John Cox

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mossandfog.com

Robot in Disguise

This piece walks through building an entertainment-ready backyard deck, blending practical guidance with the author's own renovation story. It covers layout planning, material choices like teak and composite decking, ambiance elements such as lighting and fire pits, built-in seating and outdoor kitchens, plus personal touches like string lights and multi-tiered designs for defining spaces. It's essentially a homeowner's how-to checklist for turning a plain deck into a functional, stylish gathering space, worth keeping for the concrete feature ideas rather than any technical construction detail.

Permalink backyardlandscapinglightingfire pit

medium.com

52 things I learned in 2020 - Magnetic Notes - Medium

This is Tom Whitwell's annual "52 things I learned" roundup, a grab-bag list of curious facts and findings gathered over the year rather than a single argument—covering everything from why municipal trees are planted male, to the hidden Fetal Bovine Serum in lab-grown meat, to attractive criminals getting lighter sentences, to Warsaw's clam-powered water safety system. It's worth keeping as a dense trivia stockpile with sourced links for each claim, useful for dinner-party facts, writing hooks, or spotting patterns across unrelated fields like tech, biology, economics, and history.

Permalink technologyculturehistoryenergy

marathonhandbook.com

What's A Good Marathon Time? Average Marathon Times By Age, Sex + Ability

This piece compiles a massive dataset (nearly 20 million results across 32,000+ races) into age- and sex-graded marathon time tables spanning beginner to elite/world-record levels, built using Daniels' VDOT framework and WMA age-grading standards. Its real argument is that "good" is not one number: it depends on whether you mean faster-than-average, competitive-for-your-age via age-grading, or a qualifying standard like Boston, and that half-marathon time (via the Riegel formula) predicts marathon performance better than any static benchmark table. It's worth keeping for the actual percentile/ability-level charts plus a practical tail-end of training tips (pace testing, intervals, fueling formulas, strength work) for chasing a specific goal time.

Permalink nutritionrunningtrainingmarathon

longreads.com

A Manson Murder Investigation 20 Years In the Making: ‘There Are Still Secrets’

This is an interview with Tom O'Neill about his two-decade odyssey researching CHAOS, his book arguing that the standard Manson murders narrative concocted by prosecutor Vincent Bugliosi conceals darker, unresolved connections—particularly Manson's ties to CIA mind-control researcher Jolly West and MKUltra-era experiments in the Haight-Ashbury scene. O'Neill discusses how the reporting spiraled beyond his control, unearthing suppressed police evidence, terrified and hostile sources, and unresolved leads he ultimately had to publish without tidy conclusions, while wrestling with the ethical risk of feeding conspiracy paranoia rather than genuine accountability. It's worth keeping for its candid look at the messy, obsessive process of long-form investigative reporting and its skepticism toward tidy true-crime narratives generally.

Permalink 1960sinvestigationtrue crime

lifehacker.com

25 of the Best Hulu Original Series You Should Be Watching

This Lifehacker roundup by Ross Johnson highlights Hulu’s strongest original programming, arguing the platform’s output reaches far beyond headline hits to include bold dramas, comedy, animation, and genre fare. The list surveys recent and legacy titles—from sci‑fi prequel [[Alien: Earth]] and legal drama [[Reasonable Doubt]] to suburban thriller [[Paradise]] and true‑crime adaptation [[The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox]]—alongside lighter entries like sitcom revival [[King of the Hill]], workplace comedy [[Deli Boys]], queer ensemble [[Mid-Century Modern]], teen fantasy [[Spellbound]], and family animation [[The Bravest Knight]]. Johnson emphasizes standout performances, creative showrunners, and Hulu’s appetite for both serialized prestige and smaller, risk-taking series, recommending viewers explore beyond the platform’s buzzy hits to discover diverse voices and unexpected gems. It mixes 2024–25 releases with older favorites while flagging renewals and binge‑friendly picks.

Permalink televisiondramacomedyentertainment

kottke.org

Tarantino’s Fan Fiction: Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

Kirby Ferguson's video essay traces how Tarantino's signature remix technique evolved past overt film-quoting (à la Kill Bill) into something subtler in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, where he remixes real historical events, figures, and Hollywood lore rather than other movies' footage. The argument is that the copying habit never stopped—only the source material shifted from cinema to reality itself. Worth keeping for the reframing of Tarantino's "originality" as a continuation, not abandonment, of his remix ethos.

