Intro / Preface / Extra Words
What's going on down there? Come in!
Uh, everything is under control. Situation normal.
What happened?
Uh, had a slight weapons malfunction. But, uh, everything's perfectly all right now. We're fine. We're all fine here, now, thank you. How are you?
We're sending a squad up.
Uh, uh, negative, negative. We had a reactor leak here now. Give us a few minutes to lock it down. Large leak... very dangerous.
Who is this?? What's your operating number?
Uh... [shoots the intercom] Boring conversation anyway. Luke, we're gonna have company!
Truvia Crime
The Secrets of the World's Greatest Art Thief
This is insane... dude was living that Versaille life for decades. -Brian
This guy is a criminal version of Ignatius J. Reilly from Confederacy of Dunces. - Calvin
How Boeing’s Bean-Counters Courted the 737 MAX Disaster
As a young engineer I had the fortune to work with business folks who were uncompromising when it came to product safety. But I could see how scary it would be if the business didn't have that required integrity. Apparently Boeing didn't have it during the 737 Max development. The VW emissions scandal showed us what it looked like when a company does something directly evil. Boeing shows us now what happens when a company cuts corners while still giving lip service to safety. -Brian
You Fancy, Huh
Inside the black (cherry) market of vintage Kool-Aid packet collectors
Cherry is the only Kool-Aid from the '80's I'm interested in. -Brian
No way bruh, Great Bluedini was actual magic and also, delicious. I think I want to try my hand at illustrating a packet. - Calvin
Super-tall, super-skinny, super-expensive: the 'pencil towers' of New York's super-rich
Did you know all those tall skinny towers in NYC are a result of obtuse zoning regulations that restrict the height of your building to a fixed ratio of the horizontal footprint? And adjacent buildings can sell their "airspace" to their neighbors to allow you to build higher? -Brian
Hotel hermit got $17M to make way for 15 Central Park West
Relatedly - apparently this dude never left his apartment and refused to sell so his building could be torn down for new construction. When you become the only holdup of a gigantic building project I guess they gotta give you those stacks. -Brian
Follytics
Facebook and Google Aren't Hurt by GDPR, But Smaller Firms Are - Bloomberg
Ask Calvin how much time he's spent in his life worrying about GPDR regulations and how much of that time he could have spent on some sort of innovation that created value for his customers instead.... -Brian
Answer: I spend less time now than I did in 2018 when the legislation was about to go into effect, but every so often we get requests for more info about our compliance. Then I have to spend half a day or more gathering documents or filling out questionnaires. My opinion: GDPR is well-intentioned but clumsily implemented by people who sort-of understand how the Internet works. - Calvin
I love technology (and science)
Google’s Manual Interventions in Search Results - Mike Wacker
I want google out of my life. But I also love gmail. What the heck? -Brian
A particular quote from Peter Parker's uncle comes to mind... - Calvin
The Amazon Is on Fire, but Earth Has Plenty of Oxygen
Great article that gives a new insight about how the oxygen - co2 cycle works and what really hurts it. -Brian
I'd add that you shouldn't let the title deceive you. This isn't some opinion piece about how we shouldn't care so much about the destruction in the Amazon; it's compelling science mixed with a clear warning against our "heedless combustion" of life. - Calvin
Further Listening
Willie Nelson has played the same guitar,“Trigger” for 50 years. It was his last remaining possession twice.
You could say it is Always On His Mind???? -Brian
Rear View Mirror
Did Bobby Fischer play a series of online chess games in 2001 after living for years as a recluse?
Apparently Bobby Fischer is still out there spawn-camping n00bs in online chess matches. Do you think he says rude things about your mother over voice chat as well? -Brian
Trash Fire
A Conversation With The Guy Who Got A Massive Jar Jar Binks Tatty On His Back
Calvin- this guy stole your idea for the next tattoo you were going to get! -Brian
Outro
Ahem... OK... there there... I guess we all learned something today. Apparently, un-monetized side-hustles take a back seat to moving to a new city, starting a new job, and buying a new house. Sorry about that.
We guarantee you another issue published in six months or less. Have a great holiday weekend!