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Archive: 2017

Browse through our history of obscure stories.
Browse By Year 2025 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 December There’s Always Next Year There’s Always Next Year December 28, 2017 There’s Always Next Year The state of our Tedium in 2018 looks kind of a lot like 2017, for better or worse. Let’s take a deep breath, everyone, and hope for the best. Australian Rules Nintendo Australian Rules Nintendo December 27, 2017 Australian Rules Nintendo What an Australia-only NES game secretly reveals about many of the early Nintendo games that came out in the United States. The New Millennium Blues The New Millennium Blues December 27, 2017 The New Millennium Blues The pop-culture panic leading up to the year 2000. Did all the Y2K TV movies, musical parodies, and animated homages make the problem worse? Shelf This Elf Shelf This Elf December 25, 2017 Shelf This Elf Why Elf Bowling, the animated holiday film, doesn’t live up to Elf Bowling, the not-a-virus computer game. The biggest problem, simply, is the animation. Fake Elf News Fake Elf News December 21, 2017 Fake Elf News Back in 1999, the viral game Elf Bowling gained an unfounded, false reputation as a piece of malware and spyware. It was viral, but it wasn’t a virus. Rock and Roll Remodel Rock and Roll Remodel December 20, 2017 Rock and Roll Remodel A final requiem for Chicago's popular rock-themed McDonald's, a favorite of Wesley Willis, as it becomes "modernized." Gifts For Total Strangers Gifts For Total Strangers December 19, 2017 Gifts For Total Strangers This year’s Tedium gift guide—designed for people you’re not particularly close to—is full of ideas perfect for alienating yourself with loved ones. Doing It For Erma Doing It For Erma December 18, 2017 Doing It For Erma An 1956 book about the early history of automation finally hits digital shelves, thanks to a friend of mine. And its appearance is deliciously ironic. What The Hellmann What The Hellmann December 14, 2017 What The Hellmann The hidden stories behind some of the sauces you eat every single day, from a confessed overuser of sauce. You are entitled to a little more, by the way. Sweating the Ugly Truth Sweating the Ugly Truth December 12, 2017 Sweating the Ugly Truth The history of the sweater—along with the tale of how a Vancouver house party made the ugly Christmas sweater into the pinnacle of modern ironic taste. Christmas In Clay Christmas In Clay December 11, 2017 Christmas In Clay Pondering why a well-received Claymation holiday special, turning 30 this year, hasn’t become a lasting holiday classic like most of the other junk on TV. Trimmed For Space Trimmed For Space December 7, 2017 Trimmed For Space As the newspaper industry contracted, so too did the furniture and the newsprint. Let's check out the first victims of the digital revolution. Our Next Annoying National Upgrade Our Next Annoying National Upgrade December 5, 2017 Our Next Annoying National Upgrade Nine years ago, the federal government painfully pushed the public into the arms of digital TV. Soon enough, we could be making that upgrade all over again. Do Not Trust Do Not Trust December 4, 2017 Do Not Trust The ethical issues with getting a tattoo that says “Do Not Resuscitate,” then having said tattoo put to the test. Yes, a hospital had to deal with one. November Sharper Pixels Sharper Pixels November 30, 2017 Sharper Pixels The push for pixel perfection at the heart of the enthusiast retro movement—and the company that wants those pixels to look better than you remember. Buy, Don’t Rent Buy, Don’t Rent November 28, 2017 Buy, Don’t Rent How the rent-to-own retail model, exemplified by Rent-a-Center, evolved from a mainstream model in the U.K. to one widely seen as predatory in the U.S. Cashing In Early Cashing In Early November 27, 2017 Cashing In Early As bitcoin nears an unbelievable new peak, now’s a good time to ponder DigiCash, the cryptocurrency that came first. Its idea has roots in the 1980s. Flash Forward Flash Forward November 23, 2017 Flash Forward CompactFlash, the first dedicated flash memory card format in wide use, was a turning point for computing—as well as a format with surprising resilience. Older Than Ever Older Than Ever November 22, 2017 Older Than Ever The man who discovered iconic NBA player Manute Bol now says he made up an age for the 7'7" icon—and Bol might’ve been around age 50 while in the league. Smashing Potatoes Smashing Potatoes November 21, 2017 Smashing Potatoes Mashed potatoes have a long, drawn-out history—especially, ironically, in instant form. Guess the recipe for the Thanksgiving icon is harder than it looks. The Wesley Willis WinAmp Connection The Wesley Willis WinAmp Connection November 20, 2017 The Wesley Willis WinAmp Connection Pondering Wesley Willis’ greatest mainstream contribution—the inspiration for an audio file in the 20th century’s greatest digital musical player, WinAmp. Rock On Chicago Rock On Chicago November 16, 2017 Rock On Chicago The larger than life and times of Chicago artist/musician Wesley Willis—as well as the deeper