In 1827, the handy friction match (wooden kitchen match) was invented in merry old England. It made its way to America's colonies in 1834. Ever since, man has had the convenience and peace of mind of fire and light on demand -- unless the matches are wet. To waterproof matches, dip the heads in linseed oil for a few minutes. Wipe them off and let them dry. And that's the On The House tip for today.