Perpetual Learning
Summer is here, and with it, the urge to explore. For many of us, that exploration includes our four-legged companions. But what if you also have a deep appreciation for history, particularly the stories held within abandoned places? My own passion for uncovering the past, often in less-traveled corners of the world, naturally led me … Read more
It’s July 29th, 2025, and I’m currently nestled in a small café in Vienna, poring over some rather fascinating 18th-century travel diaries. As anyone who’s ever joined a group tour knows, the company you keep can make or break the experience. It got me thinking – was this a concern for travelers centuries ago? In … Read more
It’s easy to take the internet for granted today. With a few taps, we can connect with anyone, anywhere. But this seamless global communication didn’t just appear out of nowhere. Long before the first email was sent or a website was loaded, a different kind of network was already shrinking the world: the telegraph. My … Read more
It’s easy to take the smart controls in our factories for granted today. Flick a switch, and a complex assembly line hums to life, orchestrated by unseen digital brains. But these systems, the Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) we rely on, have a fascinating history. My years spent sifting through dusty archives revealed the ingenious steps … Read more
It’s not every day that I stumble upon research that feels like a direct link to the fundamental nature of reality. But a recent announcement from Chinese scientists about detecting rare quantum friction in folded graphene has certainly done that. As someone who has spent decades sifting through the history of technology, I often find … Read more
Planning your first trip to Europe is exciting! For many of us, especially those who have spent years buried in historical texts, the thought of navigating unfamiliar airports can feel a bit daunting. My own travels, often dictated by research needs in far-flung archives, have taught me a few crucial lessons about making those airport … Read more
So, you’re planning your first trip to Europe? That’s wonderful! My own journeys often revolve around tracing the footsteps of 18th-century figures, but the practical side of travel is something I’ve had to learn firsthand. It’s a fascinating blend of historical curiosity and, well, wrestling with a suitcase. My love for the 18th century – … Read more
As I travel across the country these days, often researching historical routes and byways, I find myself thinking a lot about gas prices. It’s a modern traveler’s constant companion, isn’t it? But this focus on cost-saving travel strategies, especially concerning fuel, actually connects with a much older human trait: resourcefulness. Think about it. Throughout history, … Read more
Today, we often think of the internet as a sudden, almost magical arrival. But like most profound technological shifts, its roots run deep, tangled in a history of wires, dots, and voices long before screens glowed with instant information. In my years spent poring over historical documents, I’ve seen firsthand how the desire to communicate … Read more
As a retired archivist, I’ve spent my life sifting through the records of human endeavor. And what I’ve learned is this: people have always been obsessed with collecting information. The fundamental drive to record, organize, and understand data hasn’t changed much, even if our tools have dramatically. Today, we swim in a sea of digital … Read more