Reading Between the Lines: How a Supermarket Manager Invented the Barcode on a Beach
How a beachside doodle became the barcode: Woodland’s sand sketch, decades of engineering, and a 1974 supermarket scan that changed retail forever.
Rabbit Holes
Rabbit Holes
Some threads are meant to be pulled. Here, I trace the bizarre, the forgotten, and the fascinating lines of history, science, and culture. Consider this your official invitation to fall down a rabbit hole. I’ve already checked; they’re infinitely deep.
Rabbit Holes
Forbidden Snacks: The Secret Life of Silica Gel Packets
I reveal the secret life of silica gel packets: what they are, how they work as desiccants, their history, surprising uses, safety, and why those stern “DO NOT EAT” labels matter.
Rabbit Holes
The Universal Scream: How One Man’s Yell Became Hollywood’s Biggest Inside Joke
Discover the surprisingly long and winding journey of the Wilhelm scream, Hollywood’s most iconic stock sound effect, from a 1951 swamp scene to its galactic fame.
Rabbit Holes
The Devil’s Pitchfork: How the Fork Became a Weapon, a Scandal, and a Tool
Discover the scandalous past of the dinner fork, once viewed as a tool of the devil and a symbol of effeminacy, and its centuries-long journey to becoming a dining staple.
Rabbit Holes
The Shocking Tale of AC/DC: How Edison and Tesla Battled for Our Electrical Future
A dramatic account of Edison’s DC vs. Tesla’s AC, featuring PR stunts, animal electrocutions, and the ultimate triumph of alternating current in the electrifying War of the Currents.
Rabbit Holes
From Holy Water to Hot Pizza: The Bizarre 2,000-Year History of the Vending Machine
From ancient Egyptian holy water dispensers to Japan’s bewildering array of goods, trace the 2,000-year history of vending machines. An exploration of automated commerce and human ingenuity.
Rabbit Holes
The Quencher Cult: How a 40-Ounce Tumbler Became a Modern Status Symbol
Explore the baffling rise of Stanley cups as social symbols, fueled by TikTok influencers, limited editions, and the psychology of collecting—revealing how a simple mug became a cultural phenomenon.
Rabbit Holes
The Cicero of Cyberspace: Unraveling the Mystery of ‘Lorem Ipsum’
Unravel the quirky history of Lorem Ipsum, from Cicero’s philosophical musings to its enduring, nonsensical reign in design. A linguistic detective story for the digital age.
Rabbit Holes
The Ghost in the Machine: A Brief History of Canned Laughter
Charles Douglass’s ‘Laff Box’ birthed the TV laugh track. I delve into its psychological impact, its golden age, and why this phantom laughter eventually became a punchline itself.
Rabbit Holes
The Green Desert: How a Status Symbol of French Aristocracy Took Over Your Front Yard
From aristocratic displays to suburban conformity, discover the bizarre history and environmental cost of the perfect, utterly useless lawn. It’s a green lie we’ve all bought into.