What I’m Doing Next 🧱
You might be wondering, now that Lesser Tedium is done, what am I doing with your email address? The short answer is more Tedium. Here’s the long answer.
Lesser Tedium
Tedium, but less. A quick-hit newsletter that will feature highlights from throughout Tedium’s eight-year history. Will publish 3x a week, in case you want some weird facts in your inbox.
Dormant Last read · last published · next check
Read 2 days ago and current, but nothing has been published for 3 years.
Latest posts
Napoleon’s Resting Place 🪦
One of the most remote islands in the world, St. Helena, held Napoleon during the last few years of his life. He’s still there—and St. Helena just got an airport.
Clip Art Before Computers ✂️
The forgotten early history of clip art speaks to a time in which the medium was distributed through literal books in which the art could be clipped out. No computers needed.
A Tree Made Of Metal 🌲
Try as they might, it is hard to hide a camouflage a cell tower. For one thing, the towers are way bigger than the trees they’re meant to look like.
Consider The Plastic Lemon 🍋
The plastic lemon is one of the best-known kitsch objects, but its common nature created trademark problems that a British court had to settle.
Japan’s Record Rental Revolution 💿
Despite much complaining from trade groups, Japan’s record-rental model made the country’s music industry much stronger in the long run—after some timely regulation.
A Matter of Adhesion ✉️
Why did we decide to lick stamps and envelopes, anyway? Well, it turns out that it was key to the success of the modern-day mail system.
Delivery First 📦
Why the C.O.D. model became popular in the time before the credit card—and why many countries have yet to give up on it.
Where Do the Coupons Go? 🛒
In the 1950s, a manufacturer’s coupon clearing house had a problem: How do we get rid of all these used coupons? They actively destroyed the local environment until they found a good solution.
The Game Genie’s Great Gift 🎮
It was more than just a way to cheat. The Game Genie was a gateway to remix culture that we’re seeing amplified with ChatGPT.