Before structured shoes became prevalent in the 16th century (and apparently in those places where they never have) people walked with a different gait, pushing onto the balls of our feet instead of rocking forward on our heels. It looks a little affected — like a gymnast or ballet dancer — but is apparently much healthier. I'm going to master it!
People walked slightly different in Medieval times
Internet Archive turns on Flash emulation, already has 1000 items to check out
Adobe Flash was the language of choice for a generation of game developers, helping kickstart an indie revolution on the still-young web of the 1990s and 2000s. But it withered on the proprietary and insecure vine, and both web browsers and Adobe have now canned it, threatening countless games and interactive presentations with the memory… READ THE REST
Earliest known photograph of a tornado
This photo was taken on April 26, 1884 and is the earliest known shot of a tornado (compare to the second-earliest). It appears to be a 3D or stereographic image, too, but my effort at recreating the 3D effect (below, as a two-frame GIF) doesn't seem particularly impressive. Modern meteorologists consider Adam's photograph to indeed… READ THE REST
Edwardian home electrical wiring was scary stuff
The advent of electrical lighting and appliances came with a lot of trial and error, meaning a lot of injuries, destruction, and death before things got standardized and safety-tested. In Edwardian times, for instance, each electricity producer chose their own voltage and method of delivery, among other unnerving practices. Take a deep dive into the… READ THE REST
These vibrant colored pens are also ultra-powerful magnets–and a fidgeter's dream come true
Who doesn't want fun things to play with on their desk? The problem is that too many fun toys make it look like you're not doing any work. So, the trick is to find functional, seemingly innocent-looking items that can satisfy all your fidgety idle hand needs. If you need more useful, yet fun entertainment… READ THE REST
The PowerUp 4.0 attaches a computer brain to your paper plane
If you want to engage in some joy this holiday season, we have the perfect gift for your fun-loving family member, or even for yourself…you can now effectively turn paper airplanes into drones. For those who have spent countless hours meticulously folding aerodynamically pure paper planes that can slice through the air like a real… READ THE REST
StartMail privatizes your email with a level of security you might not have known you needed
For years, you've heard experts talk about having a solid VPN service to safeguard everything you do online. It's sound advice, especially when you consider what can happen if someone gains access to sensitive information, like your bank access details or online account logins. Yet, too often, we overlook the fragile state of our own… READ THE REST