Intro / Preface / Extra Words
That's right kids. This is the second issue in as many weeks. Look at us go!
In a couple weeks we're going to send out a newsletter about newsletters, featuring links to other newsletters. But we need help from you, dear reader. Send us your favorite email newsletters and, ideally, a couple sentences about why you love it.
And now, to this week's links.
Food
The South’s Favorite Bars – Garden & Gun
Two in Memphis... only one of which is actually good in my opinion.
-Brian
TravelMASity
WindowSwap
I opened a window in Halesowen, UK and saw four badgers in someone's backyard wrestling over food. Like, pet badgers. What a wonderful site. - Calvin
Yeah this is absolutely my new favorite thing. I spent an hour on a canal in Amsterdam yesterday immediately after watching a cat sit on a window in Utah. I haven't got it on my tv yet so if someone figures that out hit me up! -Brian
You Fancy, Huh
James May and his full-size Lego house nobody wants
Life size lego house? Turns out it isn't actually a great idea... -Brian
David E. Shaw and the Ultimate College Hedge
This is really gross. Reminded me of the Dad character from Umbrella Academy, if anyone's watching that. If you aren't watching that, the second season just came out on Netflix and I'm digging it. - Calvin
My Carona
Disney World During the Pandemic Is Extremely Weird
We went to Disney for New Years this year (aka approximately 9 years ago) and it was a huge mistake. Crowds approaching dangerous size and 4 hour waits for rides. Going now and just walking onto ride after ride and the only downside is wearing a mask all the time? Doesn't sound so bad to me. -Brian
I love technology (and science)
Are Humans Intelligent?
The answer to this question was written in essay format by one of the newest AI models, GPT-3. This model is basically designed to be able to manipulate language in a way that makes it difficult to distinguish what it writes from something a human would write. It is designed to be helpful, but of course the real-world implications of something this powerful are also scary.
This essay is surprisingly mean, but I love it. Favorite quote:
I think it is a terrible accident that humans have consciousness.
- Calvin
The UX of LEGO Interface Panels
Two LEGO appearances in today's issue, that's a first. This delightful primer on interface design is detailed and well-researched. I've often thought it would be fun to design part of a car dashboard, but now maybe I'll try my hand at a LEGO interface. - Calvin
Further Reading
Number Fever: The Pepsi Contest That Became a Deadly Fiasco
This is an absolutely wild ride that ends with Pepsi being hated by much of the Philippines with the fury of 1,000 suns. -Brian
Gen Y (Millennials) and Gen Z (iGen) Characteristics
"Generations Y and Z, who came of age during the Great Recession, were reared by overprotective parents, and ..., evince a (literal and metaphorical) sobriety, prudence, steadiness, well-adjusted friendliness, pragmatism, and flexibility that contrasts with the more passionate, idealistic, but immature and ideologically rigid dispositions of Baby Boomers, as well as the more cynical and edgy bent of GenX’ers. (We should note that the Baby Boom and GenX generations have their own strengths in comparison to these younger generations."
Science once again proves Gen Xers > Millenials... -Brian
Ugh. - Calvin