On this day in history: In 1624, riots occurred in Mexico when it was announced that all churches were to be closed. In 1892, Triangle magazine in Springfield, MA, published the rules for a brand new game. The original rules involved attaching a peach baskets to a suspended board. It is now known as basketball. And in 1967, the first National Football League Super Bowl was played. The Green Bay Packers defeated the Kansas City Chiefs of the American Football League. The final score was 35-10.

Today Is National Hat Day!
It’s also Martin Luther King Jr. Day, so celebrate with a hat!

Nine Coffee Related Resolutions For The New Year – Coffee is a big part of life for a lot of people. Here are nine things you can resolve to do in 2018 when it comes to coffee.

Why Do Canadians Say ‘Eh’? – I went to college with a couple of Canadians, and this was always a question I wanted to ask, but never felt like I could. Now I know. And so do you.

Use A Balloon to Improve Your Pop Up Flash – As a photographer who prefers landscape photography, this isn’t going to be something I use much. But for those who take candids or portraits, this could be a handy thing to keep in their bag of tricks.

Primitive Technology – This guy builds a small “bed shed” where he can sleep, using nothing but what he finds in the woods. I found it pretty interesting.

On this day in history: In 1790, the first US President, George Washington, delivers the first state of the union address. In 1806, Lewis and Clark find the skeleton of 105 foot blue whale in Oregon. And in 1870, the US mint at Carson City, Nevada, begins issuing coins.

Today Is National Argyle Day!
So go put on those socks you know you have hidden in a drawer!

The Alkani Cold Brew Coffee Maker – Cold brew coffee is incredible! But what many people do not realize is that cold brew coffee does not mean cold coffee. You can drink it hot, and it is wonderful! Here is a review and a tutorial on the Alkani cold brewer, and it looks like a great piece of coffee equipment. But the principles apply to other cold brew methods as well. Here’s the one I like to use.

6 More Reasons Why You Should Write With A Fountain Pen – I love to write with vintage tools. I occasionally write letters on an old, old typewriter. And I love writing in my journal with a vintage fountain pen. Here are some excellent reasons why you should use one, and the article starts off with a link to another post with several more.

The Legendary Rifle That Fought Wold War II – I found this article about the M1 Garand to be utterly fascinating, both as a history nut and a gun aficionado. The role this particular weapon played on the world stage is pretty incredible.

Seasons Of Norway – This is one more place on my travel bucket list. This video shows the stunning beauty of the place.

On this day in history: In 1873, Budapest was formed when the rival cities of Buda and Pest were united to form the capital of Hungary. In 1923, the U.S. Patent Office grants Patent No. 1,475,074 to 46-year-old inventor and newspaperman Garrett Morgan for his three-position traffic signal. And in 1986, the one billionth Little Golden Book was printed. The title was The Poky Little Puppy.

Giving Details Thanks For Coffee – Thanksgiving is this week. What are you thankful for? This article sums up my gratefulness for coffee.

10 Reasons You Should Go To Bed Early And Get Up Early – Over the years, I have transitioned from a night owl into an early morning person. It is a rare day when I stay in bed too long. Here are ten reasons why this is an important change to make.

If The Moon Were Only One Pixel – The tag line for this is “A tediously accurate scale model of the solar system.” That makes me laugh, but as you can see, it puts a lot of things about space into perspective, and in an easy way to grasp the extreme size of it all.

Hunting With Eagles – This was pretty interesting to watch. It shows just how varied and interesting the different cultures around our world can be.

On this day in history: In 1789, Benjamin Franklin wrote a letter to a friend in which he said, “In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.” In 1940, the Walt Disney movie Fantasia had its world premiere at New York’s Broadway Theater. And in 1982, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial was dedicated in Washington DC, at the end of a weeklong national salute to Americans who served in the Vietnam War.

How To Make Chocolate Covered Coffee Beans – Why would you not want to do this? I’d leave off the coconut though.

Terrifying Creatures From The Deep Sea – A Russian fisherman caught and photographed a lot of strange things that he has found in the depths of the ocean. His photos are pretty intriguing.

How To Sleep – We live in a society that is fixated on productivity and effectiveness. As a result, we tend to deprive ourselves of sleep in order to accomplish more. But is that a good thing? This is a long article, but a very interesting look at sleep, and how it can affect our bodies and our lives.

How Does Your Body Know What Time It Is? – On the topic of sleep and wakefulness, this Ted Talk is also very interesting.

On this day in history: In 1869, a hotel in Boston became the first in the U.S. to install indoor plumbing. In 1928, Marvin Pipkin received a patent for the frosted electric light bulb. And in 1958, Chevrolet introduced the El Camino, and created a cult classic that has captivated millions.

How To Make Cascara Tea In A French Press – Occasionally, I enjoy making cascara, a tea made from the dried cherry pulp of a coffee bean. It has a distinct flavor, and it’s a very easy drink to make. You can use a French Press to do it in your own kitchen.

What Makes A Good Alarm Clock Sound? – You may never have thought of this, but a lot of work goes into creating the right sounds to wake up to.

Why Some Pages In A Book Are Intentionally Left Blank – I never knew this about books. But I have a use for these pages. I tend to “index” my notes and highlights, and a plank page or two is the perfect place to do so.

Iceland By Drone – One day, I want to visit Iceland. I love everything I have ever seen of this small island nation. This video is no different. Enjoy!