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Hello all! Welcome to Volume 181 of Doviās Digest.
Growing up in the 90s, certain things were givens. Youād get roller blades for your birthday at some point, a sibling would kill a Tamagotchi you worked so hard to keep alive, and youād have watched Friends. The sitcom about six young professionals navigating life took the world by storm and remains one of TVās highest rated shows. Itās found a revival in the last few years through being on Netflix and Gen Z. So much so that through residuals the main cast still earn millions of dollars each year.
Each character played a specific role, and although they were all funny, the ārealā funny one was Chandler, played by Matthew Perry.
Perry died this week at the age of 54. His issues with drug and alcohol addiction are well documented and were easy to see if you binge the show. His weight fluctuated massively, with some of his performances being quite erratic. In his autobiography which was released this year, he admits that he spent most of his adult life in some sort of rehab. He had been clean for many years, and there were no suspicious circumstances around his death.
This weekās headline article is of course about Matthew Perry, the soul of Friends.
The Word of the Week is proving very popular, with some real stunners being sent in. Want to share a word that titillates or bewitches you? Then you can submit your own one by clicking the button š
Seeing as it was Halloween on Tuesday, this weekās added extras are on the spooky side. Check out Atlas Obscuraās most haunting places that give me real chills, or the shop that sells human bones (and business is booming), finally have a look at the next level work of pro pumpkin carver Adam Bierton.
Do you enjoy the Digest? Would you like it to get better? Then please consider sharing it, as the more articles Iām sent, the better it is. It only takes a few seconds, and all you need to do is click here š. Thank you!
There were TWO correct answers to last weekās brainteaser, Well done to Ariel Subotzky and Ryan Subotzky! The answer and this weekās puzzle are below.
Could you CARE any less about FRIENDS? Thatās ok, thereās other stuff too. Find out how businesses are trying to game the Google algorithm, learn why superheroes wear spandex, log in to the article about Yugoslavia living on online even after it ceased to exist in the real world, dress up to explore the progressive work of Coco Chanel, share (geddit? CosĀ because communism) the article on why romanticism of the USSR was totally misplaced, and forget soothing tones and afros, the fight over Bob Rossās IP is fierce, cut-throat, and furious. Enjoy!
Keep those articles (and everything else) coming.
Have a great weekend,
Dovi
And now, the articles:
Matthew Perry Was the Sarcastic Soul of āFriendsā
Comedy actor, who died at the age of 54, could deliver a one-liner like no other and proved a crucial ingredient to the sitcomās comedy stew.
Ā The Restaurant Nearest Google
Thai Food Near Me, Dentist Near Me, Notary Near Me, Plumber Near Me ā businesses across the country picked names meant to outsmart Google Search. Does it actually work?
Why Do Superheroes Wear Spandex?
The rise, fall, and return of the super-stretchy material.
Yugoslaviaās Digital Twin
What happens when a countryās internet domain outlives the nation?
The French Icon Who Revolutionised Women's Clothes
How comfort and freedom became chic in France a century ago ā and still are today.
Yes, It Was An 'Evil Empire'
Nearly every form of Soviet nostalgia gets the facts wrong.
Sex, Deceit, and Scandal: The Ugly War Over Bob Rossā Ghost
For decades, Bob Ross has been a soothing presence in a world gone mad. But the real story behind the painterās life, and especially his afterlife, reveals just as much madness.
Quote of the Week:
āAdvice is what we ask for when we know the answer but wish we didnāt.ā ā Erica Jong
Word of the Week:
Faustian
Adjective
/ĖfaŹstÉŖÉn/
Made or done for present gain without regard for future cost or consequences.
relating to or resembling Faust, a German astronomer and necromancer reputed to have sold his soul to the Devil.
Example: "modern celebrities enter into a Faustian pact with the general public"
Facts of the Week:
Japan has a school where pupils learn to behave like Anne of Green Gables.
When Greenland left the EEC, the communityās area was reduced by half.
If the San Francisco Bay area were a country, it would have the 16th largest GDP in the world.
10% of the GDP of Tuvalu comes from the registration of .tv domain names.
The French TV version of Bake Off uses music from Doctor Who.
In the 2009 Eurovision Song Contest, 43 Azerbaijanis voted for Armenia, some of whom were later interviewed by the police.
In Section 54 of the Metropolitan Police Act of 1839, it is illegal to carry a plank along the pavement.
āPlanktonā and āplanetā both come from the same Greek word meaning āto wonder aboutā.
Cartoon of the Week:
Tweet of the Week:
Headline of the Week:
(Courtesy of Myer Brom)
Brainteaser of the Week:
What string of three letters can be placed before and after āāERGROā to form a new word?
_ _ _ E R G R O _ _ _
Last Weekās Brainteaser and Answer:
How many triangles can you find in this image?
Answer:
44
Thanks for reading Doviās Digest!