What is a Magne-Traction train?

Lionel enthusiasts, especially postwar enthusiasts, talk about Magne-Traction a lot. But what is a Magne-Traction train, and what makes it special? Magne-Traction was a feature Lionel introduced in the 1950s. By putting magnets in the driver wheels, a Magne-Traction train can pull more, climb … Continue reading →

Configuring PC case digital speed displays

Cheap PCs from the 90s and late 1980s often had a digital display that indicated the CPU speed. They were kitschy, and I can't say I've ever seen a brand-name PC with one, but many cheap cases made overseas had them. That meant the computers that came from the little clone shop down the street … Continue reading →

Is Hart a good brand?

In late 2019, a new brand of tool showed up in Wal-Mart stores called Hart. Hart tools are cheaper than most of the big name brands, but more expensive than Wal-Mart's Hyper Tough house brand. But is Hart a good brand? Let's dig in. Hart tools are made by Techtronic Industries (TTI), an OEM for … Continue reading →

Why Atari failed

Atari was on top of the world in 1982, so much so that the movie Blade Runner featured it as a dominant company in 2049. But it fell hard and fast, and several times. Here's why Atari failed and didn't maintain world dominance for 80 years like we once expected. Atari's failure happened on two … Continue reading →

Is buying a house an investment?

While investing in real estate is a common path to wealth, is buying a house an investment? Here's what you have to consider. It's not a simple yes or no answer. By default, buying a house is not an investment, at least not without explicitly planning to make it one. That doesn't necessarily … Continue reading →

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