inspirations behind the artistic output that defined his life. Shanghai's Untold Story Shanghai's Untold Story November 15, 2017 Shanghai's Untold Story Behind one of the ‘80s most popular computer games is an impressive story about how an early computer helped a man overcome adversity. Google’s Zombie Google’s Zombie November 14, 2017 Google’s Zombie Why FeedBurner, a service that Google once bought for $100 million, has become the one service it literally can’t kill. Here's why the service lingers. Switching Labels Switching Labels November 13, 2017 Switching Labels Hey, shoplifters: Trying to pull a fast one on a retail outlet by changing the price tags or barcodes is serious business, even when Legos are involved. Behind By A Century Behind By A Century November 9, 2017 Behind By A Century What it’s like to experience The Tragically Hip’s catalog for the first time, as a complete outsider, in 2017. Long story short: The U.S. really missed out. Hide And Seek Hide And Seek November 9, 2017 Hide And Seek For a while, hidden tracks were everywhere, especially during the CD era. But thanks to streaming music, there’s nowhere to put them. Is that good or bad? One Bumpy Ride One Bumpy Ride November 6, 2017 One Bumpy Ride The story of how asphalt came to define our highways, and why potholes are such a pain. The problem? Nobody wants to spend money on preventing potholes. The Purple Unicorn The Purple Unicorn November 6, 2017 The Purple Unicorn One of the most notable domain holdouts in internet history finally sells Purple.com to the mattress company that made its colorful name famous. October Out Of Order Out Of Order October 31, 2017 Out Of Order Why aren’t area codes laid out in a seemingly logical way, like ZIP Codes are? Part of the answer can be found in the rotary dial of early telephones. We Can Dance If We Want To We Can Dance If We Want To October 30, 2017 We Can Dance If We Want To NYC is about to lose a bizarre law for a city of its size: A ban on dancing in unlicensed bars or restaurants. How did this bizarre regulation come to life? I’ll Do Something Innovative When I Die I’ll Do Something Innovative When I Die October 26, 2017 I’ll Do Something Innovative When I Die How could innovative ideas improve funerals and final resting places? It’s a question not being asked enough. Let’s take a dive into funeral technology. When Copyright Goes Copywrong When Copyright Goes Copywrong October 24, 2017 When Copyright Goes Copywrong The rigid nature of copyright law during the early years of the film industry created a surprisingly robust cottage industry around public domain films. Things That Make You Go Hmmmm … Things That Make You Go Hmmmm … October 23, 2017 Things That Make You Go Hmmmm … The tale of a guy who got fined for singing along to C+C Music Factory’s most famous song. The cops made him sweat alright. Serious Cornhole Serious Cornhole October 19, 2017 Serious Cornhole You might think of cornhole as a lighthearted lawn game, but it actually has a professional league, a family of stars, and some budding momentum. Really. Lurking In Your Bed Lurking In Your Bed October 18, 2017 Lurking In Your Bed The hipster mattress phenomenon gets the well-reported takedown it deserves. Here’s what it teaches about the digital economy. Picking Up The Slack Picking Up The Slack October 17, 2017 Picking Up The Slack Internet Relay Chat beat Slack to real-time chat by decades and helped define much of our early online culture, yet way more people use Slack. Why is that? A Tale of Two Samoas A Tale of Two Samoas October 16, 2017 A Tale of Two Samoas How quick thinking by a U.S. official saved thousands of lives from disease in an American territory—despite its non-American counterpart being decimated. The Seeds Are Better The Seeds Are Better October 11, 2017 The Seeds Are Better Pondering the Osage orange, the historically important fruit you probably shouldn’t eat—unless you’re willing to go to the trouble of picking out the seeds. Flying Patents Flying Patents October 10, 2017 Flying Patents How the unidentified flying object inspired a flurry of flying saucer patents globally—and how one guy invented his flying saucer years before anyone else. Columbus The Enigma Columbus The Enigma October 9, 2017 Columbus The Enigma Christopher Columbus, one of our most controversial historic figures, has become more myth than man for one reason: We don’t know what he looks like. Encoded, Decoded Encoded, Decoded October 3, 2017 Encoded, Decoded How Usenet—a protocol intended for conversations—was forever changed once the public figured out you could transfer binary files through it. September Congratulations I’m Sorry Congratulations I’m Sorry September 28, 2017 Congratulations I’m Sorry The sad story and tragic death behind one of the most memorable power-pop songs of the 1990s, the Gin Blossoms’ “Hey Jealousy.” A Eulogy for Eudora A Eulogy for Eudora September 28, 2017 A Eulogy for Eudora The early graphical client Eudora was how people checked their email in the ’90s. But in the end, only the power users stuck around. Here’s what you missed. Maximum Cargo Maximum