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Hello all! Welcome to Volume 191 of Dovi’s Digest.
I remember vividly when my dad got a cell phone for the first time. It was an Ericsson, it came with two spare batteries, it weighed a ton, and it was magic to us (I say us, I was about five though). He was one of the first in South Africa to have one, no longer did my mom have to track him down if she needed him urgently.
It’s funny to think of it like that when they’re so ubiquitous these days. Even people experiencing homelessness have smart phones. At the touch of a button (well, screen), we can contact anyone, anywhere in the world instantly. The entirety of human knowledge is at our fingertips. It’s truly wondrous. The flip side is that people expect you to be online all the time, and if messages aren’t answered instantly there can be bad blood.
My entire life is on my phone. It’s how I consume the news, watch Netflix, browse the web, and how I read all the articles I share with you. It’s also my camera, my radio, my alarm clock, my torch and my timer. And I haven’t even mentioned it’s how I’m in touch daily with those that I love in far corners of the world.
And I admit, I have a problem with it. I get the phantom rings. Throughout the day I’ll pick it up without thinking, no notification, just purely out of habit. Apple has a nifty little thing that tells you what your screentime is a day. Mine was often at a whopping eight hours. Think about that; an entire third of my day I spend hunched over, staring at a little screen. I’m cutting down on it slowly. I’ve got rid of most of the timewaster apps. I have limits on apps like Netflix. The screen is now black and white, and my notifications are silenced. And I’m still averaging close to six. What I’m doing; I have no idea.
Which is why this week’s headline article appeals to me so much. A NYT writer got rid of her smartphone and used a flip phone for a month. She was more present, less anxious, slept more soundly, and was a better parent (her words). It seems like a cure all, one I’m seriously considering. Before you freak out: don’t worry, there will still be a Digest each week. If I can find one with WhatsApp (long shot I know, but with one of my nieces overseas, how else will I coo over her?) then I’m sorted. Anyway, enjoy the article, it may be the last you read on your phone.
Although I’ll most likely never run out of words, it’s always nice when someone sends one that tickles them. Hit the button below to submit one in less than 30s!
In this week’s added extras:
A game that makes you flick a switch after exactly 5.5 seconds which is strangely addictive.
Close up photos of gorgeous snowflakes that show their limitless geometry.
The world’s most embarrassing tombstone.
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 Josh Friedlander and Rabbi Sam Thurgood! The answer and this week’s puzzle are below.
Keep those articles (and everything else) coming.
Have a great weekend,
Dovi
And now, the articles:
I Was Addicted to My Smartphone, So I Switched to a Flip Phone for a Month
Was it inconvenient? Yes. Did T9 texting drive me crazy? Definitely. Was it worth doing? Absolutely.
Meet the South Korean Artist Using Her Own Body as a Canvas
Artist Dain Yoon uses her face to paint captivating and intricate scenes that often trick the eye with 3D shading.
Game On: 13-Year-Old Becomes First to Beat “Unbeatable” Tetris
(Courtesy of Myer Brom and Dovi Joel)
An Oklahoma teenager is believed to have become the first human player to beat Nintendo's classic video game Tetris, 34 years after its release.
How to Survive a Car Crash in 10 Easy Steps
A journalist navigates a world forever changed by her traumatic brain injury.
Are Flying Cars Finally Here?
The world had “flying cars” in the 1930s. We could be getting them again.
What If Money Expired?
A long-forgotten German economist argued that society and the economy would be better off if money was a perishable good. Was he an anarchist crank or the prophet of a better world?
My Unravelling
I had my health. I had a job. And then, abruptly, I didn’t.
Quote of the Week:
“Other people’s definitions of you, sometimes they’re more about making themselves feel better. You gotta define yourself.” - Christopher Moltisanti, a character from The Sopranos which is regarded by many as the greatest TV show of all time, and which debuted 25 years ago this week.
Word of the Week:
(Courtesy of Gavin)
Cavalcade
/ˌkav(ə)lˈkeɪd,/kav-uhl-kayd/
noun
A line of people walking, on horses, or in vehicles forming part of a ceremony
"the royal cavalcade proceeded through the city"
Facts of the Week:
Sea lions are more murderous than actual lions.
In the last 30,000 years, the Great Barrier Reef has died five times.
Sugar kills infections that even antibiotics can’t cure.
Kierkegaard made coffee by filling a cup of sugar, pouring in coffee until dissolved, and then downing the lot.
The dome of the Taj Mahal is held together with sugar, fruit juice, and egg whites.
In 17th century India, smoothies were made by shaking mangoes till they liquefied, then sucking the juice out through a hole.
The shape of Perrier bottles is based on that of Indian clubs.
In the US, bottled water outsells all other soft drinks combined.
The entire water supply of Bermuda comes from rain collected by special roofs.
Cartoon of the Week:
Tweet of the Week:
Headline of the Week:
Brainteaser of the Week:
What number comes next in this sequence?
202, 320, 222, 021, 202, 020, 192, 018, ___
Last Week’s Brainteaser and Answer:
Answer
Eritrea. The key to solving this puzzle is to incorporate the planets of the Solar System in order. You take each planet’s name, subtract all the letters in the first word of the “Condition,” mash the leftover letters with the second word in the “Condition,” and rearrange them to form a country.
So for Eritrea, take “Neptune” and subtract “unpen” to get “te.” Put that together with “airer” and unscramble to get Eritrea.
Thanks for reading Dovi’s Digest!