Permalink filmvideoquentin tarantinomovies

kottke.org

Brandy Alexander

A nostalgic riff on the brandy alexander that doubles as a recipe post: Carmody recounts a bartender botching the drink into an accidental white Russian, then lays out his preferred cognac-based version (adapted from liquor.com) with notes on why cognac, coupe glasses, and a boozier ratio beat the usual variations. It closes with a pop-culture aside tying the drink to Feist's song of the same name and John Lennon's infamous drunken Troubadour incident during his "lost weekend."

Permalink recipescocktailsdrinksjohn lennon

kk.org

RVs – Cool Tools

This roundup pairs two vintage guides to living untethered from fixed housing: a boondocking manual covering off-grid RV logistics (batteries, solar, water, mail-forwarding via Escapees) for full-timers who camp in Walmart lots and casinos rather than paid RV parks, and a Cheap RV Living website documenting shoestring van-dwelling, from stealth-parking a beat-up van behind your workplace to gear hacks like a dedicated "pee bottle" and DIY kitchens. Together they're a practical field manual for nomadic, low-cost living outside conventional housing, worth keeping for anyone curious about the mechanics of that lifestyle rather than the romance of it.

Permalink campingsolaroff-gridrv

www.insidehook.com

The "Daily 50" Is a Simple Routine That Builds Lean Strength

The piece champions the "Daily 50" — 50 push-ups, 50 air squats, a 50-second wall sit, and a 50-second plank, split up however you like but done daily — as a no-equipment, anywhere workout built on functional compound moves and isometric holds. It argues the real value is consistency and accessibility (great for travel or getting back on track after a lapse) rather than serious hypertrophy, since the body will eventually plateau without progressive overload or gym work. Worth keeping as a low-barrier maintenance routine to fall back on, not a full training program.

Permalink fitnesswellnessstrength trainingexercise

screenrant.com

8 Most Exciting Upcoming Sci-Fi Movies Based On Books

A ranked rundown of upcoming sci-fi film adaptations, counting down from eight to one, covering everything from Josh Holloway's One Second After and Blomkamp's grittier Starship Troopers remake to Bradley Cooper's long-gestating Hyperion and Villeneuve's still-pending Rendezvous with Rama. It puts Gosling's Project Hail Mary and Villeneuve's Dune Messiah-based Part Three at the top as the most anticipated, with release dates, directors, and casting details noted for each pick. Useful as a quick reference for what's actually confirmed versus still stuck in development limbo.

Permalink dunesci-fihollywoodmovies

www.wanderwithjo.com

Why French & German Beaches Are Embracing Naturism While U.S. Retreats Shrink

Piece traces Cap d'Agde's evolution from a 1950s-60s French experiment in body-acceptance and communal living into what's now billed as the world's largest naturist resort town, complete with its own bakeries, shops, marinas and unspoken codes of consent and discretion. Its real argument is philosophical rather than touristic: naturism there functions as "une philosophie de vie" tied to French joie de vivre, where stripping away clothing and social markers supposedly levels hierarchies and produces more genuine, judgment-free interaction. Worth keeping less as a travel guide and more as a case study in how a countercultural lifestyle experiment got normalized into a functioning village economy and cultural landmark.

Permalink wellnesstravellifestyleunited states

redsetteragency.com

Words we love: Pebbling – a new love language | Blog

Named after Gentoo penguins, who court mates by presenting pebbles for nest-building, "pebbling" has become dating-world slang for sending memes and gifs to signal you're thinking of someone. The author riffs on this, extending it beyond dating to everyday relationships — small gifts left for her daughter, memes exchanged with friends — arguing these low-cost, low-effort gestures matter more than their size suggests. It's a light personal essay on how tiny, frequent tokens of attention sustain connection, worth keeping as a reminder to keep "pebbling" the people you love.

Permalink relationshipsgiftsparenting

www.thekitchn.com

I Set Out to Quit Buying Groceries Sold in Plastic, and Ended Up Saving $40 a Month Along the Way

Filson turns grocery shopping into a self-imposed game where plastic packaging counts as "lava" to avoid, opting instead for glass, paper, aluminum, or package-free goods—a shift that's shaved roughly 20% off her monthly food and household budget. She walks through category-by-category swaps (glass-jarred yogurt and condiments, paper-wrapped deli meat and cheese, bulk bins, farmers-market produce) and argues that less packaging often means genuinely lower prices, not just an environmental upside. It's a practical, brand-specific guide worth keeping if you want concrete substitutes rather than vague "reduce plastic" advice.

Permalink sustainabilityshoppingbudgetsustainable

www.gearpatrol.com

Did Hoka Accidentally Make the Perfect Camping Shoe?

