A technology reality check, Paleo-Future features "past visions of the future," dating back to the 1800s. What did people in the past think the future would be like? Posts are categorized by decade--so you can head back to 1882 to see the prediction that in 2000, we'd all be traveling to the opera by flying bus; check out the lunar colonies envisioned in 1969 and the 1988 videos from Apple's "Project 2000." Of course, some of the predictions haven't had a chance to come true yet--want to know what'll be playing at the movies in 2019? Click here. And here's what our movie theaters were supposed to be like: "Some movie theaters of A.D. 2000 may be dome-shaped, with ceiling and walls arching together like the sky." We're still holding out for flying cars.
Got a favorite blog you want to share? Leave it in the comments!
You know how it goes when you're flipping through a cooking magazine: You think, "I should make that sometime!" And then you never do. The writers at
The Bitten Word actually do try out those tempting-sounding recipes, and then they tell you which dishes are and aren't worth your time or money (or how to tweak them to make them worth it), as well as highlighting the best from these magazines (just in case you don't subscribe to all of them). You can sort by magazine (
Bon Appetit,
Saveur,
Martha Stewart Living, and lots of others) or by cuisine. We think the site is a great way that traditional forms of media can be combined with the new, and we love that Clay and Zach feature their own photos of the dishes they try alongside the professional ones from the mags.
Today is Fun! promises to "keep your kids entertained (and keep your sanity)." The blog focuses on "the four f's: "free, fun, family, and...creativity!" and is written by two dads, who explain, "The suggestions on this site might be beneficial and educational. They may stimulate and enrich children's minds. Or these suggestions may just rile up the kids and make them less likely to want to take a nap or a bath. We make no promises as child development experts--we're not doctors or therapists. We're here to help you, and your children, keep interested and occupied." You can browse activities by age and by categories like "good for a restaurant or public place," "longer activity," "no props needed," and "may rile them up." Some of our favorite ideas include "Animal Races" (hint: The kids are the animals) and "twine zip line." Desperate parents are guaranteed to turn up new activities here.
Uncrate calls itself a blog "for guys who love stuff," and each day its editors feature the coolest new products--everything from clothing to food. While some of the stuff featured is clearly for boys only (the ongoing "Garb" feature puts together outfits with themes like "Midwestern Man," and we don't know too many women who need this mustache and beard comb), there's plenty for those of both genders to covet, like a solar-powered birdhouse and bacon peanut brittle...and bacon vodka! Furthermore, as Father's Day approaches, keep this site in mind--you can get your dad something he actually likes this year, instead of another tie. In fact, it's a great place to find goodies for any hard-to-shop-for person.
You don't have to stop traveling just because you have kids--instead, share your love of jetsetting with them. Ciao Bambino, written by "a group of Moms who are avid travelers and love exploring and experiencing the world with their children," is a terrific resource for families who want to experience new places together but recognize the challenges of traveling with the underage set. You can search the site by destination (Belize? The Netherlands? Fiji?) or age of your child, and check out accommodation reviews (or submit your own). Plus, the Ciao Bambino blog is packed with kid-friendly travel tips and info (Northern Ireland with kids, top family-friendly hotel chains, family-friendly ski resorts) and is updated frequently, so you're likely to find tips about wherever you're going--or get great ideas for your next jaunt.
Good Wine Under $20 does exactly what its title promises: It's devoted to tasty wines that won't break the bank. The blog is perfect for those of us who want to learn more about wine, but aren't totally sure where or how to start. Instead of getting a numerical rating, each wine receives a "QPR"--quality to price ratio--score, and the author writes about wine in a chatty, not-too-technical way (recently, on Pinot Grigio: "I often feel like Goldilocks when tasting Pinot Grigio. Some of them are too bitter. Some of them are too sweet. Some, too tart. Some of them are too fruity. Why are wines made with this grape so often out of balance?") This blog is an especially good place to start if you're just getting into the wine blogosphere because of its long blogroll of other wine blogs (including winery blogs and international wine blogs). To browse the site by topic ("Africa," "gifts for wine lovers," "Friday nights in"), scroll all the way down the left-hand column. You'll definitely find something new to try next time you go to the wine store, and you'll learn a lot about wine in the process.
