On this day in history: In 1778, English navigator Captain James Cook discovered the Hawaiian Islands, which he called the “Sandwich Islands.” In 1896, the x-ray machine was exhibited for the first time. And in 1950, the federal tax on oleomargarine was repealed.

People Who Drink Coffee Live Longer – It’s true. A study says so. With several known health benefits of coffee, this drink already has a great reputation. And now, after 20 years of study, the findings are even more amazing!

The Story Of Reuel Colt Gridley And The Most Expensive Bag Of Flour In The World – Who knew that a bag of flour could make such an impact?

C. S. Lewis Was A Secret Government Agent – C. S. Lewis is probably my favorite author of all. Because of that, when I saw this article I was intrigued. I found it to be very interesting. At the same time, I find it a bit unbelievable, and yet it seems to be exactly something that Lewis would do. Either way, it is a captivating idea.

Why Your Body Is Amazing! – God’s creative ability is nothing short of astounding. This brief video gives just a few reasons why. It’s difficult to imagine life without some of these features, others are required in order to live, but all of them are fascinating.

On this day in history: In 1770, the first shipment of rhubarb was sent to the United States from London. In 1878, in New York, milk was delivered in glass bottles for the first time by Alexander Campbell. And in 1908, Theodore Roosevelt makes Grand Canyon a national monument. If you have never seen the Grand Canyon, you need to make this a priority. It’s incredible! Read more about it here.

Developing Your Tasting Skills – I found this post about Angels’ Cup very intriguing. Many people think they enjoy coffee and don’t pay much attention to the subtle notes of flavors in a good cup of this delicious liquid. Here is a way to improve that ability. And starting at a rate of $9.00, it’s a very reasonable opportunity to take advantage of.

11 Handy Facts About Leatherman Tools – A Leatherman is a versatile tool carried by many, and it has a wide variety of styles and uses. I keep one of these in the glovebox of my vehicles, and my son carries a smaller variety most of the time. Here are some interesting facts about these tools.

BatMoses – “Watch as BatMoses, a modern day super-Jew, battles the forces of evil to free his people from slavery.” Because why not?

The Bible Project – Here is another video about a book of the Bible, this time Deuteronomy.

On this day in history: In 1847, Samuel Colt sells his first revolvers to the U.S. government. In 1885, Dr. William Grant performed the first successful appendectomy. The patient was Mary Gartside. In 1962, New York City introduced a train that operated without conductors and motormen. And in 1965, the Fender Guitar Company was sold to CBS for $13 million.

The American Press – I love finding new ways to brew coffee. I love to experiment and try different methods and see how the flavors compare with my Chemex or Hario V60. This new press seems like a great way to brew some good coffee.

How Did The Dinosaurs Die? – I love the Fake Science blog. So many of the things I find on here are amusing, and I can come back to them over and over again for laughs.

A Day In The Life Of Americans – How did you spend your days in 2015? This interactive simulation is pretty fascinating.

Reading Scripture: Psalms – The book of Psalms animated, giving an outline and an explanation. This entire series is excellent.

On this day in history: In 1732, The Pennsylvania Gazette, owned by Benjamin Franklin, ran an ad for the first issue of Poor Richard’s Almanack. In 1836, Mexico’s independence was recognized by Spain. And in 1895, the world’s first commercial movie screening takes place at the Grand Cafe in Paris. Read more about it here.

9 Reasons You Need Some Cafiza In Your Life – It’s almost the New Year. You might as well begin with the cleanest coffee implements possible. Right?

American Castles – You do not need to go to Europe to see some pretty amazing castles, although the range of history overseas is much more broad. Here is a list of eleven castles in the US that you can visit. This is a great 2016 bucket list.

Slow Motion of Cats Shaking Their Heads – What better way to begin the New Year than with a bunch of videos and images of cats? I mean, really? If you don’t already dislike cats, this will help.

Journey Through The Alps – I would love to travel to Europe someday. Right now, that isn’t possible, so videos like this will have to suffice.

The holidays are just around the corner. If you haven’t yet finished your Christmas shopping, here are a few lists you might want to consider as you do so. This entire installment of Coffee Break is dedicated to helping you find the perfect (coffee) gift for your favorite coffee drinkers!

Though most of these are coffee related, there are a couple of lists that are more general in nature. Enjoy! I hope you find what you need. And, Merry Christmas!

The Coffee Geek – This annual list of coffee goodness comes in three installments, based on price range.  Check out the book recommendations at the bottom of the $35 page!

• Gift Suggestions Under $35
• Gift Suggestions Under $75
• Gift Suggestions Under $500

The Coffee Compass – Here is a great list of coffee items, covering a wide variety of stuff and prices.

Dear Coffee, I Love You – DCILY’s list is more eclectic than some of the others, but just as fun. I especially love the Pink Floyd/Chemex mashup T-shirt. That’s pretty sweet!

I Need Coffee – This is a curated list of Amazon products, and buying from this list gives an affiliate commission to I Need Coffee. Most of the time, Amazon’s prices are hard to beat.

The Art Of Manliness – Here is a list of the top 50 gift ideas for the women in your life.

Huckberry’s Top 10 Stocking Stuffers – If you are looking for something on the smaller side, try this list of stocking stuffers. Huckberry usually has a lot of creative stuff.

Why You Should Give Books For Christmas – And to finish it all off, here is an article by Wayne Stiles about why books make the greatest gifts. He even links to a list of top books you can choose from.

On this day in history: In 1941, Pearl Harbor was bombed by more than 360 Japanese warplanes, catapulting the US into the middle of WW2. Five of eight battleships, three destroyers, and seven other ships were sunk or severely damaged, and more than 200 aircraft were destroyed. A total of 2,400 Americans were killed and 1,200 were wounded, many while valiantly attempting to repulse the attack. Read more here.

Adopt A Coffee Tree – You may have heard of the opportunities to adopt a highway, or adopt a stream, for litter control. Many people adopt a child from a third world country to support through Compassion or World Vision. But did you know that you can adopt a coffee tree? Doing so helps to ensure the continuation of the coffee industry. This is a wonderful idea.

Greek Statues And Star Wars – Some people have very creative talents, and way too much time on their hands. And yet, these are pretty cool. I like some of these better than the originals.

The Strange Story Of Thomas Edison’s Last Breath – People do some crazy things. Some of them, however, are extremely fascinating, like this story of Thomas Edison’s last breath.

Pascal’s Triangle – Though this may look like a simple stack of numbers, it is very intricate and extremely interesting. Especially if you are a math geek.