Dovi’s Digest Volume 90
A weekly newsletter for all your intellectual, spiritual, and physical needs
HI ALL!!!! Welcome to Volume 90 of Dovi’s Digest.
Like many people, since the beginning of this year I’ve been back in the office full time. This of course has its advantages, like the fact that I can’t just sit and graze food from the fridge whenever I want and now have a set routine. It of course has its disadvantages as well. For instance, I can't just sit and graze food from the fridge whenever I want. I also can no longer bake sourdough on a semi-industrial level (more on that another time).
However, the biggest change has been getting used to not only getting dressed every day, but also trying to look a bit smart. No more can I roll out of bed five minutes before a meeting, throw on a shirt, brush my hair, and be good to go. Gone are the days of work up top, party down below. I’ve bid adieu to pyjamas and slippers, replacing them with work boots and collared shirts.
And I’m not the only one who’s had some trouble readjusting. In fact, dress codes have confused me many times. I’ve been to “black tie” events, where I was the only one in a black tie, and I’ve been to business casual events as the only one without a jacket. I don’t know what business casual actually is, nor do I know what business formal is. Nor do I know the difference between them. In this week’s headline article, we get a small look into how the laws of fashion have changed history, and as an added bonus, we get tips on how to go forward from here post WFH life. Most (maybe all) are tongue in cheek, but that won’t stop me from trying out at least few. I hope the combo of the two tickles you as much as it tickled me.
Another article I’d like to highlight is the one about Rummikub, but only because of its place close to my heart. During the initial lockdown in early 2020 where there was nothing else to do, Rummikub was the one thing that kept my family sane. It became a family affair (I guess this is tautologous, no one else was allowed), with drinks and snacks, and often went to 2am. Now that my siblings are no longer in the house, it’s become a Friday night ritual for me and my mom to play a few games, eat some sweets, and kibbitz about the week. It’s something that I really cherish.
As an added bonus this week, take a look at this tool. It’s just a fun little thing that allows you to draw an iceberg and see how it would float. Icebergs are less dense than water, so they will always float with about 10% of their mass above the water. See how symmetrical you can get it!
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Thank you!
There were TWO correct answers to last week’s brainteaser. Well done to Gila Brill and Hazel Levin. The answer and this week’s riddle are below.
If dress codes and fashion isn’t your thing, and you hate board games, there’s a miscellany of other lovely articles for you to peruse. Read how scientists are trying to save alpacas from climate change, a billionaire who gives away tons of his money (and has pledged to give most of it away), yet is still seen as a villain, the estate agent who sells £100m+ houses, a murderous socialite and how they found a WWII shipwreck 6500m below the surface. This one is particularly good just because it ties in with one of the articles from a very early edition (6!) of the Digest, about a venture capitalist who got bored and decided to dive to the deepest part of each ocean. He’s the one who found the USS Johnston. It also happens to be one of my favourites. You can find the article here. Enjoy!
Keep those articles (and everything else) coming,
Have a great week,
Dovi
And now, the articles:
What Should We Wear Now?
A year into the pandemic, there are no more dress codes.
The High-Altitude Quest to Save Alpacas
The once-verdant mountain pastures where alpacas graze are drying out from climate change; scientists, herders, and activists are rallying to find solutions.
How A Funny Jewish Game Called Rummikub Became an International Sensation
Though the game incorporates elements of chess, dominoes, rummy, and Mah-Jong, David Parlett, a game scholar, believes the Mexican game of Conquian is the ancestor of all Rummy games.
The Moral Calculations of a Billionaire
After the best year in history to be among the super-rich, one of America’s 745 billionaires wonders: ‘What’s enough? What’s the answer?’
Super-Prime Mover: Britain’s Most Successful Estate Agent
Gary Hersham has been selling houses to the very rich for decades. At first, £1m was a big deal. Now he sells for £50m, £100m, even £200m. What does it take to stay on top in this cut-throat business?
How The World's Deepest Shipwreck Was Found
In 1944, the USS Johnston sank after a battle against the world's largest battleship. More than 75 years later, her wreck was finally located, 6km (3.7 miles) below the waves.
The Notorious Mrs. Mossler
In “the trial of the century,” a Houston socialite was accused of plotting her husband's murder—and of having an affair with her nephew. But Candace Mossler was only getting started.
Quote of the Week:
“A year from now you will wish you had started today.” — Karen Lamb
Facts of the Week:
Roman Maps gave exact distances between towns and rated the roadside inns and road quality.
In Iceland, drawing a map on an envelope works just as well as writing the address.
Until 2011, buildings in South Korea were numbered according to when they were built.
When the River Han in Korea was crossed by tightrope walkers, the Washington Post reported: “Skywalkers in Korea cross Han Solo”.
The Yellow River in China has lost 30% of its fish species, and 66% of its water is undrinkable.
Only 36% of Americans can locate North Korea on a map.
There are Google Maps for the moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, common Pluto, four Jupiter's moons, and seven of Saturn’s.
Cartoon of the Week:
Tweet of the Week:
Headline of the Week:
Brainteaser of the Week:
Find the animal concealed in each sentence.
Example: What shall I do, Gertrude? = dog
1. A gold key is not a common key.
2. Horace tries in school to be a very good boy.
3. People who drive too fast are likely to be arrested.
4. Did I ever tell you, Bill, I once found a dollar?
5. John came late to his arithmetic class.
6. I enjoy listening to music at night.
Last Week’s Brainteaser and Answer:
Which of the following words does not belong with the others?
REWARD TORT SNOOPS MEAL MOOR
Answer:
Meal. The rest all spell other words backwards (DRAWER, TROT, SPOONS, ROOM).
Fun fact: A word that spells another word backwards is called a semordnilap (palindromes backwards).