The shelf
Tech
Gadgets, code and the craftspeople who fix things. Written for people who use technology, not people who sell it.
36
posts on this shelf this season
Most read on this shelf
On this shelf
Tech4 minRubber duck debugging, but the duck talks backProgrammers explain their bugs to a plastic duck because saying it out loud fixes it. What happens when the duck can answer?Tech5 minThe neon sign repair shop at the end of the internetGlass benders are the last people in tech who fix things instead of replacing them. We spent a week in their workshop.Tech4 minOld consoles boot faster than your new laptopPress the power button on a 1985 console and you are playing in two seconds. We timed it, and then asked why that got lost.
Who writes this shelf
Reader poll
Pick a side. We keep score.
Three arguments from this week’s posts. Tap the side you’re on and see where everyone else landed.
Tap a side to vote
Tap a side to vote
Tap a side to vote
Reader mail
Letters to the pile.
Replies to the Friday email, pinned to the wall with permission. Hover a lane to stop it.
“I ate a pizza with a knife in front of my Neapolitan grandmother. She nodded. I have never felt so seen.”
“The rubber duck on my desk now has a name and a job title.”
“My monstera has survived four flats. Reading about yours made me cry a little into my coffee.”
“Sent a friend side B a day late. She replied with a song I had never heard. Best trade of the year.”
“Took the headphones off for one stop like you said. Heard a man whistling the whole of a song I love. Thank you.”
“Friday 7am is now the best email I get all week. Please never add pop-ups.”
“Counted the café parking space for a week like you said. Showed the owner. We have bike racks now.”
“The neon piece is the reason I didn’t throw out my dad’s old sign. It’s being repaired now.”
“Our street painted three doors this summer after reading the yellow-house piece. Mine is teal.”
“Played an album front to back while cooking. Burned the rice. Worth it.”
“Bought a disco ball. My cat has not been this happy since the box it came in.”
“Your mug quiz was right. I am a guardian. Nobody touches the blue one.”
The Friday email
One email. Every Friday. No pop-ups.
Six new posts, one hot take and a song we can’t stop playing. It lands at 7am your time and takes eight minutes to read.
Unsubscribe in one click. We never sell or share your address.
Issue 048 · Fri 9 OctInside this Friday:
- 01Why toast is having a moment
- 02The tram driver who plays requests
- 03A week without a single notification
To: you@email.comFrom: Crumpet Riot
FRI
7AM
7AM