Travel around the world without leaving your computer--and hit the spots most armchair travelers will miss. Atlas Obscura's goal is to catalog "all of the singular, eccentric, bizarre, fantastical, and strange out-of-the-way places that get left out of traditional travel guidebooks and are ignored by the average tourist. If you're looking for miniature cities, glass flowers, books bound in human skin, gigantic flaming holes in the ground, phallological museums, bone churches, balancing pagodas, or homes built entirely out of paper, the Atlas Obscura is where you'll find them...
In an age where everything seems to have been explored and there is nothing new to be found, the Atlas Obscura celebrates a different way of traveling, and a different lens through which to view the world." Search by location or by "category of wonders and curiosities"--categories include Medical Museums and Small Worlds and Model Towns. Or just click on "Take me to a random place" and you might land on America's Stonehenge, in New Hampshire, or Rome's Antique Doll Hospital. Atlas Obscura welcomes and depends on reader submissions, so if you've been someplace wacky and wonderful, you can add it for others to discover.
Make's motto is "technology on your time," and it's for "the risk-takers, the doers, the makers of things..." The blog celebrates bending technology to create exciting projects at home. To give you a few examples of what that means, there is an entire category of crafts you can make from Altoids tins, including this small electronics kit and a tacklebox. Learn to turn unsightly cables into design, or make iPhone home button earrings. And don't miss the many fun guides and roundups, including the "ischief Maker's Guide, which is full of "gift ideas for your favorite creative skeptic, guerrilla artist, or depressed teenager," and the gift guide for scientists and chemistry fans.
The classic radio shows you (or your grandparents) may remember from childhood are now in the public domain and reincarnated as MP3s, so a new generation can listen to these blasts from the past. We like two blogs that highlight old episodes. At new blog A Mind Forever Wandering Old Time Radio, author Jeff McAleer explains, "Today, in an era of mushrooming media variety, it is hard to grasp the fact that nearly 75 years ago, in a nation of 120 million, 90 million people tuned into The Eddie Cantor Show Sunday nights at 8. It was a time when movies had to end before 7 P.M. because Amos 'n' Andy was about to come on, and when followers of Gangbusters helped in the capture of more than 300 fugitive criminals....no matter what your poison might be you'll find it in OTR if you give it a chance...I encourage everyone to 'tune in' their favorite streaming mp3 player and spend some time listening to the magic of OTR and let it take hold of your imagination as it draws you in." Download episodes of "Jonathan Thomas and His Christmas on the Moon" from 1938 and sports newsreels from the 40s. Meanwhile, Master of My Public Domain is "a Guide to all things Nostalgic available online; including Public Domain Movies, TV shows, and Old Time Radio shows." We love the 1940s horror films and the old episodes of Christmas show Cinnamon Bear.
Edutaining Kids is a fantastically useful database of reviews of kids' software, DVDs, video games, toys, and books. It's a great resource for anybody looking for holiday gift ideas or trying to decide which products to buy for their kids. This isn't one of those "banish the video games from your house" sites--it takes a tech-filled household for granted, reviewing favorite videos for babies and toddlers or collecting fun learning projects for getting creative with digital cameras. Don't miss the 2009 Holiday Gift Guide, which is broken down by age (baby through 10+) and features both good old-fashioned and modern electronic toys, and books, arts and crafts, and other great presents for kids.
As book review sections vanish from newspapers, it can be tough to decide what to read next (especially if you don't feel like relying on Amazon customer recommendations). One-Minute Book Reviews, "for people who like to read but dislike hype and review inflation," is written by former Glamour book columnist and Cleveland Plain Dealer book critic Janice Harayda.
The blogosphere: Filled with information about great bands, movies, shows, and videos you've never heard of but would probably love? Yes. So crowded with said information that it's hard to know where to even start looking? Definitely. That's why Paste Magazine.com's List of the Day blog is so essential: It curates all those great bands and movies into easily digestible lists, one a day (hence the title). Lists range from the useful (16 Albums to Look Forward To This Fall, 25 Indie Films to Catch This Fall, The Decade's 25 Most-Essential Foreign Films) to the quirky (Songs for Sweater Weather) to the funny (Dead Celebrities Crazy People Insist Are Alive But Still in Hiding). Take just a few minutes to read the daily list, and you'll come away with a few great cocktail party conversation starters--and tons of albums to buy on iTunes and DVDs to add to your Netflix queue.
