Dovi’s Digest Volume 61
A weekly newsletter for all your intellectual, spiritual and physical needs
Hi all! Welcome to Volume 61 of Dovi’s Digest.
Well, yesterday was my birthday (technically today because I’m writing this on Thursday, that’s how dedicated I am to all of you), and of course it set off a cascade of thoughts, some positive, some negative. I won’t dwell too much on them because A) I don’t think most of you actually care that much about my teenage angst/ennui and B) I have a family dinner to get to, at which I’m the guest of honour. This within itself is a bit novel for me as I share a birthday with my sister, and she normally steals my thunder. This year she’s not in the country (unfortunately, because I miss her), so it’s all about me. Each year I try and do a life audit around this time, see what’s gone wrong, what’s gone right, and what I can change. It’s been a tough year for me (as it has for many people) and, to be perfectly frank, I didn’t think that at the ripe old age of 32 I’d be writing a weekly newsletter focussing on the arcane and obtuse. Yet here we are. And honestly, I’m so glad I am. I’ve been forced to read more, to stick to deadlines, and have been held accountable to about 400 of you (the rest don’t mind). So, thank you all. Hopefully the Digest (and my life) will only have an upwards trajectory from here.
The first article this week is not only an interesting piece, but also has one of the best headlines I’ve seen period. The theme is kept going throughout as well, and I just can’t help singing it. I was seriously considering making it the headline of the week too, but deemed it unfair as I know that would be taking away something dear to many of you.
In this week’s edition, we have, among others, rangers gone rogue (which is really sad), cults, why we’re on the cusp of commercial space travel, a piece about the ubiquity of concrete (which, despite the headline is absolutely fascinating), and colours that only you can see. Enjoy!
There was ONE correct answer to last week’s brainteaser, well done to Gila Brill!!! The answer and this week’s riddle are below.
A correction from last week, Italy failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup, not the 2016 European Cup. Also, Italy won the Euros on Sunday night. Forza Italia!
Keep those articles (and everything else) coming,
Have a great week,
Dovi
And now, the articles:
When an Eel Climbs a Ramp to Eat Squid From a Clamp, That’s a Moray
(Courtesy of Ariel Brom)
Moray eels can hunt on land, and footage from a recent study highlights how they accomplish this feat with a sneaky second set of jaws.
What Makes a Cult a Cult?
The line between delusion and what the rest of us believe may be blurrier than we think.
How Rhino Protectors In South Africa Have Become A Major Threat To The Species
The long-awaited trial of a star wildlife ranger on poaching-related charges illustrates the extent of criminal syndicates’ reach in Kruger National Park.
Here’s Why Richard Branson’s Flight Matters—And, Yes, It Really Matters
“I absolutely believe this is that moment."
Concrete: The Material That's “Too Vast To Imagine”
There is so much concrete in the world that soon it will outweigh all living matter – including us. In the latest in our Anthropo-Scene series, we explore the material's global reach, occasional beauty, and unimaginable scale.
The Life and Suspicious Death of Cachou the Bear
Conservationists saw the 6-year-old brown bear as a symbol of hope. Villagers saw him as a menace. Then he turned up dead.
How Pixar Uses Hyper-Colours to Hack Your Brain
The animation studio’s artists are masters at tweaking light and colour to trigger deep emotional responses. Coming soon: effects you’ll only see inside your head.
Quote of the Week:
“The older I get the more I understand that the only way to say valuable things is to lose your fear of being correct.” – Malcolm Gladwell
Facts of the Week:
When Winston Churchill visited the US during Prohibition, he got a doctor's prescription for an unlimited supply of alcohol.
Churchill’s last words were: “I'm bored with it all.”
The Last King of Egypt stole Winston Churchill’s watch.
The last emperor of China spent his final years as a street sweeper.
37% of Britons think their jobs are meaningless and don’t contribute to the world.
52% of Americans think God is doing a good job.
In ancient Egypt, only gods and royalty could eat marshmallows.
Pharoah Rameses III made an offering to the Nile God of 11,998 jars of beans.
Pythagoras died because he hated beans and refused to run through a field of them to escape his murderers.
Cartoon of the Week:
Tweet of the Week:
Headline of the Week:
Brainteaser of the Week:
Four sweet items are written here in code. What are they?
RMDDCC AMMIGC NMNAMPL DSBEC
Last week’s Brainteaser and answer:
A sundial has the fewest moving parts of any timepiece. Which has the most?
Answer:
An hourglass.