Tedium
The dull side of the internet. A newsletter by @ShortFormBlog's Ernie Smith. (You may have seen us at @motherboard, @atlasobscura, or @neatorama. We're busy.)
Writer2 stories / week
Microsoft’s Project Photon: A Stunted Effort To Rebuild Windows Mobile
Microsoft’s late-era Windows Phone 7 did away with a decade of evolution. Its Photon project tried to do the same—while keeping the Windows Mobile legacy alive.
Billboard Chart Quirks: How Artists And Labels Game The Hot 100
Pondering the way that gaps in Billboard’s music charts have, for decades, created opportunities for bands and artists to maximize their exposure.
How Edutainment Became “Chocolate-Covered Broccoli”
The problem with edutainment in the 1990s was that, while it covered the education, it didn't do enough to entertain the kids. Sorry, Math Blaster.
VCF East 2019: Vintage Computing, Modern Mindset
Some of the best highlights from the 2019 edition of VCF East, the long-running retro computing event that puts vintage machines in a modern context.
Bloomberg
Bloomberg connects decision makers to a dynamic network of information, people and ideas. Read this story on Bloomberg.
Wikitorial History: The Los Angeles Times’ Failed Wiki Experiment
Looking with fresh eyes at the Wikitorial, the Los Angeles Times’ extremely misguided attempt to bring the wiki concept to the newspaper editorial page.
Night Music: Saturday Night Live’s Musical Sunday Counterpart
Saturday Night Live might have had the laughs, but its short-lived offshoot Sunday Night (aka Night Music) may have been the greatest music TV show ever made.
Tedium – Joysticks
Tedium piece about joysticks including Benj Edwards small business creating insanely great ones!
How Baseball Stat Nerds Are Helping to Redefine MLB Fandom
In 2012, pitcher Justin Verlander did something unprecedented for a sport that had seen nearly everything—and a new breed of baseball stat nerds noticed.
Matrox History: A Computer Graphics Also-Ran’s Second Life
Is there a more misunderstood technology company than Matrox? Let’s ponder the second life of the graphics card maker, long considered a 3D graphics also-ran.
Weird Paul Interview: Vlogging Since 1984, Rocking Since 1987
The musical journey of Weird Paul Petroskey, a guy who's been making albums and vlogs since the ’80s—and on the latter count, you should see his receipts.
Malfunctioning Doorbell Lessons: Hey, At Least It Wasn't Hacked
The evolution of the doorbell, and some spare thoughts inspired by a doorbell malfunction in the middle of the night on a weekend.
Digital Television: Our Annoying National Upgrade
The benefits of digital television conversion were clear, but convincing everyone to upgrade their sets? For the U.S. government, that was the hard part.
Windows 3.1 Obscurities: Tandy's Greatest Flop, Commodore's Zombie
The weird places that Windows 3.1 showed up throughout the ’90s, including a hated CD-i competitor and an unusual update of the Commodore 64.
PSA History: It's 10 p.m. Do You Know Where Your Children Are?
Pondering the power of the public service announcement, including one PSA in particular that has maintained an unusual cult following.
SnackWell’s History: Eat More, They’re Healthy
The ’90s defining treat might have been SnackWell’s, a low-fat cookie brand that sold itself as healthy, but really just exposed public health policy failures.
Moondog History: Part Viking, All Musical Icon
The deep influence of Louis “Moondog” Hardin, a cult musician known for dressing like a viking, making his own instruments, and composing without limits.
Analogue Mega Sg Review: Sounds Like a Winner
The iconic tones of the Sega Genesis have proven tough to recreate in the modern day—but the Analogue Mega Sg might be the solution for that. Here’s our review.
Educational Toy History: Did The Erector Set Copy Meccano?
Educational toys are preferred by ambitious parents looking for an edge. Their recent history is marked by upheaval, mimicry, and bloodthirsty competition.
Milk Crate History: Too Well-Made Not to Steal
Why the milk crate, a commonly stolen type of container, became the target of tough legal regulations—and how those regulations have started to backfire.
How Telegraphs and Teletypes Influenced the Computer
The through line between the telegraph and the computer is more direct than you might realize. Its influence can be seen in common technologies, like the modem.
Bloomberg
Bloomberg connects decision makers to a dynamic network of information, people and ideas. Read this story on Bloomberg.