Cargo September 26, 2017 Maximum Cargo Sometimes the overhead bin just isn’t enough. Learn more about combi planes, nonstandard types of aircraft that mix passenger seating with cargo shipping. Rough Edges Rough Edges September 25, 2017 Rough Edges Why ceramic coffee cups have a spot at the bottom that’s rough to the touch, despite the rest of the cup being glossy. It's kiln you that you don't know. An Early Touchpoint An Early Touchpoint September 21, 2017 An Early Touchpoint How the graphics tablet, most notably produced by Japanese firm Wacom, helped shape our multitouch-friendly world—even if that shaping took a little while. We Are All Made Of Stars We Are All Made Of Stars September 20, 2017 We Are All Made Of Stars Stable Rent Stable Rent September 19, 2017 Stable Rent What it's like to keep and maintain a pet horse in New York City, the largest city in the U.S., in 2017. As it turns out, it's not particularly cheap. Modem Madness Modem Madness September 18, 2017 Modem Madness Who said they just had to make games? From answering machines to lottery prototypes, Sega and Nintendo tried weird things with modems in the early ’90s. The Knockoff Game The Knockoff Game September 14, 2017 The Knockoff Game How the success of the Game Boy inspired a variety of rip-off consoles sold under a variety of bizarre corporate structures. This goes deeper than the Lynx. Mystery Meat Mystery Meat September 13, 2017 Mystery Meat A North Carolina school district invented a new sandwich in an attempt to convince kids that it wasn’t serving them meatloaf. It didn’t really work out. We're Running Out of Widgets We're Running Out of Widgets September 12, 2017 We're Running Out of Widgets What do Barnes & Noble, Radio Shack, and Blockbuster have in common? Simple: Their flawed business models relied on selling physical objects in stores. Blogging Before it Was Cool Blogging Before it Was Cool September 11, 2017 Blogging Before it Was Cool Jerry Pournelle, who died last week at 84, was perhaps the first blogger, even if he hated the term. Here’s a reflection on the iconic former Byte writer. Why Aren't You Wearing Corduroy? Why Aren't You Wearing Corduroy? September 7, 2017 Why Aren't You Wearing Corduroy? How corduroy, a piece of fabric with ancient ties that was built for the working-class, became really friggin' trendy all over again. The Great Platform Problem The Great Platform Problem September 6, 2017 The Great Platform Problem In an era when every content platform wants to sell you the moon, going your own way is a valid option. For one thing, there’s no risk of “demonetization.” A Beachside Mystery A Beachside Mystery September 4, 2017 A Beachside Mystery A mysterious object pulled from the sand of a Rhode Island beach was even weirder than officials expected. Anyone know what this is? August Moore R. Stevie Moore Moore R. Stevie Moore August 30, 2017 Moore R. Stevie Moore Outsider rocker R. Stevie Moore has a lot of albums, new and old, and his collection is a bit daunting to dive into. This quick guide should help. The Man With 400 Albums The Man With 400 Albums August 29, 2017 The Man With 400 Albums The tale of R. Stevie Moore, perhaps the most prolific musician that the world has ever seen. So why haven't you heard of him? Cloth, Meet Plastic Cloth, Meet Plastic August 28, 2017 Cloth, Meet Plastic A YouTuber uncovers a genuinely novel use for 3D printing: a method for making snazzy-looking T-shirts. The hard part? Passing the washing machine test. Let’s Lock Information Down Let’s Lock Information Down August 24, 2017 Let’s Lock Information Down DRM, one of the internet’s dark arts, was already in the works—complete with epic patents—years before the existence of Napster gave it a business case. Shorthand For No Shorthand For No August 23, 2017 Shorthand For No The incredibly frustrating tale of a college that tried to bar a Scottish student with cerebral palsy from getting a journalism certification—because rules. Super FX Turbo Mode Super FX Turbo Mode August 21, 2017 Super FX Turbo Mode How an enterprising console hacker figured out that the Super NES’ 3D graphics, seen in Star Fox, could look a whole lot better with a little overclocking. Do You Copy? Do You Copy? August 17, 2017 Do You Copy? How the lineage of the walkie-talkie reaches from World War II to the modern cell phone. Walkie-talkies even inspired a major cell phone network. Get Yourself A Treat Get Yourself A Treat August 15, 2017 Get Yourself A Treat How movie theaters nudged film-goers out of their seats with short clips designed around the hard sell. Total Eclipse Of The Counterfeit Total Eclipse Of The Counterfeit August 14, 2017 Total Eclipse Of The Counterfeit For all of Amazon’s successes, it has a major achilles heel, and a controversy around the fake solar eclipse glasses it was selling perfectly highlights it. Sing Your Heart Out Sing Your Heart Out August 10, 2017 Sing Your Heart Out From 8-Track to Laserdisc to CD+G to ISDN lines to YouTube, the different technologies that made karaoke possible. (Alcohol helps, too.) Catch The Sun Catch The Sun August 9, 2017 Catch The Sun Amid recent (depressing) revelations that some cheap calculators have fake solar cells on them, a short history of real solar cells on calculators. The Back of the Napkin The Back of the Napkin August 8, 2017 The Back of the Napkin From soft dough to paper, the world’s definition of a napkin has evolved significantly over the past couple thousand years. (It’s currently evolving again.) Reopening the Book Reopening the Book August 7, 2017 Reopening the Book Another side of the CD-ROM encyclopedia’s history, particularly where Encyclopaedia Britannica is concerned, and a bit of a mea culpa on my end of things. A Business Card With Impact A Business Card With Impact August 2, 2017 A Business Card With Impact How the CD-ROM influenced a particularly tacky variant on the business card around the turn of the 21st century. Bend, Don’t Break Bend, Don’t Break August 1, 2017 Bend, Don’t Break When new innovations in rubber and plastic hit during the 19th and 20th centuries, hair combs usually had them first—especially in unbreakable form. July Search By Text Search By Text July 31, 2017 Search By Text Before the search giant shot for the moon, Google occasionally had to accept the limitations of consumer technology. So they bent the rules instead. How To Checkmate Yourself How To Checkmate Yourself July 27, 2017 How To Checkmate Yourself The parlor games hosted by Yahoo! once represented some of the internet’s best efforts at interactivity. But that didn’t last. Here’s how Yahoo! Games lost. 90 Seconds of Failure 90 Seconds of Failure July 25, 2017 90 Seconds of Failure Scat-singing human horn Shooby Taylor had perhaps the saddest Showtime at the Apollo showing of all time. He really didn’t deserve the boos. When Tech Hit Retail When Tech Hit Retail July 20, 2017 When Tech Hit Retail Point-of-sale systems dramatically modernized supply chains and allowed consumers to go cashless, but they were not without their learning curves. Sega, In Channel Form Sega, In Channel Form July 19, 2017 Sega, In Channel Form How the Sega Channel, a game-download service in the 1990s, helped redefine what was possible with cable lines before they became fast internet workhorses. Who’s Who? Who Cares Who’s Who? Who Cares July 18, 2017 Who’s Who? Who Cares How the “Who’s Who” concept of reference books devolved from a genuinely useful idea into a very costly form of vanity publishing. The Windex Problem The Windex Problem July 17, 2017 The Windex Problem The problem with information literacy we have in the age of Google: We give up too early. It’s an issue research librarians are struggling to tackle. Who Killed The Encyclopedia? Who Killed The Encyclopedia? July 13, 2017 Who Killed The Encyclopedia? The fast demise of the physical encyclopedia came about thanks to an upstart publisher, an indecisive giant, and the world’s biggest software company. Strung Out Strung Out July 12, 2017 Strung Out The story of the stringy part of the banana nobody ever talks about, and why it might be worth talking about a little. Yes, it has a name. A Nod To Readability A Nod To Readability July 10, 2017 A Nod To Readability As it turns out, not everyone is a fan of slab-serif body copy. We're making some quick typography changes in an effort to not scare folks off. When Time Became Money When Time Became Money July 6, 2017 When Time Became Money The story of the calculagraph—a vintage device that helped pool halls, workplaces, and telephone operators track time—and the phrase that helped inspire it. Toilet Duck Dynasty Toilet Duck Dynasty July 5, 2017 Toilet Duck Dynasty How the Toilet Duck rode its unique bottle design to mainstream success—and brought clever design to the bathroom, too. Cheese, American Style Cheese, American Style July 4, 2017 Cheese, American Style Despite cheese existing long before the U.S. did, it has come to define American food culture globally—and not just because of American cheese. Why is that? Digital TV’s Tiny Achilles Heel Digital TV’s Tiny Achilles Heel July 3, 2017 Digital TV’s Tiny Achilles Heel The challenges of getting a portable digital television to actually show a working signal stand in strong contrast to the analog days. June The Internet On Dead Trees The Internet On Dead Trees June 29, 2017 The Internet On Dead Trees Books and periodicals about the internet were a curious phenomenon—in no small part because they frequently pandered to the largest possible audience. Fake It ’Til You Make It Fake It ’Til You Make It June 28, 2017 Fake It ’Til You Make It How imitation crab meat, despite still being made of seafood, has a lot of lessons to offer vegan meat makers as they start to aim for realism. More Dialing, More Weirdness More Dialing, More Weirdness June 27, 2017 More Dialing, More Weirdness There are lots more weird phone numbers out there—and some of them have pretty fascinating stories. Read on to learn more about the vintage phone system. Down With Snippet View Down With Snippet View June 26, 2017 Down With Snippet View The limitations of Google Books can be seen in the way that it handles obscure trade publications. Everyone who made that old magazine? Probably