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Hello Craigslist Roommates,
To be honest it’s late and I’m tired and the A/C in my apartment is so ungodly loud I can’t really think of anything to put in this intro. So this will be short and sweet.
In the next few weeks I’m going to be sending out a survey about the newsletter so that I can make it better and make it more what readers want. So pretty please keep an eye out for that and do it when it happens.
In the meantime just enjoy the sweet musings of me.
Ok time for the usual linkies. Enjoy.
How To Talk About The News Without Being An Asshole
Just Give Me A Synopsis:
What an important message no? This article is mostly about Afghanistan but can also be extended to just about every polarizing or tragic thing in the news. I found it helpful and it did a wonderful job succinctly discussing all the things we should be aware of when we do engage in commentary on the internet (or off it).
And A Quote From The Article Please:
Sometimes, it is okay to admit that you don't know what's going on and be quiet. This isn't to say that you can't do your research (more on that soon) or boost information that you see. But don't see the takeover in Afghanistan, or any other issue, as an opportunity to make a smart comment or flex your Canva design abilities.
And Tell Me Why I should Care:
Most important take away from this for me: you don't have to have to post a dang opinion on everything. Especially if it is informed by seeing a bunch of Instagram slideshows by influencers or Tweets from your friends who you saw blackout drunk last weekend. You should however take some time to educate yourself on topics affecting people all over the world, and this piece has some great advice on ways to effectively do that in meaningful ways. Be aware that everywhere is biased as well, so make sure you know who is behind what you're reading.
The Search For America's Atlantis
Just Give Me A Synopsis:
There is a raging debate going on in the archaeological community of whether or not Americans first came to America by land or by sea. The longstanding theory has been by land, but some new archaeology hotshots are challenging that notion with a seafaring hypothesis based on some new evidence.
And A Quote From The Article Please:
Fladmark’s theory remained a fringe position for decades, but in 1997 scientists gave it a second look after archaeologists excavated Monte Verde, a coastal site that is roughly 14,500 years old—a full 1,000 years more ancient than any Clovis site. Its former inhabitants did not appear to be big-game hunters. They did, however, collect nine different types of seaweed. Strangest of all, Monte Verde is in Chile. If people were living down there 14,500 years ago, their ancestors probably began their southward trip from Beringia, the region connecting Siberia, Alaska, and the Yukon, well before the Clovis people speared their first American mastodon. And along the way, they may have stopped in the Channel Islands.
And Tell Me Why I should Care:
The answer of course, depending on who you ask, is that Americans did not come to America first by land or by sea but by the grace of god. That ain't the case of course and this article outlines some incredibly complex and interesting ways of dating things to determine just who got where and when and it is so damn cool. Definitely good dinner convo fodder right here.
What An Enormous Global Study Can Tell Us About Feeling Better During The Pandemic
Just Give Me A Synopsis:
In this wide reaching study scientists looked at how “cognitive reappraisal” can help people cope with hardships… and they found overwhelmingly that it works. The technique was chosen because it can be easily taught and the article goes into more depth, but the technique entails taking a step back and thinking about things in a manner that helps to spin things in a positive light, rather than just focusing fully on the negatives. Some useful nuggets in here.
And A Quote From The Article Please:
The difference in feelings between those who learned reappraisals, compared to those who did not, was as big as the difference between people who had faced extreme hardships due to the pandemic, compared to those who had not. That’s a notable improvement. (Of course, the interventions are not “guaranteed” to work for any particular individual. The study reported changes on average.)
And Tell Me Why I should Care:
I generally try to stay away from the self help mumbo jumbo stuff published by some succesful VC bloke with a medium page writing articles like "How I achieved true mental clarity in 10 minutes" and then it turns out his trust fund kicked in during those ten minutes and that is how he is so happy and has free time. But this was an actual large scale scientific study, so I think it has some worthwhile insights. And more importantly has some worthwhile practices that we can put into effect in our daily lives to help us be more happy and more chill.
Other Interesting Things You May Or May Not Care About
Experience: I Found The Largest Truffle In The World
This dude could have sold it for over $1M but instead decided to throw a feast for all his homies. I woulda slapped the hell out of my friend for that. Don't be righteous! Get that money. But seriously he sounds cool. Also, I recently watched the documentary The Truffle Hunters, about old Italian dudes who hunt the fungus. It's beautiful and fascinating and I would highly recommend it.Meet the Little-Known Genius Who Helped Make Pixar Possible
He’s probably the most important figure in the world of animation and he is still going strong into his 70s. A hippie who started an entertainment revolution and kind of got shafted in the sense that not many people know who the hell he is.The Jackass Crew Have Apparently Racked Up $24 Million in Injuries Over Their Careers
That honestly feels very low to me considering how much literally anything costs to do medically in this country. Probably also doesn’t count the years of therapy that were no doubt required to deal with all the trauma.The Surprisingly Big Business Of Library E-books
Probably my favorite read of this edition. Since covid I’ve become an e-book convert and I do end up saving money because I rent books from the local library and don’t have to get my ass off the couch to do it. I know, I like the idea of reading real books too, but the Kindle allows me to fulfill my screen addiction by reading books so it does kind of kill two birds with one stone). I’ve long wondered how the whole system works economically, and this piece perfectly laid it all out there. Really cool.Ranking The Biggest NBA Finals Carry Jobs
From The Pudding, who does really awesome data driven infographics, this piece looks at how impactful a single star was to their teams in the final. No surprise but LeBron truly is the most important man in the game.Her Name Is Not Honey Boo Boo
Just in case you were wondering what happened to the reality star, child pageant queen known as Honey Boo Boo.Why Are Hyperlinks Blue?
I have often wondered this. I mean look, the links from my substack are blue, as are just about every link you’ll ever click on. It’s weird when they aren’t blue. Read about why that is here.
Brands I Quite Like
There are so many brands out there that are not cool or unique that I thought I would highlight new brands that I think are in fact doing dope things and are worth knowing about. This is not sponsored or full of affiliate links.
Papr - Natural And Biodegradable Deodorant
I am a big fan of what these folks are doing. The branding is great, the packaging is great and the mission is great: cutting plastic out of the equation. Keep in mind it is just deodorant, not anti-perspirant, so if you’re a big sweater, this may not do the trick for you. Papr makes all natural deodorant that comes in biodegradable, paper, packaging which we all know is far better than plastic. They are also closely associated with environmental charities and have scents based on the wilderness. Check em out.
Let’s Just Looks At Art Because Reading Sucks
These Photos Show What The First Day Of School Looks Like Across The Country
Artist Rhox Combines Old With New In Nostalgic Series Of Motion Covers For Music Playlists
Lists Are What The Internet Was Made For!
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“I never sleep cause sleep is the cousin of death, so I just read all the shit in The Breads to stay awake.” - Nas
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