On this day in history: In 1471, King Henry VI was killed in the tower of London. Edward IV took the throne. In 1542, Hernando de Soto died along the Mississippi River while searching for gold. In 1819, bicycles were first seen in the U.S. in New York City. They were originally known as “swift walkers.” And in 1927, Charles Lindberg completed the first solo nonstop airplane flight across the Atlantic Ocean. The trip began May 20.

Today Is National Memo Day!
Did you get the memo?

The Confusion Of Expensive Coffee – Just because a specific coffee is pricier doesn’t mean it’s necessarily better.

8 Tips To Keep Your Desk Clutter Free – I had to replace my computer last week, and it threw me off for a few days, as I got it situated and organized. In the process, I reorganized my desk and removed a lot of stuff that was just in the way. Here are some great tips for achieving a clutter free work area.

Slavery In The Modern Era – We tend to think that slavery is a thing of the past, and that it doesn’t exist anymore. But it does, in many forms, and as difficult a topic as it is, this is a very interesting story.

The Bobbit Worm – This is a small sea worm found in Indonesia, and it’s the stuff nightmares are made of. I’m kinda glad they are super small…

On this day in history: In 558, the dome of the church of St. Sophia in Constantinople collapsed. It was immediately rebuilt as ordered by Justinian. In 1789, the first U.S. Presidential Inaugural Ball was held in New York City. And in 1946, Tokyo Telecommunications Engineering Corp. was founded. The company was later renamed Sony.

Today Is National Melanoma Monday!
As one who has suffered from skin cancer, I encourage you to check your skin regularly!

Brewing Coffee With The Coffee Sock – How many ways can coffee be brewed? I’m not sure there is an answer to that. And the coffee sock seems to be an exceptionally easy way to do it. You can get one for just a few bucks at their website.

National Geographic 360° Videos – Set aside some time and watch a few of the videos on this list. They are completely interactive, so you can drag the screen to see different views. Utterly fascinating!

The Mysterious Death Of The Namesake Of The Douglas Fir – Have you ever heard of the Douglas Fir? Have you ever heard of the man it was named after? And have you heard the mystery and controversy surrounding his death?

Lady Bug Wings – These little bugs have a very intricate wing system, especially when it comes to folding them up. This is a brief but interesting video.

On this day in history: In 1789, George Washington took office as the first elected U.S. president. In 1803, the U.S. purchased the Louisiana Territory from France for $15 million. In 1938, Happy Rabbit appeared in the cartoon Porky’s Hare Hunt. This rabbit would later evolve into Bugs Bunny. And in 1939, the first railroad car equipped with fluorescent lights was put into service. The train car was known as the “General Pershing Zephyr.”

Today Is National Bugs Bunny Day!
Let’s have a cartoon marathon!

The Many Faces Of Coffee – Have you ever heard of coffee honey? No? Then read this.

The Libraries Of Famous Men: Louis L’Amour – I have read almost every single book written by Louis L’Amour, most more than once. He’s one of my favorite authors of all time. I have often wondered what he read, and here’s a snapshot of his library. I completely love this article!

Bread Clips – You wouldn’t think there is enough information about a simple bread clip to warrant an entire article… But there is. And it’s pretty interesting.

Bubble Wrap – My kids love this stuff. And the ones that don’t pop easily are a massive disappointment to them. Here’s a brief video showing how it’s made.

On this day in history: In 1789, President George Washington moved into Franklin House, New York. It was the first executive mansion. In 1900, the word “hillbilly” was first used in print in an article in the New York Journal. It was spelled “Hill-Billie.” And in 1954, Hank Aaron of the Milwaukee Braves hit his first major-league home run.

Today Is National Take A Chance Day!
Break out of your comfort zone and do something bold!

Hacking Dark Roast – I’m a fan of a light roast coffee. I find darker roasts carry a burnt taste that I just don’t care for; I’d rather taste the flavors inherent in the bean itself. But if you like dark roast, here are few ways you can make it better.

Turn Off Your Push Notifications – How many times a day does your phone draw your attention away from your work to see what just came in? Now ask yourself how many of those distractions do you really need. Now read this article.

The Truth About Wildlife Photography – This is disappointing, but hardly surprising. It’s a long article, but very informative.

The Bendy Straw – Have you ever wondered how this was invented? Well now you can know.

On this day in history: In 1900, the first book of postage stamps was issued. The two-cent stamps were available in books of 12, 24 and 48 stamps. In 1922, Annie Oakley shot 100 clay targets in a row, to set a women’s record. And in 1972, Apollo 16 blasted off on a voyage to the moon. It was the fifth manned moon landing.

Today Is National Bean Counter Day!
Give your tax preparer a big “Thank You!”

3 Alternatives To Using A Keurig Coffee Maker – I bought one. I am ashamed to admit it, but I did. It lasted a few months and then I gave it away. It was a complete disappointment. There are better ways to make coffee.

Eight Unique Ozarks Legends – Have you ever heard of the Blue Man? Or the Joplin Spooklight? Or the Albino Farm? These are all legends heard in the Ozarks, and I heard them all growing up in this region. This article lists several of the more famous ones, and provides links for further reading. Check it out!

TerraGenesis – I recently discovered a strategy game that I really enjoy that allows you to terraform and colonize the planets in our solar system and beyond. I’m hooked for the moment and am thoroughly enjoying it.

Jupiter – Based on the link above about the game TerraGenesis, I decided to colonize one of Jupiter’s moons. So here’s a video of Jupiter to whet your appetite.

On this day in history: In 1885, Eastman Kodak produced the first commercial motion picture film in Rochester, NY. In 1937, spinach growers in Crystal City, TX, erected a statue of Popeye. And in 1953, Dr. Jonas Salk announced the development of a vaccine against the crippling disease of polio.

Today Is National Spinach Day!
So go have a salad for lunch!

Home Roasting Coffee With The Whirley-Pop Popcorn Popper – I have roasted my own coffee for several years using an air popcorn popper. Here’s how to use the stop top variety. And you can pick on up from Amazon.

Want More Confidence? Quit Measuring These 4 Things – Some things just don’t really have the importance that we associate with them. Check out these four things that we tend to measure, and then stop measuring them.

Why You Really Need To Stop Using Public Wi-Fi – Too many people have suffered from identity theft, but there are so many things we can do to protect ourselves from it. Here’s one suggestion.

History’s Deadliest Colors – Did you know that colors could be deadly? This video was pretty informative and fascinating.

On this day in history: In 1831, the first bank robbery in America was reported. The City Bank of New York City lost $245,000 in the robbery. In 1915, Pluto was photographed for the first time. However, it was not known at the time. In 1957, Elvis Presley puts a down payment on Graceland. And in 1964, Sean Connery began shooting his role in Goldfinger.

Today Is National Let’s Laugh Day!
Tell a corny joke and share some laughter with a friend!

How To Read A Coffee Bag – This is a basic life skill that so many people don’t have.

10 Time Management Tips For Beginners – If you feel like you have no control over your time, you may need to consider some changes to how you manage your time. Here are a few tips to get you going.

Tolkien And Disney – To be honest, I have never been a massive fan of Disney movies (gasp!). I wouldn’t go so far as to say I’m in the same camp as J. R. R. Tolkien on this, but I certainly don’t completely disagree either. Whether you are a Disney fan or not, this is an interesting read.

Watch A Tarantula Crawl Out Of Its Own Skeleton – If you don’t like spiders, then you may not want to watch a tarantula molt its exoskeleton. But if you do watch, you’ll be fascinated.