Following the tradition of Tom Whitwell and others, Kottke directs our attention to the index of weekly lessons gleaned from the most interesting items encountered by Kent Hendricks. 
There are a lot of engrossing, data-driven behavioural nudges in this rather disabusing list showing that correlation is not causation necessarily, like the increased likelihood of receiving an ADHD diagnosis on 31 October because kids are excited about Halloween trick-or-treating—unrelatedly, the third most popular podcast in America is entirely about telling parents that their kids are not autistic but rather telepathic—swears have a measurable effect on endurance and strength and the tyranny of trendy baby names. A few items we had also come across, like Russia’s suit against Google amounting to a googol and diocese of the Moon. Most were however very new to us and we also liked the study that, objectively, showed AI’s carbon footprint is less than a human’s as they can perform the same task, writing an essay, creating a picture, in far less time and the amount of energy expended (see also further down about metabolic loads and caloric costs) and CO₂ expelled by a biological foil is far greater or that the Cocaine Bear was taxidermied and is licensed to officiate marriages in Kentucky. Check it out and let us know what are your favourites.
synchronoptica
one year ago: AC/DC’s first gig (with synchronoptica), assorted links worth revisiting, Holy Mountain (1973), the chimes of Big Ben plus a New Year countdown
seven years ago: 2017 in review, the Anywhere on Earth archival rule, more on the Greenwich Time Signal plus racing home for New Year’s
eight years ago: biodegradable bullets plus New Year’s greetings
nine years ago: more year end lists plus Saint Silvester
ten years ago: x-ray film bootleg vinyls, the origins of the ball drop plus welcoming 2015
