I knew the term degauss from using CRT computer monitors, but didn’t know the origin of the term for eliminating magnetic fields. In World War II, Germany used magnetic mines that were triggered by ships’ hulls. I’ll quote Wikipedia so I don’t rephrase this incorrectly: “A large ferrous object passing through the Earth’s magnetic field will concentrate the field through it; the mine’s detector was designed to trigger at the mid-point of a steel-hulled ship passing overhead.” The term “gauss”, for Carl Friedrich Gauss, was used as the unit of measurement for the strength of the magnetic fields in the mines’ triggers, and thus “degauss” was used by the British for their countermeasure. Ships were degaussed by two methods, electromagnetic coils that could reverse the bias field being detected and a less expensive solution where an electrical cable was dragged alongside.

Seattle Times food writer Nancy Leson has posted a discussion topic that can surely be repeated anywhere there are New York City area transplants: Where can you find a great Reuben sandwich in Seattle? Most interesting are the opinionated comments ranging from “there’s NO good East Coast deli anywhere in Seattle” to suggestions to mail-order from Zingerman’s (pricey!). And there are some actual decent suggestions which may help me break my terrible habit of harassing anyone I meet who mentions they are Jewish and has lived in the Northeast for Reuben and bagel recommendations.

Tom Furrier is a typewriter repairman in the Boston area. In addition to repairs and sales at his shop, Cambridge Typewriter Co., Furrier makes service calls at companies that still use typewriters. Certain official forms are keeping some typewriters in service. Says Furrier, “every maternity ward has a typewriter, as well as funeral homes, which might seem strange in this day and age, but is good for me, of course.” The Globe also published an article about Furrier’s unique occupation in 2006.

Out in Ocean Shores, on the coast of Washington, the library is home to two cats, Waldo and Olivia. When the library’s first cat, Trixie, passed away, the grief felt by the town and staff was so painful, the librarian decided not to replace her. But two years later, she reconsidered. Waldo likes candy wrappers and following Olivia, the more mellow of the two, around. (For your reference, here again is the Library Cats Map).

A gathering of fixed gear riders held a “Tweed Run” in London on January 24th. Quoting the invite: “Suggested attire: woolen plus fours, harris tweed jackets, flat caps, fair isle jumpers, alpaca coats, merino wool team jerseys, cycling skirts and perhaps a jaunty cape for the ladies, cravats or ties for gentlemen, and of course a hip flask of brandy.” Here’s a Flickr photo set of the event from Matthew J. Shaw.

In fond remembrance, photographer Jill Krementz offers up a lovely selection of her photos of John Updike taken from 1967-1994. It includes shots of him jumping rope, one of him shaving, and his 3 desks “one for writing, one for reading his mail, and one for his printer.” (Krementz is the widow of Kurt Vonnegut.)

Taking subway performances to a different extreme, “IRT: A Tragedy in Three Stations” took 30 audience members on a literal trip through subway trains and station platforms for the entire length of the play. It was written and directed by Jeff Stark — I assume he’s the same guy who does Nonsense NYC. (NY Times coverage)

Video of Peter Gabriel singing Biko a cappella in Davos. Thomas Crampton notes it was at a 2-hour Dignity Day event at a local school with Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Richard Branson also on stage. (It remains to be seen whether Gabriel will make an appearance at this year’s Academy Awards for his nominated song from Wall-E.)

Learn about the elegant and expensive ($950,000) set for Joss Whedon’s new TV series “Dollhouse.” At its center is a Japanese reflecting pool with a deck over it. The show premieres on February 13th on Fox. Yup that’s a Friday. A Friday the 13th.

Bill Graham was the rock concert promoter in the San Francisco area from the 1960s until his death in 1991, and his company, Bill Graham Presents carried on until it was acquired ultimately by Clear Channel. The company’s archives, including thousands of concert recordings, were acquired by Bill Sagan who digitized and catalogued them to open “Wolfgang’s Vault” (a reference to Graham’s family nickname). Wikipedia calls it “one of the largest collections of live concert recordings available to the public” and there are several legendary performances online, and certainly numerous legendary performers. You do have to sign in and provide an email address to listen, but it is free. The vault also contains reproductions of vintage t-shirts, posters, and photographs. It’s a rock memorabilia treasure trove.