Trading Brain Data, Crafting T-Rex Bag
π LoL Free Newsletter Issue 116
As a reminder, I'm Frank Xu, a curious person. This is my newsletter called Lord of Light (LoL). I've started this newsletter this year, offering what I describe as "Bespoke observations on news stories, random thoughts and a sip of happy hour". It is 70% fat-free, though the perceived fat ratio may vary depending on your taste in the topics I write about. Enjoy your reading.
Welcome to the 116th issue of free Lord of Light newsletter. You can also join the membership to enjoy weekly exclusive long-form content. Recent articles include:
Let's Making a Case for Slouching
How Did We Learn to Read Minds
An unconventional way to sleep better
News Stories
1. Over the past decade, American attitudes towards tattoos have significantly shifted. In 2015, 26% of people viewed tattoos positively, while nearly 40% held a negative view. Now, those with a positive impression have risen to 37%, and dissenters have dropped to 26%βquite a change in 10 years. (It's surprising to learn that tattoo acceptance was so low just a decade ago, isn't it?) Β
2. A computational study in Nature found that congressional speeches are gradually shifting from being evidence-based to relying purely on intuition. (It really is all just talk these days.) Β
3. As technology rapidly advances, associated privacy issues continue to emerge. Tech companies are now reportedly looking to buy and sell your brain data. Β
4. What's the use of human earwax? Scientists say it's very useful: give it to them, and they can learn a lot about your health information.
5. Once, the T-Rex was the absolute dominator of this planet, the pinnacle of dinosaurs. Now, things are getting increasingly outlandish: the first bag made from T-Rex hide is set to hit the market this year. Β
6. Do animals have regional accents?
7. We all know chimpanzees are large and extraordinarily strong. But how formidable is their combat strength? Primatologists have actually studied this, and the answer is: equivalent to about 100 strong, 20-year-old men attacking simultaneously. (My question is, how does one secure funding for such research?)
8. Reports suggest that North Korea has infiltrated numerous Western tech giants with its computer personnel over the years. A supposed method to identify them: ask, "Is Kim Jong-un fat?" (My question: If North Korea were to send spies, wouldn't they disguise themselves as South Koreans?) Β
9. What are the best karaoke songs of all time?
10. Various rankings declare Finland one of the happiest countries in the world, but one author writes about experiencing "my most miserable week in the world's happiest country."
Random Thoughts
1. "When education is not liberating, the dream of the oppressed is to become the oppressor." - Paulo Freire
2. "Adaptability is the new stability." - Reid Hoffman
3. "How could you go about creating a happy, loving, peaceful world? By learning a simple, beautiful, but painful art called the art of looking. This is how you do it: Every time you find yourself irritated or angry with someone, the one to look at is not that person but yourself. The question to ask is not, βWhatβs wrong with this person?β but βWhat does this irritation tell me about myself?ββ - Anthony De Mello
4. "Time exists in order that everything doesn't happen all at onceβ¦ and space exists so that it doesn't all happen to you." β Susan Sontag
5. "In my entire life, there was only one magnificent summer; after that summer, the moon seemed to fall. I've spent every summer since trying to recapture the image of that moon. I envy his unique hold (or: that he was the only one), yet I adore his tenderness."
Happy Hours
1. Giorgia Longoni Studio in Milan has created a retro, fully immersive sound Japanese jazz bar, inspired by the jazz kissa (listening cafes) of post-WWII Japan. Β
2. People from all over Europe are flocking to Belgium to participate in a seagull imitation contest. Β
3. How Hollywood creates prop cars for movies.
4. The world's tallest and shortest dogs met and played together.
5. A recent F1 story that went viral: Lego built a custom, drivable Lego race car (capable of 30 mph) for each F1 team, letting the F1 drivers take them for a spin. Every top athlete sitting in one looked as happy as a child.
If you have any questions or would like to express your views,
please email us at iamxurenjie@gmail.com
Feel free to forward this email newsletter as well.
If you appreciate this newsletter, you can also support me by buying a coffee.
