Current Things
Is Facebook Spying On You?
This podcast was shared with me last week by the inimitable Matthew W., and if I ever actually figure out how to listen to podcasts on the reg I'll be adding this one to my list.
This episode of Reply All addresses concerns over whether or not Facebook is using your device's microphone to eavesdrop on your conversations and sell you things. I think it's strange that this is a really, really common belief but it doesn't seem to stop anyone from using the platform despite how creepy and invasive that would be if it were true. – Calvin
Timeless Things
10 Fun Facts About The San Remo Luxury Apartment Building in NYC
I think this is where I'm also supposed to say something like Number 6 will shock you! I'm nominally against sharing articles that begin with "X Fun Facts" where X = any real number but I ended up at this article after diving down a reddit rabbit hole. Someone posted a picture of a rooftop nook to r/cozyplaces which caused u/just_a_thought4U to spend a bunch of hours trying to triangulate what building in NYC the shot was taken from. The answer? The San Remo (the two towers on the edge of Central Park). Here's the original reddit thread if you're interested.
Did you know The San Remo was built in 1929, was sold during the depression for just $25,000, and once denied Madonna residency because she didn't fit the image of the building? Apartments there now go for $25M+ (of course they do...). -Brian
Random Things
“Memphis” t-shirt by Andrew Millen
A buddy of mine designed this shirt and it's awesome. I bought one last time he was selling them; it's really comfortable and I wear it literally every week.
You've only got until December 3rd to buy it, so go go go now do it. FYI they run slightly small so if you're between sizes, go bigger. – Calvin
Food
The Dark Side of Vitaminwater
Containing the greatest marketing / legal train wreck of a BS quote I've ever read: “no consumer could reasonably be misled into thinking vitaminwater was a healthy beverage.”
From 2011 but highlights the wisdom of my policy of only drinking calories in liquids that also contain alcohol. -Brian
Can Mezcal Survive Being Popular?
Speaking of alcohol, here's another beautiful piece by the folks at Roads and Kingdoms. In case you're unfamiliar with mezcal, it's a cousin of tequila. I've been trying different kinds of agave-based liquor lately, and mezcal is one of my favorites so far (a close second to reposado). I'll find a good link to brands you can find locally and share that with all of you at some point. But for now, read this article and go snag a bottle of Herradura Reposado to sip on this weekend. – Calvin
Ninja Co-author Edit: Herradura Reposado is the cat's meow... -Brian
Business Time
The War To Sell You A Mattress Is An Internet Nightmare
Apparently the most read mattress reviewers are making $2M+ per year. Several have been sued by mattress manufacturer's who didn't like their reviews. Follow the story of Sleepopolis as David-and-Goliath style they take on the kingpin, Casper. -Brian
How Shopify Grew From a Snowboard Shop to a $10B Commerce Ecosystem
Gimme a break, I like founder stories. I even liked the move The Founder, even though that Kroc guy seemed like a jerk. Now I want a Coke and a McMuffin.
Sorry. This is a link to a story about Shopify and stuff. – Calvin
Sports (Disc Golf)
Five Ways to Fix the Dumbest Rule in Football
Hey Calvin! Did you know there's another variant of basketball played with an oblong ball and gigantic, upright open hoops?! -Brian
Follytics
How I Left the Liberal Bubble and Learned to Love the Right
Political discussion, like many things, only works when we actually engage with each other as individuals. Justice can only be applied at an individual level. Social media has dehumanized us to anyone who disagrees with whichever extreme happens to be shouting louder in our ears. I love this article despite the cheesy Dr. Strangelove title because it takes the approach of one-on-one dialogue and intimacy instead of twitter mass outrage. The former CEO of NPR takes a road trip through "flyover country" to discover who his political opposites are as actual people. -Brian
These Are the Ads Russia Bought on Facebook in 2016
And in way less uplifting political news, check this out if you are interested in the actual ads purchased by Russia during the last election cycle. Seems the goal was mostly general chaos and division with ads purchased on both sides of a lot of divisive issues.
If you think the only problem with social media is foreign agents you need to check out the damage our own American reporters are doing with the platform -Brian
I love technology (and science)
The Doyenne of DNA
Fascinating bio piece of the founder of 23 and Me who also dated Sergei Brin and A-Rod (you read that right). -Brian
Outro
Fun news (as in fun for us, means nothing to you): we bought markasread.email as a domain, so very soon all of our past issues will be found there. We'll let you know when we've officially made the switch. I don't think we're going to change the sent from email, so if you're already receiving this in your inbox then no need to change anything on your end. If you're not already receiving this in your inbox (i.e. someone forwarded this to you) then you should subscribe.
Until next time... – Calvin & Brian