dead. Burrowing A Gopher Hole Burrowing A Gopher Hole June 22, 2017 Burrowing A Gopher Hole The Gopher protocol isn't supported by the modern web basically at all, but despite this, it lingers on, a quarter century from its peak. Here's how. It’s A Duck Blur It’s A Duck Blur June 21, 2017 It’s A Duck Blur We may be stuck waiting until August for a DuckTales revival from Disney, but here’s a quick reflection on the importance of the original show. In Case Of Emergency In Case Of Emergency June 20, 2017 In Case Of Emergency The nationwide roll-out of the 911 system was a difficult endeavor, and one that only made it past the finish line thanks to a charitable foundation. A Love Letter to Gingko A Love Letter to Gingko June 19, 2017 A Love Letter to Gingko The world's most interesting word processor is made by just one guy working alone. If more people knew about it, it would be a game-changer. Let's fix that. Life In Four Colors Life In Four Colors June 15, 2017 Life In Four Colors Somehow CGA graphics, the IBM PC’s first take on color, haven’t completely faded into history. But those four colors inspire a whole lot of nostalgia. I Wanna Trademark Things All Night I Wanna Trademark Things All Night June 14, 2017 I Wanna Trademark Things All Night Kiss mastermind Gene Simmons is getting crap for attempting to trademark the devil horns, rock music’s most important hand gesture. We’re piling on, too. A Window Into Windex A Window Into Windex June 13, 2017 A Window Into Windex From cleaning solutions to spray nozzles, the technology that made cleaning windows possible. And where did the word squeegee come from, anyway? American Guano American Guano June 12, 2017 American Guano The reason that the United States has control of so many random islands has much to do with an odd law passed just a few years before the Civil War. Back To The Shack Back To The Shack June 8, 2017 Back To The Shack RadioShack’s recent troubles might best be reflected by the recent auction of its corporate history—an auction that is actually full of interesting gadgets. Seaweed: The Next Kale? Seaweed: The Next Kale? June 7, 2017 Seaweed: The Next Kale? Entrepreneurs are making the case that seaweed, a nutrient-rich but weird food source, should go mainstream. Even if it doesn't, kelp could still prove key. Stone Stooges Stone Stooges June 5, 2017 Stone Stooges How The Three Stooges, icons of early film and late-night TV, inspired one late super-fan to carve his interest in the comedy troupe into his headstone. Pictures For Everyone Pictures For Everyone June 1, 2017 Pictures For Everyone The reason we’re so crazy about photos in the smartphone era is in no small part because of early innovations that brought photo processing to the masses. May Floating Fast Food Floating Fast Food May 31, 2017 Floating Fast Food The history of the McBarge, the former McDonald’s location created for Expo ’86 in Vancouver. Shockingly, it wasn’t the only fast food joint designed to float. Iceland’s Latest And Greatest Iceland’s Latest And Greatest May 29, 2017 Iceland’s Latest And Greatest One of the greatest business stories in Iceland’s long history, along with the current craze that’s got Icelanders shopping like crazy. Universal Themes Universal Themes May 25, 2017 Universal Themes The universal remote control, love it or hate it, made our lives just a little bit simpler starting in the ‘80s. It's not as good as it could be. That's OK. Weirdly Honest Weirdly Honest May 24, 2017 Weirdly Honest How Lincoln, Nebraska’s very own Weird Wally rewrote the book for used car salesmen everywhere—because he was way more honest than your average car hawker. Out Of Our League Out Of Our League May 23, 2017 Out Of Our League Is there room for another mainstream sports league? Despite lots of attempts over the years to introduce new pro sports, the answer appears to be no. Plotting A Takeover Plotting A Takeover May 22, 2017 Plotting A Takeover The Texas Instruments graphing calculator, the long-neglected computing platform required by many high school math students, finally gets some competition. 86’ed 86’ed May 18, 2017 86’ed Intel's processor business was massive, but a lengthy legal battle with a former business partner exposed a major flaw in its CPU designs—a trademark flaw. Swearing In Code Swearing In Code May 17, 2017 Swearing In Code How a ’60s psychedelic band turned a four-letter word into a hummable melody—and unwittingly screwed over a radio DJ who didn’t realize it. Building Blocks, Literally Building Blocks, Literally May 16, 2017 Building Blocks, Literally Perhaps alphabet blocks seem like an obvious idea now, but it took a lot of foundation to build up that pretty good idea into something incredibly common. Special Delivery Special Delivery May 15, 2017 Special Delivery It’s not often that someone figures out a unique way to deliver a pizza, which is why we should honor the driver who delivered to a stalled Amtrak train. The Invisible Puzzle The Invisible Puzzle May 11, 2017 The Invisible Puzzle Wireless spectrum is scarce, and while mobile providers have made a sport of grabbing as much as