Here’s 6 cool things that might not warrant a post by themselves, but are worth taking a look at.
- First up is this Thanksgiving Menu at the Plaza Hotel in New York City (1899). Menus are fascinating to me not only because they show the food being enjoyed from a certain era, but how menus are written up tell us something about how we think about dining. (Also amazing to see most of those items are under a dollar.)
- Staying in the past, here’s a fun piece on Saying No Gracefully, Victorian Style – by Amy Stewart. We no longer take the time to say no gracefully: perhaps we should. The next time you are using AI to write a rejection letter, consider asking for it in the Victorian way. 🙂
- Something else that is moving into the past: Longwave. The BBC did a story on it, here. I used to love longwave radio as a kid. Before there was an internet, longwave radio let you reach out and find out what was happening in the world.
- Moving to the present, this truly is… A Delightfully Tactile Stop-Motion Music Video Pieces Together 300 Ceramic Tiles. Definitely worth a look.
- Also in the present is this David Byrne: Tiny Desk Concert featuring David Byrne over at NPR.
- Last but not least, here’s a piece on the future: 23 Ways You’re Already Living in the Chinese Century over at WIRED.
Smart People I Know 
I had difficulty understanding the 1899 menu. I assume single digit numbers are dollars, and two-digit numbers are cents. Many foods have two prices. In terms of comparable prices today, the article mentions the impact of inflation. I checked two two web calculators, a $1 in 1899 would be $40-45 today (US dollars).
I had to look up longwave – I remember shortwave radios in my youth. Both can reach long distances given the right circumstances. Longwave signals typically hug the ground and can reach over 2000 km. Shortwave signals can bounce off the ionosphere which means they can span oceans.
Yes: most things are in cents, so 75 = 75 cents. I think there are prices for portions and half portions based on the text at the bottom.
It is interesting that the price ratio from then:now is 1:40. So the lemon ice at 25 cents then would be $10 now. Not entirely wrong.
My grandfather had a longwave radio I think: I loved playing with the dial and suddenly hearing people speaking in different voices!