Dovi’s Digest Volume 46
A weekly newsletter for all your intellectual, spiritual and physical needs
Hello everybody! Welcome to Volume 46 of Dovi’s Digest.
This week, the South African government announced that there would be some further COVID restrictions over the Easter weekend. At the same time, they’re patting themselves on the back for their vaccine rollout. Now far be it from me to criticise (I don’t know much about logistics, or processing many injections), but I feel like 230 000 doses since mid-February (approximately 6000 a day) isn’t much to crow about. Especially in light of the article in DD36 about how a much smaller country has far outstripped this number (Why has Israel succeeded at COVID vaccination?) Now I do understand that there is a large difference with regard to finances, size of country etc, but 15x more per day can’t be a fluke. To put it in perspective, Although the government has said they would like 67% of the population vaccinated by the end of the year, at the current rate, it would take about 18 years.
Why am I telling you all of this? Am I annoyed that I’m not yet eligible for the jab? Sure. Is it maybe the fact that we’re being promised 200 000 vaccinations a day by May? Just a little. But the main reason I’m telling you this is because of the article this week about how the Pfizer/Moderna vaccines were made using mRNA technology. It seems like something out of science fiction, DNA printers and editing, effectively building a bespoke protein. The article itself is quite involved and scienfic, and I didn’t understand all of it. However I highly recommend the read, even to get a basic overview of how it all works. It’s fascinating.
For something a little lighter, here’s a great article which I’ve been inadvertently sitting on for a few months about castles carved out of ice. Its super cool (hehe) and the photos are mesmerising.
Finally, I just wanted to wish Chag Pesach Sameach to my Jewish readers, and happy easter to my Christian ones (and for the people like me who love Cadbury’s Creme Eggs, which are only available this time of year)
My favourite article this week (aside from the vaccine one) is the one about the Dunning-Kruger effect (that people who aren’t good at something overestimate their ability) and how it’s possibly a lie. There are also articles about violins stolen by the Nazis, lightning from space and how a bitcoin billionaire is either a villain or a hero, depending on who you ask.
There were TWELVE correct answers to last week’s riddle, well done to Josh Goodman, Zac Feldman, Josh Todes, Yona Kesler, Adam Frame, Hazel Levine, Ariel Raff, Justin Benatar, Ari Braun, Ivor Berger, Josh Friedlander and David Flax! Last week I omitted to Kevin Levy’s name, from the correct riddle list. I apologise.
This week’s riddle is below.
Keep those articles (and everything else) coming,
All the best
Dovi
And now, the articles:
The Soviet Football Genius the World Never Got To See
An artist with the ball at his feet, Fyodor Cherenkov could do anything.
The Dunning-Kruger Effect Is Probably Not Real
(Courtesy of Isaac Lipschitz)
The darling of those who wish to explain why incompetent people don’t know they’re unskilled, the Dunning-Kruger effect may actually just be a data artefact.
WW2 Stockpile of 1.5 million Purple Hearts is Now Running Out
Originally made for the invasion of Japan, some soldiers are getting medals that were made for their grandfathers.
Rare Violin Tests Germany’s Commitment to Atone for Its Nazi Past
The instrument’s holders refuse to compensate the heirs of a Jewish music dealer, jeopardizing a system for restitution that has been in place for nearly two decades.
Astronauts Capture a Rare Glimpse of a Thunderstorm From Space
An ISS study highlights new dazzling phenomena seen above thunderstorms.
Reverse Engineering the Source Code of the BioNTech/Pfizer SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine
(courtesy of Dovi Joel)
The Rise and Fall Of Bitcoin Billionaire Arthur Hayes
The BitMEX cofounder created a cryptocurrency exchange that has traded trillions. Now he’s wanted by U.S. authorities, and insiders wonder whether he and his partners are villains—or victims of a two-tiered justice system that favors big banks over brash outsiders.
Quote of the Week:
“After the game, the King and the pawn go in the same box.” —Italian Proverb
Facts of the Week:
On the set of Jaws, the shark was nicknamed Bruce, after Steven Spielberg’s lawyer.
The first crime prosecuted using fingerprint evidence was the theft of some billiard balls.
The largest theft ever investigated by Quebec police was of maple syrup.
Between 1935 and 1937, Wisconsin law required all restaurant meals to be served with free cheese.
The first use of the word “mammoth” as an adjective meaning “big” referred to a large cheese.
The world's largest asbestos mine is in Asbest, Russia.
The world's largest paper plane had a 60-foot wingspan.
Each pod on the world's largest Ferris wheel is equipped with a TV screen to stave off boredom.
Tweet of the Week:
Cartoon of the Week:
(Courtesy of Ori Tobias)
Brainteaser of the Week:
Amber has four times as many Easter eggs as Billy has.
Dhillon has four more than Billy and Carly has one less than Dhillon.
Carly has five Easter eggs.
How many eggs do the four have between them?
Last week’s Brainteaser and answer:
Can you open the 3 digit lock using these hints?
682 – one digit is right and in its place
614 – one digit is right but in the wrong place
206 – two digits are right but both are in the wrong place
738 – all the digits are wrong
380 – one digit is right but in the wrong place
Answer:
042
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