Entertaining animated history of Japan

Along with being one of the greatest card magicians in history, Ricky Jay, who died in 2018, was an esteemed collector of books and ephemera documenting the history of magic, hokum, and strange exhibitions. If you enjoyed Jay's books like Learned Pigs & Fireproof Women, Jay's Journal of Anomalies, and Extraordinary Exhibitions, now is your chance to… READ THE REST

Clive Sinclair, the British entrepreneur whose tiny and inexpensive gadgets pioneered a computing revolution in the UK and beyond, is dead at 81. [The Guardian. ↬ Joel Johnson] His daughter, Belinda, said he died at home in London on Thursday morning after a long illness. Sinclair invented the pocket calculator but was best known for… READ THE REST

In 1907, Charles Bennett began selling the Junior typewriter, which he renamed the Bennett for a second, improved model in 1910 that included a ribbon and a paper table. From the Virtual Typewriter Museum: Two screws on the side enabled the user to lift the keyboard off the machine, in order to clean the typewheel,… READ THE REST

Every coffee lover knows that nothing beats a freshly brewed pot of joe. It's the drink millions of Americans have settled on as their pick-me-up of choice for their morning, mid-day, and even at night. No matter when you like to enjoy your brew, you should never have to compromise on coffee quality. You won't… READ THE REST

As the summer fades, it's become painfully clear that we spent less time doing the things we love and more time burning the candle at both ends at the office, having severe anxiety over all things COVID, and just generally wasting time. If you missed out on summer, including a few extra rounds of golf,… READ THE REST

Got a stroke of genius and nowhere to make your mark? Sounds like you could use some help in the art department. You could go back to art school and get in-person lessons, but people are full of germs these days, and it's still a safe bet to just stay home. Try the Watercolor Painting… READ THE REST