they can, the fact is, allocating it has always been hard. The Four-Minute Villain The Four-Minute Villain May 10, 2017 The Four-Minute Villain How the classic Batman TV show created a major debate around how much TV advertising was too much—and why the debate’s lessons eventually faded away. How The Cookie Crumbles How The Cookie Crumbles May 9, 2017 How The Cookie Crumbles Why did Hydrox cookies lose out to Oreo despite being the first cookie to market? Long story short: The name seemed like a better idea 100 years ago. Our Lives In Fabric Our Lives In Fabric May 8, 2017 Our Lives In Fabric How T-shirts, those bastions of cotton, became the perfect way to wear our feelings, along with the easiest way to get dressed in the morning. Clone Wars Clone Wars May 4, 2017 Clone Wars The Apple II computer didn't attract as many clones as the IBM PC, but the clone-makers the machine did attract often had pretty interesting second acts. “It's Weird That it Didn't Seem Weirder” “It's Weird That it Didn't Seem Weirder” May 3, 2017 “It's Weird That it Didn't Seem Weirder” Don’t Die’s David Wolinsky, a fellow traveler in the world of tech and gaming, offers his take on NESticle’s place in the broader culture of video games. Secretly Made With Meat Secretly Made With Meat May 2, 2017 Secretly Made With Meat Products you probably use all the time, from fabric softeners to condoms, use unexpected animal byproducts. But not Guinness anymore, fortunately. An Extra Serving An Extra Serving May 1, 2017 An Extra Serving The history of NESticle is so rich that some details wouldn’t fit into Ernie's recent Motherboard piece. He’s putting some of them here. April The Keys To Success The Keys To Success April 27, 2017 The Keys To Success A lot of early video game consoles secretly wanted to be home computers, too: Their makers either sold keyboard add-ons or failed miserably in the process. Stating The Seemingly Obvious Stating The Seemingly Obvious April 26, 2017 Stating The Seemingly Obvious As part of a new revamp of its liquor laws, Utah facilities now must feature a sign that tells customers whether a facility is a bar or restaurant. Why Are Trains Always Late? Why Are Trains Always Late? April 25, 2017 Why Are Trains Always Late? Despite its best efforts, Amtrak always seems like it has hugely delayed arrivals. One possible reason for that? It doesn't own most of the tracks. Addicted To Spectrum Addicted To Spectrum April 24, 2017 Addicted To Spectrum Wireless microphones are a hugely important technology for the stage, but the mobile industry keeps crowding out the theater industry's wireless spectrum. Operating In Obscurity Operating In Obscurity April 20, 2017 Operating In Obscurity It ain’t just about Windows, macOS, or Linux. Also-ran or fairly obscure operating systems, like OS/2, are everywhere—in some cases, hiding under your nose. A Warped Mindset A Warped Mindset April 19, 2017 A Warped Mindset How the Nintendo Times, a Nintendo fan site, is covering the release of the NES in real time—three decades after its original release. CMYK All The Way CMYK All The Way April 18, 2017 CMYK All The Way How mass-production printing technology, starting with the lithograph, was pushed forward thanks to a growing interest in color. Hurricane Ned Hurricane Ned April 17, 2017 Hurricane Ned There’s a Ned Flanders-themed metal band notable enough that it’s about to go on a nationwide headlining tour. Yes, you read that right. We’ll Send Him Cheesy Movies We’ll Send Him Cheesy Movies April 12, 2017 We’ll Send Him Cheesy Movies The much-hyped revival of Mystery Science Theater 3000 is a rare thing: A chance for a creator to take a second stab at his best idea. Lickety Split Lickety Split April 11, 2017 Lickety Split Why lick-on adhesives on letters maintain a market presence, despite being seemingly old-hat. (Well, except for stamps. We kinda gave up on ‘em there.) COBOLed Together COBOLed Together April 10, 2017 COBOLed Together An essential part of the computer era’s birth, the programming language COBOL still hangs on—which is good for would-be retirees who know the language. Like A Rock Like A Rock April 5, 2017 Like A Rock What the story of Bob Seger's decision to keep most of his albums off of music services teaches about the nature of stubbornness. Around the World Around the World April 3, 2017 Around the World The online service Radiooooo, a global-minded vintage music project, eyes a physical form of its really awesome idea. March Tiny Data Tiny Data March 29, 2017 Tiny Data That time IBM sold the Port-A-Punch, a device that allowed people to make their own punch cards to collect data in the field. Hey, it’s easier than writing. Boom, Roasted Boom, Roasted March 28, 2017 Boom, Roasted Not every fast food chain is going to be a success. And often, the best you can hope for is the kind of revival Kenny Rogers Roasters is having in Asia. They Stopped (Sorta) They Stopped (Sorta) March 27, 2017 They Stopped (Sorta) The Associated Press finally allows the singular “they” in some limited instances—a big move in the world of copy-editing. Deep Purple Deep Purple March 22, 2017 