Last year, Christie's auctioned off the world's oldest telephone book. It's from 1878 and features both a residential directory and a "yellow pages." It's only 40 pages and doesn't contain a single telephone number, just the names of those who have service. IEEE Spectrum has a fun little video about the 1878 New Haven Telephone Directory.
Video: the world's oldest telephone book
Collapse OS, an operating system for after the apocalypse
Collapse OS is an operating system that no-one should ever have to use. It's designed to be useful after worldwide catastrophe destroys human civilization: able to run on junk and easy to work with, assuming a modicum of computer science skill and a copy of the classics. Winter is coming and Collapse OS aims to… READ THE REST
Apple hardware engineering chief Dan Riccio will step down, focus on new project yet to be revealed
Apple's hardware engineering chief, Dan Riccio, is planning to step down to oversee a new project, the company announced Monday, providing no further details on the longtime executive's latest role. Could this be related to the iPhone maker's foray into self-driving car technology? Your guess in the Boing Boing BBS. From Reuters: Riccio will report… READ THE REST
Programming Language Creator or Serial Killer?
Here's a fun quiz that finds a delightful semiotic contact point in the late 20th century, the golden age of serial killers and computer scientists. "Can you tell a coder from a cannibal?" I confess that I mistook Dorothea Puente (~15 dead) for Grace Hopper (theorist of high-level programming languages). READ THE REST
This 1080p webcam is the video upgrade your online meetings desperately needs
We've all become so accustomed to video meetings over the past year that it's safe to say we've collectively settled on a few universal pet peeves. No, keeping your camera off during a web call is not acceptable webcam etiquette, neither is answering emails or texts while you're video conferencing with others. It's rude. As… READ THE REST
These 14 coffee and espresso makers are perfect for your java-obsessed Valentine
We all know Valentine's Day is a day set aside to show a little appreciation for those we love the most. And, while that usually includes a spouse or significant other, a child, or other nearests and dearests, this day should not ignore some of our other most critical loves. Like coffee. Oh, coffee, how… READ THE REST
Draw Superman or Spider-Man like the pros with this comic book drawing bundle
It's easy to dismiss comics as kids' stuff. Heroes in capes and villains with dastardly plans have been playthings of childhood imagination for decades. Yet, despite the fantastical premises and larger-than-life storytelling, don't forget the true artistry and craftsmanship it takes to bring those wild ideas into vivid life on the printed page. Because while… READ THE REST