Hoka's Ora Primo EXT reimagines the recovery clog as a Birkenstock-Crocs hybrid, pairing a dual-layer EVA midsole and massaging insole dimples with reinforced sidewalls, a rubber toecap, and a suede upper for outdoor durability. Its standout detail is a G-hook closure that doubles as a pack strap, letting it clip onto a backpack like a Crocs carabiner setup, making it a stylish contender for camp footwear. It launches overseas at 145 CHF (~$180) with US availability expected in early November.

Permalink campingfootwearrecoverylightweight

www.gearpatrol.com

This Immaculate Vintage Mercedes Q-Ship Reminds Us Why It’s One of Benz’s Coolest Cars In the Past 50 Years

Gear Patrol traces the legend of the Mercedes-Benz W116 450SEL 6.9, the AMG-adjacent hot rod born from Erich Waxenberger and Hans Werner-Aufrecht's "Red Pig" racing experiments, which stuffed a massaged 6.8-liter M100 V8 and Citroën-derived hydropneumatic suspension into a full-size luxury sedan to create the world's fastest production sedan of the mid-1970s. The piece uses a pristine, Cannonball Run-podium example currently listed on Bring a Trailer as a hook to explain the engineering (dry-sump lubrication, anti-squat/anti-dive geometry, early Bosch ABS) that let a 4,400-pound sled outrun contemporary sports cars while retaining Mercedes comfort and safety, earning praise from journalists like David E. Davis and Brock Yates. Worth keeping as a compact history of a cult classic that prefigures both AMG performance and modern adaptive suspension tech.

Permalink engineeringperformance1970s

apple.news

7 Side Hustle Ideas That Are Perfect for Introverts — Inc.

For introverts who find social interaction draining, numerous side hustles allow earning significant income from home with minimal face-to-face contact. Options range from creative pursuits like online retail, stock photography, and plant selling, to service-based work such as proofreading, website testing, and bookkeeping—with some positions paying $30 to $57,000+ annually. Many platforms like Etsy, Fiverr, and Upwork enable these workers to connect with clients remotely while leveraging their existing skills or interests.

Permalink applenewslinkside hustle

www.gearpatrol.com

Solo Stove’s New Family-Friendly Fire Pit Is High on Vibes, Low on Hassle

Solo Stove, the brand that built its name on smokeless wood-burning fire pits after a breakout 2016 Kickstarter, has launched its first propane model, the Infinity Flame, priced at $600. It uses a dual-burner system and a perforated center disc to replicate the rise and swirl of a real wood fire rather than the flat, artificial look typical of gas fire pits, though it burns through a 20-pound propane tank in about five hours. Worth noting for anyone tracking the brand's expansion beyond fire pits into griddles, pizza ovens, and lifestyle acquisitions like Chubbies and Oru Kayak.

Permalink gearbackyardoutdoorfire pit

apple.news

I tried everything to get better sleep. These five items actually helped — Guardian US

A journalist with chronic sleep issues and sound/light sensitivity reviews tech tools she's actually used to improve her sleep, ranging from a $20 pair of Loop earplugs to a $349 Elemind headband that uses brain-wave stimulation. She finds that while some devices are genuine snake oil, several genuinely help—particularly the Elemind for fall-asleep assistance and travel, noise-canceling earbuds for blocking disruptive sounds, and a bone-conduction pillow speaker that doesn't require in-ear wear. The piece emphasizes that these tools work best when you're genuinely trying to sleep rather than as magical fixes, and offers budget-friendly alternatives alongside premium options.

Permalink healthwellnesssleepprivacy

apple.news

5 Essential Apple TV Apps You Need To Install In 2025

This guide recommends five underutilized Apple TV apps beyond major streaming services: Infuse for playing locally stored video files with extensive format support and optional premium features like HDR, Letterboxd for rating and reviewing movies within a social community, Artcast for displaying artwork and sharing user-created pieces, Trakt for tracking watched content across multiple streaming services and maintaining watchlists, and RetroArch for playing classic video games from vintage consoles. Most apps offer free functionality with optional paid tiers that unlock additional features like advanced filtering, cloud syncing, or revenue sharing for content creators.

Permalink appsstreamingapple

www.nytimes.com

Smart secondhand shopping

Wirecutter's Alexander Aciman puts Lululemon's "Like New" resale program to the test, ordering flagship leggings and other pieces to judge whether the discounts justify buying someone else's used activewear. The piece weighs pricing, condition, and quality against the brand's premium reputation, part of a broader Wirecutter series probing whether retailer-run resale programs actually deliver value compared to traditional thrifting.

Permalink sustainabilityaudiovintagefurniture