Tanya's Two Cents 03
Brat summer vs demure fall
A weekly newsletter for all your intellectual, spiritual, and needs
Gentle Reader,
I’m going to present a totally hypothetical scenario.
Someone has decided to fulfil their lifelong dream of becoming a LinkedIn influencer (LinkedInfluencer, if you will). They love LinkedIn, which is unusual, because they’re 21. They’re all in — posting regularly, engaging with their network, crafting the perfect professional persona. It’s very exciting.
But then there’s that other thing. The not-so-exciting thing. Like, say, finishing their drama thesis (as I said, totally hypothetical). It’s been on the to-do list for a while, but somehow it keeps getting pushed aside. After all, why work on something that feels tedious when you could be building your online brand and getting immediate feedback?
This week, let’s think about why we often prioritise the fun, quick tasks over the bigger, more important ones that don’t offer instant gratification. How can we take some of that LinkedInfluencer enthusiasm (slay) and apply it to the tasks we’ve been avoiding? Whether it’s breaking them down into manageable pieces, setting deadlines, or just changing our mindset, let’s find a way to tackle both our “want to do” and “need to do” lists with the same energy.
Anyway, follow me on LinkedIn here.
All my love,
Tanya
Do you know a word you think others should know about? Submit it here!
In this week’s added extras:
A history of tennis told through the wear of the grass during Wimbledon finals.
Name countries to get from point A to point B in this geography game
Check out the Rubik’s Cube record set by a robot.
The best TV shows of the 21st century (so far).
Do you enjoy the Digest? Would you like it to get better? Then please consider sharing it, as the more articles I’m sent, the better it is. It only takes a few seconds, and all you need to do is click here 👇. Thank you!
There were TWO correct answers to last week’s brainteaser, well done to Chaim E, and Ariel S!! The answer and this week’s puzzle are below.
Keep those articles (and everything else) coming.
Have a great weekend,
Tanya
And now, the articles:
The Accidental Mountaineer
Saray Khumalo is the first black African woman to summit the world’s highest peak. Now she’s got her sights set on the Explorer’s Grand Slam, the most coveted adventurer goal there is: to summit the highest peaks on every continent and reach the North and South Pole. When she does it, she’ll be the first African woman, black or white, to hold the title.
My Secret Life as a Mysterious Multimillionaire’s Personal Assistant
It started with a simple Craigslist ad. Before long I was being sent on sketchy tasks, pocketing wads of cash, and trying not to think about where his money came from.
The Air Fryer Is A Hoax
The air fryer is just a little oven that blows, and the idea that air frying is a new cooking technique is a myth.
Why Don’t Rich People Eat Anymore?
Extreme dieting is the latest way for the mega-rich to signal their wealth and status.
The Mathematical Muddle Created By Leap Years
Every four years we have a 29 February – apart from those that fall at the turn of a century, unless the year is divisible by 400. This is the messy story of how leap years work.
The Unpredictable Economics Of Pawn Shops
Take the same item to 4 different pawn shops and you might get offers that vary by hundreds of dollars. Here’s why.
The Top-Secret World War II Mission That Killed Joseph P. Kennedy Jr., the Heir Apparent to the Political Dynasty
In August 1944, the older brother of Robert and John F. Kennedy died while piloting a drone aircraft over England, leaving his younger siblings to fulfil their father’s dreams.
Quote of the Week:
“Never before have I been so offended by something I 100% agree with” - James Acaster
Word of the Week:
Chutzpah
khut·spa/ˈhʊtspə,ˈxʊtspə/
Extreme self-confidence or audacity. the gall, if you will.
“he had the chutzpah to ask me to work when I was on my retreat over the weekend”
Facts of the Week:
Ptarmigan is eaten by 8% of Icelanders at Christmas.
The past tense of “snow” used to be “snew”.
Snow fleas survive the cold because their bodies contain natural antifreeze.
It is only safe to eat snow that has fallen within the last half-day.
According to the Office for National Statistics, Britons eat 50% more than they say they do.
The Welsh for “peaches” literally translates as “woolly plums”.
In the 17th century, potatoes were cut into fishy shapes and fried as a fish substitute when it was too cold to go fishing.
People with auto-brewery syndrome can get drunk from eating chips.
Cartoon of the Week:
Tweet of the Week:
Headline of the Week:
Comment of the week:
“Can anyone else smell boerewors rolls?” - B.R.
“No” - everyone else
“Am I having a stroke? Is this what it’s like for a South African to have a stroke?” - B.R.
Brainteaser of the Week:
Last week’s Brainteaser and Answer:
Below is an encoded quote from the comedian George Carlin. Can you figure out what it says?
Each letter is a stand-in for another letter. Hint: Q = M.
“‘S DQ’ SU YLTRYPLJWB PKL UKRYPLUP ULOPLOHL SO PKL LOMWSUK WDOMADML. HRAWJ SP FL PKDP ‘S JR’ SU PKL WROMLUP ULOPLOHL?”
Answer:
“‘I am’ is reportedly the shortest sentence in the English language. Could it be that ‘I do’ is the longest sentence?”