933, the board game Monopoly was invented.

The Story Of The Bialetti Moka Express – The Italians have long been known for making coffee. And the stove top Moka Express has long been a staple of coffee making for the last half century. Here is the story behind it.

How To Restore A Vintage Pocket Knife – I love traditional style slipjoint pocket knives. I have a pretty good collection of them, and am always on the lookout for more. Often the best places to find these are flea markets and antique stores. But they may need a good cleaning and restoration. Here’s how.

Mapping The X-Files – The truth is out there. And now so is a map of all the locations the X-Files took place. This is a pretty cool concept, but not the only one out there. Here is another.

Finland – Last week, I posted a video about the wilds of Scotland. This week, enjoy this beautiful timelapse of Finland.

On this day in history: In 1288, Scotland established this day as one when a woman could propose marriage to a man. In the event that he refused the proposal he was required to pay a fine. In 1860, the first electric tabulating machine was invented by Herman Hollerith. And in 2004, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King won 11 Oscars.

The New Sensory Lexicon And Coffee Taster’s Flavor Wheel – The flavor wheel that most coffee roasters and drinkers refer to is almost twenty years old and has needed an update for a while. Finally, the SCAA has done so. This would make a great piece of art for the wall, don’t you think?

How To Collect And Buy Vintage Fountain Pens – One of my most favorite hobbies revolves around vintage analog writing instruments, such as old pencils, typewriters, and fountain pens. Of them all, the pen is my favorite. I collect several varieties, but my absolute favorite is the Parker Vacumatic.

Winter White – A recent winter storm covered much of the Midwest and the East Coast with snow. The Boston Globe has put together a great collection of beautiful photos from around the world. I especially liked 15, 16, and 34.

Wild Scotland – I have always wanted to visit the islands of the North Atlantic, including Iceland, Scotland, Wales, and England. This video is stunning in its portrayed beauty of Scotland. It’s best to watch if full screen, in HD, and with the volume up.

On this day in history: In 1819, the U.S. acquires Spanish Florida, which had been held by Spain since 1565. In 1879, in Utica, NY, Frank W. Woolworth opened his first 5 and 10-cent store. And in 1885, the Washington Monument was officially dedicated in Washington, DC. It opened to the public in 1889.

How Water Quality Affects Coffee Taste – The statement is true: Your coffee is only as good as your water. Here is a pretty good explanation of that.

Rock ‘N’ Roll Neighborhood – As a fan of classic rock, I found this pretty amusing. Go ahead and laugh.

Books Vs. eBooks – In the never-ending debate about which format is better, here is an interesting perspective from Michael Hyatt. It seems as if he has switched sides in this discussion.

The Harmony Of Fall – It’s winter, and a dull winter it is around here. So here are a few fall colors to brighten things up.

On this day in history: In 1758, mustard was advertised for the first time in America. In 1764, the city of St. Louis was established. And in 1903, the first Teddy Bear goes on sale, named after President Theodore Roosevelt.

The Best Websites For Coffee Education – I have learned much of what I know from those who have learned it before and chose to share it with others. This list is a pretty good start to learning about coffee.

25 Facts About Missouri – This is my home state, and there are many unique things about it. Here is a list of several that most Missourians know, but others may not.

Relatively Recent Timeline Of History – I found this pretty interesting. And the more I looked at it, the more I found that intrigued me.

How To Calm A Crying Baby – With seven kids, we have tried several ways to comfort them when they cried. This method seems to be very effective. I wish we had seen this before.

On this day in history: In 1587, Mary Queen of Scots was beheaded after 19 years of imprisonment for her complicity in a plot to murder Queen Elizabeth I. In 1910, William D. Boyce incorporated the Boy Scouts of America. And in 1924, the first execution by lethal gas in American history is carried out in Carson City, Nevada. The executed man was Tong Lee, a member of a Chinese gang who was convicted of murdering a rival gang member.

Watch Coffee Trees Sprout – I could watch this all day… And I now want my own coffee tree.

16 Repeatable Facts About Groundhog Day – This is one of my favorite movies, and I watch it every year around Groundhog Day, like so many others. Here are a few things you may not know about the movie.

Crashing Waves On Lake Erie – Majestic. That’s the only word I can find to describe these waves. The power displayed here is stunning, and amazing.

Why Do People In Old Movies Talk Weird? – Have you ever wondered where that old timey accent in old movies comes from? Did people really talk like that? Well, wonder no more. Here’s the answer.

On this day in history: In 1788, Isaac Briggs and William Longstreet patented the steamboat. In 1861, Texas voted to secede from the Union. In 1884, the Oxford Dictionary, considered the most comprehensive and accurate dictionary of the English language, is first published. In 1893, Thomas A. Edison completed work on the world’s first motion picture studio in West Orange, NJ. And in 1930, the Times published its first crossword puzzle.

Your Brain On Coffee – Have you ever wondered just how coffee, and the caffeine in it, affect you and your brain? Here is a succinct look at the chemistry that happens when you drink a cup of coffee.

C. S. Lewis’ Greatest Fiction – The premise of this article is that the greatest fiction the Lewis ever concocted was to convince scores of American kids that they would like Turkish Delight. Based on what that stuff really is, I’m pretty sure I would not. But I always wanted to try it anyway…

Day To Night Photography – Stephen Wilkes is a very creative photographer who captures both day and night in a single photograph. His work is stunning in its beauty, and amazingly creative. It’s worth the time to scroll through his gallery and see his work.

If Moms Talked To Each Other The Way They Talk To Their Kids – This is parody. Supposedly. But around my home, where my wife deals with little kids all day, this borders on reality.

On this day in history: In 1533, England’s King Henry VIII secretly married his second wife Anne Boleyn. Boleyn later gave birth to Elizabeth I. In 1870, G. D. Dows patented the ornamental soda fountain. In 1905, the world’s largest diamond was found in South Africa. And in 1915, in New York, Alexander Graham Bell spoke to his assistant in San Francisco, inaugurating the first transcontinental telephone service.

Bonavita Immersion Coffee Dripper Tutorial – I have a few different coffee drippers, notably my Hario V60, but this dripper seems like it would be an great thing to try. You can get one here.

LEGO Kits Of Famous Skylines – My kids love LEGOs. I am fascinated by them to some degree, but have never really jumped in. These could make me do just that.

Great Book Selection For Your Reading Lists – Finding a great list of books that other people have read or are reading is like finding a treasure map. Very often, I add a new book or two to my own list. Here are a couple of lists that have some excellent books on them.

The Mustard Seed – This is a pretty inspiring video, showing just how apt the mustard seed illustration that Jesus used is for the church and faith.