Dovi's Digest Volume 6
A weekly newsletter for all your intellectual, spiritual and physical needs
Hello Everyone, and welcome to Volume 6 of Dovi’s Digest.
We have a few new subscribers, one of whom pushed us over the 100 subscribers mark! Thank you for all your referrals and a big welcome to the newbies.
This week we have a bumper eight articles in the digest. From unusual retirement plans to a high Hitler to the allure of an aristocrat and his butler, I hope you’ll enjoy this week’s selection. My personal favourite is one man’s quest to explore the “anti-Everest”, which is particularly relevant because Don Walsh’s son this week dived to the bottom of the Mariana Trench, not only marking the 60th anniversary of his father’s and Jacques Piccard’s descent, but also becoming the 12th person to visit the trench floor – the same as the number of Apollo moonwalkers, rendering the factoid that more people have walked on the moon than have visited the bottom of the ocean obsolete.
You’ll notice that a fair amount of the articles are from websites that only allow a few articles a month. In general, these will come at the end of the month, so as not to use up peoples’ limits. I am trying to find a way to circumnavigate this, so if you have any ideas or solutions (aside from me sharing my login details with over 100 people), please send them my way.
I received 5 correct answers to last week’s brainteaser, so well done to Rabbi Jamie Cowland, Dovi Joel, Bianca Shulman (again again!), Bradley Mervis, and Hazel Levine. The answer (and another relatively difficult riddle) is below.
I was asked a few days ago whether I only accept articles for inclusion. I definitely do not. Any facts, quotes, cartoons, brainteasers or in fact anything that you liked and would like to share is not only welcome, but encouraged. So please, keep those articles (and everything else) coming!
All the best
Dovi
And now, the articles:
The Very Drugged Nazis
They demanded purity of blood, body and mind. But no armed forces did more to boost troop performance than the Wehrmacht did by using methamphetamine.
The Secrets Behind the Runaway Success of Apple’s AirPods
The wireless headphones have been a surprise hit. Here’s how.
Meritocracy Harms Everyone - How Life Became an Endless, Terrible Competition
Meritocracy prizes achievement above all else, making everyone – even the rich – miserable. Maybe there’s a way out.
The Man Who Wrote the Most Perfect Sentences Ever Written
An essay in which a critic reflects on cultural work that brings them joy and pays tribute to the blissfully escapist comic novels of PG Wodehouse.
Unravelling the Many Mysteries of Neil Diamond’s “Sweet Caroline”
Digging into Diamond’s inspiration and how the song became a staple at Fenway Park.
The Olympic Marathon’s Outlandish Early History
(Courtesy of Daniel Rabinovitch)
A bizarre tale of booze, eggs, cramps and royal requests.
Thirty-Six Thousand Feet Under the Sea
The explorers who set one of the last meaningful records on earth.
Jerry and Marge Go Large
Gaming the lottery seemed as good a retirement plan as any.
Quote of the Week:
“In hotel rooms I worry. I can’t be the only guy who sits on the furniture naked.” – Jonathan Katz
Fact of the Week:
5000 years ago, humans practised brain surgery on cows.
Cartoon of the Week:
Brainteaser of the Week:
Theo has four cars.
He has a Toyota, a Mitsubishi and a Bentley.
Is his fourth car a Nissan or a Peugeot?
Last week’s answer:
C H L O Q. The alphabet is moved five letters, then four then three, etc.
Is there something you particularly liked or didn’t like? Let me know at dovisdigest@gmail.com