A weekly newsletter for all your intellectual, spiritual, and physical needs
Hello friends, welcome to Volume 101 of Dovi’s Digest.
There’s an old joke that says almost every Jewish holiday follows the same basic formula – they tried to kill us, we survived, let’s eat! I’d say it’s insensitive, or even a little racist, but honestly as I sit here writing this in the middle of Pesach/Passover (they = the Egyptians, the kill us = Pharoah not allowing the Israelites to leave slavery, the let’s eat = a seder and matzah. Lots and lots of matzah), it's difficult to argue seeing as I’m up to my ears in all sorts of delicious goodness which include (but are not limited to) kneidlach/matzah ball soup, all manners of brisket, an assortment of kugels (vegetable pies/quiches), and of course my late great-grandmother’s next level chocolate mousse.
Seeing as food is on my mind (and my plate harharhar), I thought a headline article about food and our changing habits around it would be fitting. So, if you want to know when avocados became more popular, what happened to cheddar cheese or how long ago did grapefruit stop being a thing, look no further. Note that the charts are from the US, but after some research, I’ve seen that the trends seem to be pretty constant in first world countries.
Do you enjoy the Digest? Would you like it to get better? Then please consider sharing it, as the more articles I’m sent, the better it is. It only takes a few seconds, and all you need to do is click here 👇. Thank you!
There were TWO correct answers to last week’s brainteaser. Well done to Chaim Ehrlich and Ariel Subotzky. The answer and this week’s riddle are below.
Do you not eat food? That’s ok (although a little weird), I got a slew of other stuff that may interest you. You can learn why venting is surprisingly counterproductive, how many billionaires there actually are, how nuclear fusion (and the resulting super clean energy) are closer than we think, how to cut down on your rampant consumerism, whether we actually live in The Matrix, and one woman’s war against the frat culture that cost her son his life. Enjoy!
Keep those articles (and everything else) coming,
Have a great week,
Dovi
And now, the articles:
Seeing How Much We Ate Over the Years
The promised article on food.
Stop Venting! It Doesn’t Work.
As one researcher put it, “Venting anger is like using gasoline to put out a fire.”
How Many Billionaires Are There, Anyway?
Forbes thinks there are 735 of them in America. Another count finds 927. Whatever the answer, the mystery is revealing — and the number is growing rapidly.
Major Breakthrough on Nuclear Fusion Energy
European scientists say they have made a major breakthrough in their quest to develop practical nuclear fusion - the energy process that powers the stars.
How To Have Less Stuff
Do your possessions hold too much power over you? Learn to regain control – and benefit your wallet and the planet.
Do We Live in a Simulation? Chances Are about 50–50
Gauging whether or not we dwell inside someone else’s computer may come down to advanced AI research—or measurements at the frontiers of cosmology.
Death at Delta Sig: Heiress Wages a Million-Dollar War on Frats
A grieving mother fights for a new investigation into what happened to her son.
Quote of the Week:
"Most companies are peppered with people who are very quick to say 'no.' Most newly hatched ideas are shot down before they even have time to grow feathers, let alone wings. In saying 'yes' to all those who brought their ideas to me, I was simply levelling the imbalance a bit. And it worked. People who have a deep passion for their ideas don't need a lot of encouragement. One 'yes' in a sea of no's can make the difference. – Gordon Mackenzie (Who held the position of “Creative Paradox” at Hallmark greeting cards, in his book Orbiting the Giant Hairball)
Facts of the Week:
In the first egg and spoon race, in 1894, competitors had to punt with their spare hand.
In 2018, a charity snail race was cancelled after cold weather caused all the competitors to go into hibernation.
Sea slugs prefer to eat an animal that has just eaten another animal, so they can get two meals in one.
The UK's food supply chain means they are only ever nine meals away from empty supermarket shelves.
Some bacteria are not only resistant to antibiotics, they enjoy eating them.
The Korowai people of New Guinea put grubs in their ears to eat their earwax.
Dinosaurs suffered from dandruff.
People suffering from plague may not enter a library in the UK.
Cartoon of the Week:
Tweet of the Week:
Headline of the Week:
Brainteaser of the Week:
The ten letter keys on the top of a keyboard are Q W E R T Y U I O P.
Can you find a 10-letter word that uses only these keys?
Last Week’s Brainteaser and Answer:
What nine-letter English word remains a word each time you remove a letter?
Answer:
Startling > starling > staring > string > sting > sing > sin > in > I