Dovi's Digest Volume 27
A weekly newsletter for all your intellectual, spiritual and physical needs
Hi All, and welcome to Volume 27 of Dovi’s Digest.
For the entirety of this week, my inbox has been full. Advert after advert trying to sell me things that I don’t need and only occasionally want. From electronics, to sportswear, cars, and even fruit. I am of course referring to the holiest day of the capitalist year, Black Friday. Just a few years ago, black Friday wasn’t a thing outside of the US. People just got their Christmas/Channukah shopping done at normal retail prices (the horror!) and laughed at the “American-ness” of people punching each other over $20 blenders. However, the event and the mania have been slowly creeping up on us. A sale here, a freebie there. Until last year, when there were queues forming at stores on Black Friday Eve.
We all knew what was coming. TV cameras set up early to try and get the best shot, reporters stood with microphones at the ready, and at 9am the carnage ensued. Hordes of people fighting for every item. But it’s a little different in South Africa. Whereas overseas there’s a run on smart TVs, here people were waiting to get deals on canned food and maize meal. Priorities are a little different. Sure there are sales and queues at the big box retailers. But when the official unemployment rate is at 35%, things like the latest iPhone fall by the wayside. That being said, there’s one luxury good that no matter what your socioeconomic status is, you’ll be fighting tooth and nail to get your hands on. Which is of course, the latest pair of Nikes. Capitalism at its finest.
There were five correct answers to last week’s riddle. Well done to Meir Brom, Ari Braun, Gila Brill, Yisroel Greenberg and Raisy. The answer and this week’s brainteaser are below.
Finally, a big welcome to all of this week’s new signups! How this newsletter generally works is that people send me articles that they’ve enjoyed, which I then read and put in the digest. Submissions of quotes, cartoons etc. are also gladly accepted! Additionally, we primarily work on referrals, so if you have someone in mind who you think would enjoy their weekly dose of eclectic articles, then you can just forward this email to them.
Keep those articles (and everything else) coming!
All the best
Dovi
And now, the articles:
How Carlos Ghosn Escaped Japan, According to the Ex-Green Beret Who Snuck Him Out
When the auto king fled house arrest, he captivated the world. Now the guy who helped him is in jail – and never got paid a dime.
The Best Way to Wash Your Face Is Actually a 200-Year-Old Method
Turns out there’s a right way and a wrong way to do it.
A Lazy Person’s Guide to Happiness
Find the right environment, and very little effort is necessary.
Why Ireland’s Pub Owners Have Long Moonlighted as Undertakers
(Courtesy of Ori Tobias)
It helps to have cold storage and a room to hold a wake.
Here’s What You Do With Two-Thirds of the World’s Jets When They Can’t Fly
Just finding space to park can be a problem, and idle planes require a surprising amount of work, from maintaining hydraulics to stopping birds from nesting.
The Moon’s Origin Story May Hold Clues to a Critical Moment in Earth’s History
In the collision thought to have formed our natural satellite, 10-60% of our planet’s atmosphere may have been lost.
Taking the Great American Roadtrip
In the spirit of Kerouac and Steinbeck, the celebrated travel writer fulfils a childhood fantasy: to drive across his native land.
Quote of the Week:
“A child can teach an adult three things: to be happy for no reason, to always be busy with something, and to know how to demand with all his might that which he desires.” — Paulo Coelho
Facts of the Week:
There are more trees on Earth than stars in the Milky Way.
1% of all the timber sold in the world is bought by IKEA.
More than half of all tree species exist only in a single country.
Some trees emit chemicals to attract enemies of their enemies.
Trees didn’t exist for the first 90% of Earth’s history.
Cartoon of the Week:
Headline of the Week:
This gem from 2017.
Brainteaser of the Week:
There are seven thieves. They stole diamonds from a diamond merchant and ran away. While running, night sets in and they decide to rest in the jungle.
When everybody was sleeping, two of them woke up and decided to divide the diamonds equally among themselves. But when they divided the diamonds equally, one diamond is left.
So they woke up the 3rd thief and tried to divide the diamonds equally again but still one diamond was left. Then they woke up the 4th thief to divide the diamonds equally again, and again one diamond was left. This happened with the 5th and 6th thief – one diamond was still left.
Finally, they woke up the 7th thief and this time the diamonds were divided equally.
How many diamonds did they steal in total?
Last week’s Brainteaser and answer:
How quickly can you find out what is unusual about this paragraph? It looks so ordinary that you would think that nothing was wrong with it at all, and in fact, nothing is. But it is unusual. Why? If you study it and think about it you may find out, but I am not going to assist you in any way. You must do it without coaching. No doubt if you work at it for long, it will dawn on you. I don’t know. Now, go to work and try your luck.
Answer:
In the whole paragraph, there is no letter e used. This is called a lipogram.
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