A weekly newsletter for all your intellectual, spiritual, and physical needs
Hello all! Welcome to Volume 175 of Dovi’s Digest.
I like to think that I’m adventurous and brave. I enjoy going to far flung destinations. I’ve been diving with sharks. I want to climb large mountains and, go to the bottom of the Mariana trench.
All of this being said, every time I go to a theme park, I steer well clear of the roller coasters. It's not a phobia, I don’t think that they’ll crash in a fiery accident, or that maybe I’ll go flying out due to a poorly latched safety harness (both of which has happened in the last few months FYI), but more that I’m just scared. I have no control, it’s open, it goes very fast, plus I need to take my glasses off, so it’s just a big blur.
The funny thing is that every one that I’ve been on I’ve enjoyed and landed up riding them multiple times. I’ve never been upside down on one, and the closest I’ve been is building a loop de loop on Roller Coaster Tycoon, (one of my favourite games and a very profitable ride), but still. Is it possible that opposed to me being scared of the ride, maybe it’s just a fear of the unknown?
Writing therapy aside, the one thing I’ve never done (or witnessed thankfully) is being sick on a coaster. Motion sickness can affect up to 30% of people in their lifetime, and it’s far from being isolated to rides, with the most common forms being cars, boats, and planes. The best roller coasters are designed in such a way that they’ll take you to the edge, but not tip you over. Unfortunately, some of the biggest ones miss that balance.
Two years ago, there was a headline article all about the Ig Nobel prize (awarded for "achievements that first make people laugh and then make them think.") This year they’re back and better than ever, with prizes awarded for rock licking, reanimation of dead spiders, and much more. Read the full list of winners in the article below.
A last bit of housekeeping: last week marked the 22nd anniversary of 9/11. The late great novelist David Foster Wallace wrote a piece on it, which you can also find below.
In this week’s added extras:
Ever wondered what Nikola Tesla’s stationary looked like? Or what letterhead Hitler used? See them and hundreds more belonging to famous people right over here.
Hextris is a free game that takes the best bits of Tetris and throws in even more combos. It’s addictive and only takes two minutes.
Finally, brands evolve throughout their lifetimes, with new logos and products. This website shows you that evolution. So, if you’ve ever wondered how Coca-Cola, The Beatles, or Barbie have changed, this is the website for you (I particularly liked the one on Twitter).
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, but I’d used it before, so no kudos to anyone, and a slap on the wrist for me. The answer (for what it’s worth) and this week’s puzzle are below.
If the ups and downs of rides make you feel queasy, you can keep your feet firmly on the ground with other articles. Find out why we seem no closer to curing cancer even after 50 years and billions of dollars, read about how Lego started with just five colours, and now comes in a mind boggling array of shapes and hues, jump into the article about how Hollywood finances all their crazy stunts, and finally keep your wits about you as you learn how the soviets tried to control their citizens brains in 1989, ALL GLORY TO THE HYPNOTOAD. Enjoy!
Keep those articles (and everything else) coming.
Have a great weekend,
Dovi
And now, the articles:
Not the Happiest Place on Earth
The ride technology at amusement parks has become more sophisticated. For ride-goers prone to motion sickness, the outcome can be messy.
Are We Losing the War on Cancer?
For half a century, we have thrown everything we have at the disease, but we are no closer to curing it.
Meet The Winners of the 2023 Ig Nobel Prizes
The award ceremony features miniature operas, scientific demos, and the 24/7 lectures.
David Foster Wallace on 9/11, as Seen from the Midwest
Suddenly everybody has flags out — big flags, small flags, regular flag-size flags.
How Lego Bricks Went from Five Colours to Nearly 200
Lego’s colour choices over time: the evolution of a company’s palette.
How Hollywood Insures Its Biggest Stunts
When Tom Cruise drives off a cliff, insurance companies are standing by in case something goes wrong.
The Soviet Union’s Desperate Efforts at Mind Control
In October 1989, as the Cold War was ending, television viewers in the Soviet Union tuned in to the first of a series of very unusual broadcasts.
Quote of the Week:
Always read something that will make you look good if you die in the middle of it.” – PJ O’Rourke
Word of the Week:
bedevil
/bɪˈdɛvl/
Verb
1: to possess with or as if with a devil
2: to cause distress : TROUBLE
3: to change for the worse : SPOIL
4: to confuse utterly
Facts of the Week:
Insects are attracted to solar panels, which they mistake for water.
Most termites are blind.
Honeybees can grasp the concept of zero.
Chickens communicate using over 200 distinct noises.
A cloop is the sound of a cork being drawn from the bottle.
A million plastic bottles are bought every minute.
7% of the microplastics in the sea come from the paint used for road markings.
Cartoon of the Week:
Tweet of the Week:
Headline of the Week:
Brainteaser of the Week:
Some geography trivia this week. What is this list?
Kazakhstan
Mongolia
Chad
Niger
Mali
Last Week’s Brainteaser and Answer:
Find a one-syllable word that becomes a different three-syllable word when you add just one letter to the end.
Answer:
Are → Area
Thanks for reading Dovi’s Digest!