Deep Purple Purple.com, a long-in-operation domain owned by an individual, isn’t for sale. On the plus side, the mattress company Purple appears to not have needed it. Seek And Spell Seek And Spell March 22, 2017 Seek And Spell Teaching computers to read was one of the 20th century's great challenges. At first, the secret to optical character recognition was purpose-built type. Stuck On You Stuck On You March 21, 2017 Stuck On You Suction cups are the tiniest little vacuums around, and there’s one U.S. company that sells millions of them every single year. Here’s how they caught on. Going Soft Going Soft March 20, 2017 Going Soft Remembering that time the computer industry bought into soft modems, which shoved the work of managing a dial-up modem onto overworked CPUs. Frickin' Laser Beams Frickin' Laser Beams March 16, 2017 Frickin' Laser Beams The tale of Science Faction, a company that brought massive laser light shows to venues around the world. They blew a lot of minds along the way. Ink-Stained Headlines Ink-Stained Headlines March 15, 2017 Ink-Stained Headlines The printer ink racket has always been a touch unsavory, but a series of recent news stories suggest that it might be directly influencing crime. It’s Not Styrofoam It’s Not Styrofoam March 14, 2017 It’s Not Styrofoam Once seen as an incredibly innovative, lightweight material, expanded polystyrene foam is now just a big problem—in part because it’s so hard to recycle. This Is My Top Secret Room This Is My Top Secret Room March 13, 2017 This Is My Top Secret Room If your name is Chris Houlihan, you’re immortalized, somewhat obscurely, in The Legend of Zelda lore. Here’s why the series features some random guy. Reverse-Engineering The Industry Reverse-Engineering The Industry March 9, 2017 Reverse-Engineering The Industry Third-party developers weren't always quite so revered in the video game industry, but a pair of legal decisions helped them earn their place at the table. This Van Could Change Your Life This Van Could Change Your Life March 8, 2017 This Van Could Change Your Life The Shins could make a talented band’s life a little easier by giving away their old touring van. But how much of a deal is freecycling an old van, really? The Great Gnome Fad The Great Gnome Fad March 6, 2017 The Great Gnome Fad Roughly 40 years ago, an illustrated Dutch book about gnomes took the U.S. book market by storm—and, curiously, quickly faded out of view. Your Code Is Junky Your Code Is Junky March 2, 2017 Your Code Is Junky FrontPage tried to solve an important problem in the early-internet era—the idea of making web design accessible to mere mortals—but the code wasn't so hot. A New Coat of Paint A New Coat of Paint March 1, 2017 A New Coat of Paint The story of a body painter and storyteller who’s bouncing back in a big way after a major health scare. This creative spirit can’t be stopped so easily. February Lemony Fresh Lemony Fresh February 28, 2017 Lemony Fresh Lemon juice has long come in containers shaped like lemons. In the U.K., the containers hold an important legacy—both with pancakes and the legal system. a lowercase controversy a lowercase controversy February 27, 2017 a lowercase controversy how Quinnipiac university, a school known for its polling, got embroiled in a debate over a single letter’s case. The Game Of Life The Game Of Life February 22, 2017 The Game Of Life The Wall was built to change lives, but NBC’s hit game show, in its own weird way, reflects the complexity of those lives, along with our current culture. No Comment No Comment February 21, 2017 No Comment The audio commentary track, a staple of films on optical media, may not last into the age of streaming. Is it a victim of indifference by Netflix? Pass Over The Beer Pass Over The Beer February 20, 2017 Pass Over The Beer A hummus-flavored beer from Israel came about because its maker was on the hunt for a gluten-free brew. (For some Jews, it’s also kosher beer for Passover.) Delivered To Your Door Delivered To Your Door February 16, 2017 Delivered To Your Door The internet made monthly subscription boxes cool, but the roots of this business model can be found in decisions made in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Tear Down This Paywall Tear Down This Paywall February 15, 2017 Tear Down This Paywall Bloomberg thinks you should pay them tens of thousands of dollars a year and subscribe to its terminal to read its old stories. The public should push back. We’re Gunning For IBM We’re Gunning For IBM February 14, 2017 We’re Gunning For IBM The minicomputer maker Wang Laboratories ran an ad on the Super Bowl long before Apple did. So why did the company and its minicomputers become a footnote? The Late-Career Recovery The Late-Career Recovery February 13, 2017 The Late-Career Recovery The art of getting rediscovered late in life—including how legendary acoustic guitarist John Fahey bounced back thanks to a 1994 Spin magazine feature. Throwing Muses Throwing Muses February 8, 2017 Throwing Muses With the help of a Florida Gators star, the granny free throw is making a comeback. We suddenly feel our shot