A weekly newsletter for all your intellectual, spiritual, and physical needs
Hello all! Welcome to Volume 273 of Dovi’s Digest!
Right back at the beginning of the Digest, the intro would be more…loose. I’d write about my life, my week, what I’d found interesting (like a cool bug I saw), just whatever came into my head. However, as it went on and I realised that I wasn’t always interesting enough, I started to segue into, well segues into articles. It was easier, it gave me a topic, and it allowed me to have a natural end to the column. Plus, it allowed me to highlight an article I particularly enjoyed.
Somewhat ironically, I ended up going through a period where having a mandate slowed me down, made me agonise over which article to highlight, and then stare at that blinking cursor.
I think these days I’ve found a happy medium between the two, splitting the stream of consciousness with whatever is my hyper-fixation for that week.
For instance, in the first year(ish) of the Digest, I posted an article about a Russian freediver who was shattering records. It’s still in my top 20 articles. Since then, although I haven’t followed it closely, I’ve kept an eye on the sport, and diving in general, which is why when I came across this week’s top article, I knew I had to post it. Although it’s not freediving per se, if you follow click throughs, you’ll land up deep in a freediving hole (no pun intended). Anyway, here’s the original article I posted way back in DD 76.
The Secrets of The World’s Greatest Freediver
With only a single breath, Alexey Molchanov, history’s most daring freediver, is reaching improbable depths—and discovering a new kind of enlightenment as he conquers one of the world’s wildest sports.
In this week’s added extras:
The perfect game of Tetris just happened.
A child prodigy goes ham on the keys after hearing Elton John’s “Crocodile Rock” for the first time.
How “Iris” by the Goo Goo Dolls became the song of the summer.
Find the mystery animal in this daily game.
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 SIX correct answers to last week’s brainteaser. Well done to Yona G, Jeff C, Ariel S,Chaim E, Josh F and Ayelet G! The answer and this week’s riddle are below.
Keep those articles (and everything else) coming.
Have a great weekend,
Dovi
And now, the articles:
The Bone Garden: A Visit to the World's Deadliest Dive Site
It doesn't have the nicest coral formations nor the most fish. But the Blue Hole in the Gulf of Aqaba is a magnet for divers, primarily because of its reputation. Dozens of adventurers have lost their lives here over the years and, when they do, Tarek Omar pulls them back to the surface.
Added Bonus: The Deepest Breath: 'Nerve-shredding' documentary explores perils of freediving.
Does Double-Dipping Really Spread Germs?
Or is it just, um, rude?
F1 at 75
Celebrating 75 Years of Formula 1.
How ‘Hot Ones’ Went from YouTube Series to A Brand of Its Own
As the show explores new CPG offerings and collabs, it’s aiming to satiate the fans fuelling its growth.
Added Bonus: The truth about Hot Ones sauces
A Surprising (and Easy) Way to Boost Your Attention Span
Being in nature is great for your brain. Experts are trying to figure out why.
“The Forest Had Gone”: The Storm That Moved a Mountain
On a small ledge in the Swiss mountains, 200 people were enjoying a summer football tournament. As night fell, they had no idea what was coming.
Pretty Fly (For a Virus Guy)
Dexter Holland, the frontman of the Offspring, also has a Ph.D. in molecular biology, and he competes in triathlons, and he’s a licensed pilot, and the band has a new album, Supercharged. How does the 58-year-old maverick do it all?
Quote of the Week:
“Man is fond of counting his troubles, but he does not count his joys.” - Fyodor Dostoevsky
Word of the Week:
(Courtesy of Akhil C)
Lampoon
lam·poon /lamˈpuːn/
Verb
publicly criticise (someone or something) by using ridicule, irony, or sarcasm.
"The actor was lampooned by the press."
Noun
a speech or text lampooning someone or something.
"The magazine fired at God, Royalty, and politicians, using cartoons and lampoons."
Do you know a word you think others should know about? Submit it here!
Facts of the Week:
Part of Antarctica is called the Kodak Gap because it is so beautiful it's impossible to take a bad photo there.
The US Postal Service photographs every one of the 160 billion items of US mail a year.
Jeff Bezos has been photographed eating an iguana.
Oscar Wilde tore off and ate a corner of each page after he'd read it.
The NME was originally called the Accordion Times.
Freddie Mercury's original title for “Bohemian Rhapsody” was “The Cowboy Song”.
The song “Mahna Mahna”, made famous by the Muppets, was written for a porn film.
Paul McCartney once spent three hours in prison for setting a condom on fire.
Cartoon of the Week:
(Courtesy of Naftali G)
Tweet of the Week:
Headline of the Week:
Brainteaser of the Week:
Bob goes to a vending machine to buy a can of Coke that costs exactly $1. He opens his wallet but has no dollar bills—or any bills for that matter. Bob does have change in his pocket, but even still, he can’t buy the soda.
What is the maximum amount of change Bob can have without having exact change for a dollar?
(Note: US coins come in five denominations: 1c, 5c, 10c, 25c, and 50c)
Last week’s brainteaser:
A well-known nursery rhyme appears below, but it’s been put into code to evade enemy eyes. Can you decode it?
PNBJXC ONBJXC AEX YW E KEVV; PNBJXC ONBJXC PEO E QUIEX SEVV. EVV XPI TDWQ’A PYUAIA EWO EVV XPI TDWQ’A BIW LYNVOW’X JNX PNBJXC XYQIXPIU EQEDW!
Answer:
Humpty Dumpty. See the full solution here.