A weekly newsletter for all your intellectual, spiritual, and physical needs
Hello all! Welcome to Volume 198 of Dovi’s Digest.
Long time readers of the Digest are probably clued in on the fact that aside from all the arcana I send you every week, I have a soft spot for sports that are not in the mainstream. A few months ago, I wrote a long ode to the darts world championship (link) (which I followed closely this year because a 16-year old made the finals), I’ve shared Monopoly tournaments, cheating scandals in chess, and the race to hold the record for the most Guinness world records.
In the back of my mind, many of these I’d like to compete in, if only for the bragging rights (I am aware these are things that I should probably keep secret as opposed to bragging about, but I am who I am.) In the last few weeks though, I’ve come across one that has really piqued my interest.
To most people, the home of the sauna is Finland, as that is the birthplace. However, Estonia has a sauna culture that rivals that of its neighbour. Most people have one in their house, there is a large culture around it, and it’s a place of meeting for people from all walks of life. It’s also the home of the Sauna Marathon Championship where the goal is to spend 3 minutes in 18 different saunas dotted around the towns of Otepää and Tõrva (although some are 45km away through a forest) in the quickest time. While competition is stiffening, most teams treat it as a sort of carnival, with themed costumes being almost compulsory, alcohol, and good-natured banter. There is also a competition for the best sauna experience, with hobbit themed, retrofitted tramcar with techno music, and a sauna in the sky among the entrants.
The 2024 version has already taken place, and if you want to enter for 2025, it’s limited to 200 teams, and last year’s sold out in two hours, so you better move quickly (although there are 40 places reserved for international teams). To get an inside look at the fun, without working up too much of a sweat, read this week’s headline article.
Do you know a word you think others should know about? Submit it here!
In this week’s added extras:
An Irish farmer will teach you how to herd sheep with dogs.
The months in which you’re most likely to die, based on causes of death.
All the English words that can be synonyms for “drunk” (there are more than you think). Courtesy of Josh H.
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 THREE correct answers to last week’s brainteaser, Well done to Ryan S, Yisroel G, and Dan R! The answer and this week’s puzzle are below.
You can also read about why it’s better to be kind than it is to be nice, why doctors are prescribing maggots, if just going skiing is too working class for you, then there’s a solution to that: a ski butler, with the state of the union coming up read up on the state of culture in 2024, learn how to use historic and historical correctly and what happens when a student develops an infatuation with a teacher. Enjoy!
Keep those articles (and everything else) coming.
Have a great weekend,
Dovi
And now, the articles:
At Europe’s Sauna Marathon, Schvitzing Is a Sport
Competitors don spandex, down vodka, and plunge into ice holes.
Kinda Nice
The difference between being kind and being nice, and how one is clearly superior.
When Maggots Are What the Doctor Ordered
Fly larvae can help heal gnarly wounds by eating the dead flesh.
Where’s My Ski Butler? Why Luxury Skiing in The Alps Is Getting Even Ritzier
To attract high rollers now that snow conditions often fall short, posh European resorts must offer more than heli-skiing. Think: ‘ski butlers,’ rentable mansions and more.
The State of the Culture, 2024
Or a glimpse into post-entertainment society (it's not pretty).
Historic vs. Historical: What’s the Difference (And Which Should I Use)?
Do they historically mean the same thing? Yes. Do they have separate definitions in modern usage? Also, yes.
The Teacher Crush
What happens when a teenager develops a risky infatuation?
Quote of the Week:
“Among those whom I like or admire, I can find no common denominator, but among those whom I love, I can: all of them make me laugh.” – WH Auden
Word of the Week:
(Courtesy of Michael)
Dawdling
/ˈdɔːdl/ daw·duh·luhng
Verb
1. Doing something or going somewhere very slowly, taking more time than is necessary.
- "She mustn't dawdle—she had to make the call now."
- "Ruth dawdled back through the wood”.
Facts of the Week:
Some wasps cover their partner’s eyes when mating.
Wasps can be deterred by hanging up a paper bag, which they mistake for an enemy nest.
A Venus flytrap can take over a week to digest a large insect and spit out its bones.
Venus has a crater named Mulan.
The earth hums.
A special tartan has been designed for exploring Mars.
In medieval Scotland, the national drink was claret.
Pershittie is a 19th century Scots word meaning “hard to please”.
Cartoon of the Week:
Tweet of the Week:
(Courtesy of Josh F)
Headline of the Week:
Brainteaser of the Week:
Think of a word for a person who helps you. Copy the last three letters, repeat them at the front, and you’ll get a new, longer word that names the person who hurts you. What words are these?
Last Week’s Brainteaser and Answer:
In a small village, 90% of people drink tea, 80% coffee, 70% whiskey, 60% gin. Nobody drinks all four. What percentage of people drink alcohol?
Answer:
Everyone drinks alcohol. Here are some solutions.
Thanks for reading Dovi’s Digest!