percentage going way up. We Nailed It We Nailed It February 7, 2017 We Nailed It Fingernail clippers are apparently a relatively recent invention. Did we go through life without an easy way to trim fingernails for thousands of years? Facts Are Facts Facts Are Facts February 6, 2017 Facts Are Facts You’re using the word “factoid” wrong, and so are we. (Sorry about that.) Here’s how we lost our way with “factoid.” Hatching a Plan Hatching a Plan February 3, 2017 Hatching a Plan If you can’t get your hands on a Hatchimal—even a full month after Christmas—maybe you should just buy some fertilized eggs and do it the way God intended. When Discs Die When Discs Die February 2, 2017 When Discs Die CDs were sold to consumers as these virtually indestructible platters, but the truth, as exemplified by the disc rot phenomenon, is more complicated. A Weaponized Slogan A Weaponized Slogan February 1, 2017 A Weaponized Slogan Verizon’s popular “Can you hear me now?” tagline has been ruined by phone scammers trying to buy stuff with your voice, the Better Business Bureau reports. January U Can’t Touch This U Can’t Touch This January 30, 2017 U Can’t Touch This Apple’s Touch Bar is proving problematic for the North Carolina Bar. It’s the latest such example of tech's drumbeat unwittingly making it easier to cheat. An Impurrfect History An Impurrfect History January 25, 2017 An Impurrfect History Cats.com, a domain name that has languished, is currently up for auction. Let’s take a look back of the history of the internet’s biggest domain underdog. The Stammer Of Success The Stammer Of Success January 24, 2017 The Stammer Of Success When 53-year-old John Larkin couldn't get past his stuttering, he wrote a song about it. Soon enough, Scatman John was Big in Japan—and everywhere else. You’re Wearing An Antenna You’re Wearing An Antenna January 23, 2017 You’re Wearing An Antenna Why headphones are often not optional when it comes to portable devices with FM radio functionality. Let’s Live Forever Let’s Live Forever January 20, 2017 Let’s Live Forever A recent study found that eating hot peppers could help decrease your mortality. Let’s take this idea to its logical conclusion by going as hot as possible. Don’t Touch That Dial Don’t Touch That Dial January 17, 2017 Don’t Touch That Dial Why attempts to improve AM and FM radio technologies tend to land with a thud—a thud no harder felt than with the FMX standard, circa 1989. Ice Cream Fakery Ice Cream Fakery January 16, 2017 Ice Cream Fakery Why you can't find the phrase "ice cream" anywhere on some varieties of Breyers, and whether it being a "frozen dairy dessert" should bother you. Amiga Appreciation Amiga Appreciation January 16, 2017 Amiga Appreciation Viva Amiga, a new documentary on the Amiga computer, highlights why the platform never completely disappeared, even after all these years. Terrible Digital Trinkets Terrible Digital Trinkets January 13, 2017 Terrible Digital Trinkets We did a status check on the current state of novelty USB drives so you don’t have to. (Not that we would expect you’d want to.) All Sock Puppets Go To Heaven All Sock Puppets Go To Heaven January 12, 2017 All Sock Puppets Go To Heaven If someone were to create an online store like Pets.com today, it probably would've worked. So why did it fail miserably back in 2000? A few reasons. Weirdest Ransom Note Ever Weirdest Ransom Note Ever January 11, 2017 Weirdest Ransom Note Ever The original piece of ransomware involved AIDS researchers, an evolutionary biologist, and a P.O. Box in Panama. Oh, and butterflies. Cutting A Rug Cutting A Rug January 10, 2017 Cutting A Rug Carpets used to be important cultural artifacts. Now they extend from wall to wall, got shaggy, and are sold via earworm jingles. What a weird evolution. Countering the Counterculture Countering the Counterculture January 9, 2017 Countering the Counterculture The New Creation, one of the earliest—and most unusual—examples of Christian rock, was brought to life by a mother-son team. Let's Talk About Forks, Baby Let's Talk About Forks, Baby January 6, 2017 Let's Talk About Forks, Baby From giant spoons to twisty forks, here are a few weird utensils that will probably make it harder for you to eat than it already is. Streaming Before Netflix Streaming Before Netflix January 5, 2017 Streaming Before Netflix In 1998, a Hong Kong telecom firm spent $1.5 billion trying to make video-on-demand happen. iTV was so ahead of its time that it beat Netflix's DVD service. A Bigger, Better Tape A Bigger, Better Tape January 4, 2017 A Bigger, Better Tape The story behind the Elcaset, one of Sony’s first attempts to prove that it could make a better format than everyone else. Who Doesn’t Love Pickles? Who Doesn’t Love Pickles? January 3, 2017 Who Doesn’t Love Pickles? Generally dill-flavored, always salty, and often found in iconic Jewish delis, the pickled cucumber is an icon of strong flavor. (As is pickle juice.) Let’s Be Frank Let’s Be Frank January 2, 2017 Let’s Be Frank The story of Frank Sidebottom, a character with a giant head who obsessed over both pop music and his hometown of Timperley.