Headlines

An Astonishing Graph

For most of human history, around 50% of children used to die before they reached the end of puberty. In 2020, that number is 4.3% . It’s 0.3% in countries like Japan & Norway. This dramatic decline has resulted from better nutrition, clean water, sanitation, neonatal

kottke.org •

Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair

In just a few days (Dec 5), the entirety of Quentin Tarantino’s Kill Bill duology will be released in theaters as one four-hour-long film. Here’s the trailer : Quentin Tarantino’s KILL BILL: THE WHOLE BLOODY AFFAIR unites Volume 1 and Volume 2 into a single, unrated

kottke.org •

David Byrne’s Tiny Desk Concert

There are a few artists where you hear their name and “Tiny Desk” together and you think, well, that’s going to be great. David Byrne is one of those and his performance does not disappoint. Though Byrne and his band do normally spread out across large stages, the set design

kottke.org •

Desert survivors

Elephant families are matriarchal, inclusive and caring. But when environmental scarcity hits, everything changes - by Caitlin O’Connell-Rodwell Read on Aeon

Aeon •

Mediocre means average

Two different ways to consider this: First, in the marketplace, where most people, most of the time, want the thing that most people want. The average one. Exceptional is the exception. Second, in the committee meeting, where the easiest way forward is to sand off interesting

Seth's Blog •

The Unlikely Friendship of Mark Twain and Nikola Tesla

Mark Twain was, in the estimation of many, the United States of America’s first truly homegrown man of letters. And in keeping with what would be recognized as the can-do American spirit, he couldn’t resist putting himself forth now and again as a man of science — or, more

Open Culture •