On this day in history: In 1492, Christopher Columbus, an Italian explorer, sighted Watling Island in the Bahamas. He believed that he had found Asia while attempting to find a Western ocean route to India. The same day he claimed the land for Isabella and Ferdinand of Spain. In 1870, General Robert E. Lee, the commander of the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia, dies peacefully at his home in Lexington, Virginia. He was 63 years old. And in 1938, production began on “The Wizard of Oz.”

Cold Brew Coffee Guide – One of the most interesting methods of brewing coffee is the cold brew method. There are many different ways to do this, but I have found the Coffee Toddy to be the easiest to use.

How Telephone Etiquette Has Changed – The telephone has changed how we live, and over the years, it has changed drastically in itself as well. As a result, proper telephone etiquette has had to morph to keep up.

10 Surprising Facts About LEGO – This toy has been around for years. And it has changed somewhat over the years. When I was a kid, you bought a pack of these and could build almost anything. Now, you buy a kit and build one specific model. But LEGO has stayed virtually the same for all of that time as well.

The Power Of Routines – Developing a personal routine is as essential part of being as effective as possible, and eliminating stress at the same time. This video gives some great insights into that concept.

On this day in history: In 1892, the Dalton gang performs their last robbery attempt in Coffeyville, KS. Four of the five members of the gang were killed by the townspeople. In 1969, “Monty Python’s Flying Circus” debuted on BBC television. And in 2011, Steve Jobs, founder of Apple Inc., dies at the age of 56.

What Happens When You Drink Coffee In The Evening – We’ve all done it. We’ve all had that cup of coffee in the evening, and wondered why it kept us up all night. This article explains just what causes that and why it happens to us.

Watch A Mother Raccoon Teach Her Kit To Climb A Tree – National Geographic always has some of the best images and footage of nature. This video is pretty interesting to watch of a raccoon teacher her baby to climb.

Writing Tips – As a blogger, I am continually on the lookout for tools and resources that help me accomplish my goals in writing. Here are some great tips from Tim Challies on how to utilize these resources and be a better writer.

Patagonia – More than just an outdoor company, Patagonia is a real place in southern Chile and Argentina. And it is breathtakingly beautiful. This video gives some great views of this beautiful region.

On this day in history: In 1542, San Diego, CA, was discovered by Portuguese navigator Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo. In the world of sports, on this day in 1892, the first nighttime football game in the U.S. took place under electric lights. The game was between the Mansfield State Normal School and the Wyoming Seminary. And in 1941, Ted Williams becomes last player to hit .400. Read more about that here.

BeanSafe Coffee Storage – How do you store your coffee and keep it as fresh as possible? By using something like the BeanSafe. The headline links to a review on I Need Coffee, but you can buy the stainless steel and the polypropylene on Amazon.

Why Are Phone Keypads Laid Out As A Grid? – Have you ever wondered why the numbers on your phone are arranged the way that they are? There’s a reason for that, but before it became standard, a lot of other variations were considered. This article and video are very interesting.

Ferrolic – Ferro fluid and magnets. And the result is stunning. It is almost like living art. This is fascinating to watch.

Ink: Written By Hand – I love to write. I have several vintage fountain pens, and numerous modern ones too. I have a few old, classic typewriters as well. But there is something special about ink on a page. This video attempts to define that.

On this day in history: In 1866, H.G. Wells, pioneer of science fiction, is born in Bromley, England. In 1937, J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit was first published. And in 1942, the U.S. B-29 Superfortress makes its debut flight in Seattle, Washington. It was the largest bomber used in the war by any nation.

Brewing Ratios For Dummies – Understanding how much coffee to use compared to water can be confusing for many. This article gives a good breakdown of the coffee to water ratio, and how to understand it.

The Proper Way To Eat Hot Dogs – So many people mess this up… Who knew there was proper etiquette for eating hot dogs?

The Beauty Of Everyday Foods Shot With A Macro Lens – Since we’re on the topic of food, here are a few great shots of foods close up… Very close up.

Edge Of Stability – This is an incredible collection of some timelapse storm footage. It is stunningly beautiful.

On this day in history, several significant things happened: In 1866, George K. Anderson patented the typewriter ribbon. In 1899, in New York City, Henry Bliss became the first automobile fatality. In 1969, Genesis played their first gig for money in Surrey, England. It was at a cottage owned by a Sunday school teacher. And in 1972, “The Waltons” premiered on CBS-TV, and became one of my grandfather’s favorite shows.

Espresso Myths That Need Busting – Many of these I have known for years. But I often overhear them in coffee conversations, especially the third and fourth ones listed.

Footprints In The Sand – I have never really like that poem. It has always come across as slightly (ok, largely) cheesy. This take on it, however, is amusing.

15 Religion Treasures At Yale – Though not all of these are Christian treasures, the history represented here is stunning.

Japanese Paper Marbling – Paper artist Tadao Fukuda creates beautifully marbled papers by hand. The art is called suminagashi in Japanese and involves layering swirled ink on top of water. This video shows how intricate and interesting this art is.

Today is Labor Day. The first Monday in September, Labor Day is a creation of the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country.

Other items of interest on this day in history: In 1813, the nickname “Uncle Sam” was first used as a symbolic reference to the United States. The reference appeared in an editorial in the New York’s Troy Post. In 1880, George Ligowsky was granted a patent for his device that threw clay pigeons for trapshooters. And in 1930, the cartoon “Blondie” made its first appearance in the comic strips.

Tobacco Free Coffee Chew – I have a very hard time understanding why this is a real thing. But since it is tobacco-free, and apparently tastes good, I ordered one. And guess what? It does taste good. But I can’t imagine a tobacco chewer substituting this for their usual chew.

15 Magic Tricks You Didn’t Know You Could Do – These are the kinds of tricks that will help you be the cool uncle or aunt. Many of these are simple, but with a bit of practice, look very convincing. Have fun!

Breathtaking Photos From Around America – Some of the most beautiful parts of the US are maintained and managed by the US Department of the Interior. And, naturally, they have some pretty impressive photos of these sites. You will be inspired!

Debunking OCD – Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is a very real thing. But we often throw that term around for a lot of behaviors that are not OCD. Here are some of the myths surrounding OCD, and the truth about them. This is a very enlightening video.

On this day in history: In 1852, the first pre-stamped envelopes were created with legislation of the U.S. Congress. In 1887, the kinetoscope was patented by Thomas Edison. The device was used to produce moving pictures. And in 1920, John Lloyd Wright was issued a patent for “Toy-Cabin Construction,” which are known as Lincoln Logs. These are important events!

Leaf Paintings Made With Coffee Leftovers – It is becoming something of a fad to create art with coffee. I find this both intriguing and disappointing. Intriguing because of people and their creativity. Disappointing because it seems some are just jumping on bandwagons. This artist, however, is especially creative.

Being The Best Dressed Man – I enjoy looking my best. I love looking as good as I possibly can. Sometimes, though, it can be intimidating, and I’m not sure why, really. But at least I know I’m not alone in this. This article acknowledges that fear and gives some encouragement in that regard.

Bizarre Objects Owned By Henry VIII – This famous British king held an eccentric collection of some of the strangest things. Purple velvet bagpipes? Really?

Industrial Light And Magic Celebrated 40 Years! – Earlier this year, ILM celebrated their anniversary. This video shows 40 years of special effects in about a minute. Pretty impressing how cutting edge ILM has always been. And I’m sure they will continue to be.