Culture
I Don’t Know How to Waste Time on the Internet Anymore
Seriously, this hits home for me. The Internet used to be fun.
Advice - The Emily Post Institute, Inc.
Omg, this site is so hard to navigate that it makes me want to scream. But once you figure it out (hint: Choose a Category, then Choose Topic, then Choose a Sub-topic), it's content is excellent. Turns out The Emily Post Institute may not know much about modern website usability, but they are keeping up with the manners of our times. Try clicking down into Social Media and whatnot. Turns out, well-articulated manners and reasoning are enlightening.
When Social Media Rewards the Mindless and the Elite
Interesting breakdown, especially as the owner of Curated. I mean, because it's kind of relevant to what the platform is all about.
How and When to Tuck in Your Shirt
I tell people about this article all the time. It's one of the most practical style tips I've ever gotten (over four years ago now).
How Connected Is Your Community to Everywhere Else in America?
Skim the article if you're short on time, but play with the interactive map when you're at your computer. It's pretty great.
Arts
Secret drawings in invisible UV paint have been found in Basquiat paintings
I have to imagine this was kinda fun to discover.
Science
Black Holes: Facts
So, a few months ago I found myself reading about black holes before bedtime, as you do.
Business
What Really Matters: A Conversation With Patrick Lencioni
"People always ask me “Who’s the best CEO in the world?” And I say, “Well, do you want a famous one, or do you want a great one?” Most of the great CEOs, nobody knows who they are, primarily because they don’t want to be known, that wasn’t their goal. Their goal was to create a great organization to serve their customers and their employees well and change people’s lives."
Constellation Software's elusive CEO
Speaking of lesser-known, great CEOs: there's this guy. This is what I do, buying smaller SaaS apps and operating them independently of one another. But he's been doing it much longer. Way, way much longer.
Google’s Parent Has a Plan to Eliminate Mosquitoes Worldwide
It's hard to argue that getting rid of mosquitoes worldwide sounds bad on the surface. But something about it feels like it could go way wrong. With companies at this scale, where should they draw the line on their ambitions? Who is in those meetings?
Health
The Case Against Running With Headphones
I don't like to wear headphones when I run or workout. People are all like, "orly how do you not wear headphones when you work out DOES NOT COMPUTE!~" And I'm like, "Pssh." But now, I have this article in my defense.
My Dad's Friendship With Charles Barkley
This is a feel-good and sentimental story about a man who struck up a lifelong relationship with a really famous basketball player, which makes it interesting to read. But it's really just about a child who's proud of their dad.
Seeing My Body With Fresh Eyes
Here are the two lines to take away from this essay: "I present myself to the world in a way that feels right to me" and "I like the way I feel." We all deserve to be able to say these two things.
How Restaurants Got So Loud
This really resonates. Get it? See what I did there? Seriously, though, the social aesthetic pendulum for restaurants has swung too far away from carpeting, curtains and tablecloths. We deserve restaurants that are quiet(er) again.
Assessment: Can You Handle the Increased Workload of Being a Modern Leader?
"In my organizational coaching, I’ve noticed that more people than ever before are requesting help with time management, self-care, and work-life balance. They’re taking on heavier workloads with fewer resources, living with uncertainty during company restructuring and change, and experiencing greater levels of stress."
Design
Food and Drink
How an engineer earned 1.25 million airline miles by buying pudding
Just think about the clarity and conviction he had to have to follow through on this (and convince his wife).
Grills
I've been pre-shopping for a new smoker and grill for my backyard. One day I am going to make a purchase, but in the meantime, I find myself reading about them for fun as much as research. Meathead, who writes this whole website and I have to assume signed off on the affiliate promotion that justifies this list's existence, is a good, longwinded, rambling teacher on the topic of outdoor cooking. Enjoy.