Dovi’s Digest Volume 55
A weekly newsletter for all your intellectual, spiritual and physical needs
Hi all! Welcome to Volume 55 of Dovi’s Digest.
Over the last year, I’ve devoted quite a few column inches on TV comedies, and in particular, how I think Friends is overrated. I’ve taken a fair amount of stick for this, both on and offline, but I stand by my opinion. It doesn’t mean that I think it’s a bad show, just that there are better ones out there.
That being said, I used to be a big fan, so much so that I’ve actually watched the entire thing through 3 or 4 times. I know the trivia; I can quote the famous (and infamous) lines. So, why am I telling you all of this? Well, despite my misgivings, I watched the reunion show this week. And I quite enjoyed it. There is something familiar and welcoming about it all, which is one of the reasons everyone from Gen X to Gen Z like the show. It spans generations like very few others do and gives us all something to bond over. Personally, I think it’s quite nice that everything always turns out alright within 20 minutes. We can all do with that warm fuzzy feeling at the end of the day.
In last week’s edition, I wrote at length about two things: How the 50s were better (but not really) and mountaineering. With regard to the first one, I came across an interesting piece in the LA Times titled “The 1950’s Weren’t Always Happy Days”, which sums it up quite nicely. And for further reading, I recommend Woody Allen’s “Midnight in Paris”.
Now, the mountaineering. As I said, I’m enamoured with it, and it seems many of you are too as I got lots of feedback on the article (“Has Anyone Really Summited the World’s 14 Highest Mountains?”). I also briefly mentioned the debate surrounding which team actually summitted first. Luckily for me, there’s a great National Geographic article on it. Again, the timing works out as they disappeared on the 8th of June 97 years ago. It’s a great (and pretty sad) rabbit hole to go down, one that I highly recommend.
In this week’s edition, in addition to the Friends piece, we have Nerf wars, Alzheimer disease, why human feet are washing up on American shores, the changing face of wealth, why computers screwed us, and my personal favourite, the true story of one of the world’s master criminals.
There were TWO correct answers to last week’s brainteaser, well done to Dovi Joeland Daniel Rabinovitch!!! The answer and this week’s riddle are below.
Keep those articles (and everything else) coming,
Have a great week,
Dovi
And now, the articles:
The Friends Reunion Has One Surprise
As with the Harry Potter series, the special’s real star is the passage of time.
The Engineers Building Ridiculous Dart Blasters That Nerf Won’t Touch
Inside the DIY Nerf arms race.
The Mystery of Why Human Feet Keep Washing Ashore in The US and Canada Has Been Solved
Wait, what?
How People Get Rich Now
Every year since 1982, Forbes has published a list of the world’s richest people. But if we compare the 1982 list with today’s, we notice some big differences.
Neurologist Faces His Alzheimer Diagnosis Determined to Lessen Stigma Surrounding the Disease
(Courtesy of Yehuda Sobel)
Case reports are a mainstay of medical journal publishing, but a recent report in a dementia journal came with an unusual twist. One of the co-authors was the patient in question.
How the Personal Computer Broke the Human Body
Decades before 'Zoom fatigue' broke our spirits, the so-called computer revolution brought with it a world of pain previously unknown to humankind.
The Secrets of the World's Greatest Jailbreak Artist
Master criminal Rédoine Faïd loved the movies, and his greatest crimes were laced with tributes: to Point Break, Heat, and Reservoir Dogs. When he landed in a maximum-security prison, cinema provided inspiration once again.
Quote of the Week:
“Courage doesn’t always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day that says, ‘I will try again tomorrow.’” – Mary Ann Radmacher
Facts of the Week:
The flute was invented before the wheel.
Cement was invented before humans learned to cook meat.
When Icelandic woman staged an equal pay protest by refusing to do any cooking, all the supermarkets ran out of sausages.
The world's longest sausage was 39 miles long.
Volkswagen sells more sausages than cars.
The Lord Howe Island stick insect is also known as the “walking sausage”.
When Brian May goes on tour, his guitar has its own bodyguard.
In 2004, Somalia issued a set of guitar shaped coins.
In 2010, the national mint of Chile issued thousands of coins stamped “CHIIE”.
Cartoon of the Week:
Tweet of the Week:
Headlines of the Week:
Brainteaser of the Week:
Take the word “stepparents.” Rearrange the letters to spell two words that are opposites. What are they?
Last week’s Brainteaser and answer:
Paper plates can be recycled to make new plates.
Nine used plates are required to make each new plate.
If there are 145 used plates, how many new plates can possibly be made in total?
Answer:
18. Continue using and recycling plates until you can’t anymore.
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