I write about weird history, TV, books, and other things.
News
Oct 25, 2026
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3 min read
We've got the history of scratch-and-sniff, robo-puffins, space weather, and more!
Feature
+2
Oct 18, 2026
5 min read
Those beaked, bespectacled masks have been around for centuries. But were they ever actually used by doctors?
Books
+3
Oct 11, 2026
8 min read
I interviewed them about their new book, A Wall Is Also a Road
Interviews
+1
Oct 4, 2026
4 min read
A remastered 4K version of Guillermo del Toro's film is heading back to theaters this October
Sep 27, 2026
2 min read
Warning: Dirigible content lies ahead!
Sep 20, 2026
The CBS sitcom Eternally Yours is the latest series that uses vampires to explore what it means to be alive.
Sep 13, 2026
I've inadvertently read five books this year with "witch" in the title. Here's how they stack up.
Sep 6, 2026
I toured the museum before it opens later this month; it's cool, and not just because Star Wars, Batman & Banksy are in the same building.
Aug 30, 2026
Want to watch old episodes of Supermarket Sweep? I got you.
Aug 23, 2026
Department stores used to be full of pneumatic tubes, all thanks to one guy.
Aug 16, 2026
I talked with showrunner Brad Caleb Kane about the Friday the 13th prequel.
Aug 9, 2026
I've interviewed showrunners, talked TV history, delved into 'shows within shows' & more...
History
Aug 2, 2026
Pneumatic tubes played a big part, as these posts make clear.
Jul 26, 2026
Here are some oddball stories you might have missed this month.
Jul 19, 2026
Matt Baker's book, The Academy of Unusual Skills, will teach you how.
Jul 12, 2026
Once Upon a Time in Space gives us an emotional story about the International Space Station; I interviewed filmmaker James Bluemel and astronaut Michael Foale about it.
Jul 5, 2026
6 min read
He also thought that "swarms" of life came to our planet from outer space
Jun 28, 2026
I've gathered a potpourri of items from around the internet for your enjoyment!
Jun 21, 2026
I’m not quite sure what that means.
Jun 14, 2026
What happens to trash when it gets sucked at speeds up to 60 miles per hour?
Jun 7, 2026
Happy 250th birthday, America!
May 31, 2026
Murderbot's Sanctuary Moon is one of the best shows-in-a-show out there. I talked with Martha Wells about her creation.
Lists
May 24, 2026
The retro technology shows up on the small screen in the strangest ways
May 17, 2026
Companies are testing satellites made to beam space solar power to Earth
May 10, 2026
For over a century, people have imagined how reflecting the sun’s rays can help — or harm — the world
