Dovi's Digest Volume 34
A weekly newsletter for all your intellectual, spiritual and physical needs
Hi All, and welcome to Volume 34 of Dovi’s Digest.
Well, as I mentioned last week, we said goodbye to the dumpster fire that was 2020. Little did we know that we were walking into something that was genuinely more dystopic. While I most likely won’t entirely assuage that sinking feeling you have in your stomach, each week I’ll do my darndest to bring a little surrealism and hopefully a smile to your world.
There were no correct answers to last week’s riddle. Well done to me! The answer and this week’s brainteaser are below.
In this week’s edition, we have a whole new slew of articles that will make you smile, frown and probably say “huh, that’s interesting”. I hope you enjoy them.
Finally, over the next month or so, I will be posting pieces relating to the Perseverance Rover and its impending landing on Mars, from its building to its final goal, we’re going to cover it step by step. The first article in the series (which will not be chronological) is below.
Keep those articles (and everything else) coming,
All the best
Dovi
And now, the articles:
The 25 Greatest Video Game Consoles – Ranked!
On the threshold of a new console generation with the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, here are the industry’s most influential and impactful machines over 50 years of gaming.
To Physically Age Slower, Show Some Self-Control
For healthy aging, self-control appears to be an "active ingredient."
The Wild, Misunderstood World of Competitive Scrabble
(Courtesy of Eli Berkow)
Despite its humble origins, for many players, Scrabble is much more than just a game, but a fiercely competitive, lifelong commitment
The Rare Plants That “Bleed” Nickel
Rare and valuable plants that naturally “mine” large quantities of nickel are thought to be hiding in Indonesia’s forests – but it is a race to discover them before they are wiped out.
A History of Punctuation
How we came to represent (through inky marks) the vagaries of the mind, inflections of the voice, and intensity of feeling.
How Costco Convinces Brands to Cannibalize Themselves
An unlikely marriage where both sides win.
Nasa’s New Mars Rover Is About to Embark on A Hunt for Ancient Alien Life
Perseverance’s biggest goal is to dig up samples to bring back to Earth one day.
Quote of the Week:
“The biggest lie I tell myself is: ‘I don't need to write this down because I can remember it’” – Unknown
Facts of the Week:
Eyebrows evolved to make humans look friendly to one another.
In the ten seasons of Friends, the six main characters drink 1 154 cups of coffee.
The Hitler Youth only drank decaf coffee.
Rats with low social status drink more than those with high social status.
On a single day in 2018, volunteers in India planted 66 million trees.
The palm trees in Los Angeles are the result of a job-creation scheme in the 1930s.
The way tree tops avoid touching each other as they grow is called “crown shyness”. (Please please google this, it’s really awesome and beautiful.)
Tweet of the Week: (Courtesy of David Greenway and Dan Miller)
Cartoon of the Week:
Brainteaser of the Week:
Omri says to Michal, "Can you figure out how many shwarmas I have in my fridge?" He gives 3 clues to Michal: If the number of shwarmas I have:
1) Is a multiple of 5, it is a number between 1 and 19.
2) Is not a multiple of 8, it is a number between 20 and 29.
3) Is not a multiple of 10, it is a number between 30 and 39.
How many shwarmas does Omri have in his fridge?
Last week’s Brainteaser and answer:
Five friends, Jenna, Brad, Anna, Chris, and Ronald, decided to get together and throw a new year party. They each had to organize one part of the entertainment, as well as arrange food items for each course of the new year bash meal. Can you figure out who handled what?
1. No one organized any part of the entertainment or food, the first letter of which coincided with the first letter of their name.
2. Neither Anna nor Ronald handled the organization of the quiz, but one of them handled the starters.
3. Anna knew of some great places where they could have the party, so she agreed to find a suitable venue.
4. Ronald did not organize the music for the party.
5. Jenna worked for a music store and had the perfect list of head bangers set up for a wild night.
6. Chris did not feel brainy enough to do the quiz. However, he had a sweet tooth, so he handled one of the sweets.
7. Brad's food item included beef, onions, and peas.
8. Jenna's Dad owned a bakery and made the perfect new year cake for the party.
9. Anna's food item did not include chicken wings and French fingers.
Answer:
Jenna - Music, Cake
Brad - Quiz, Main Course
Anna - Venue, Beverages
Ronald - Bingo, Starters
Chris - Return Gifts, Dessert
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