Why is this interesting?

Why is this interesting? is a daily email by Noah Brier & Colin Nagy exploring intriguing aspects of diverse topics ranging from geography and culture to business strategies and environmental issues. Each post delves into the unique characteristics, challenges, and insights related to various subjects and locations around the world.

Geography and Culture Business and Innovation Environmental Concerns Digital Culture and Social Media Literature and Art Personal Development Travel and Exploration

Top posts of the year

And their main takeaways

The Eternal Now Edition

844 implied HN points • 26 Jan 24
🎭️ Culture Consumer behavior
  1. Cultural images that have a short-lived impact can still influence us today
  2. Our sense of self is influenced by our connection to the past and future
  3. Living in the 'eternal now' can lead to challenges in decision-making and planning for the future

The Mosquito Edition

844 implied HN points • 08 Feb 24
🔬 Science Gene-editing Biotechnology Global Health
  1. Mosquitos are the world's deadliest animal and are vectors for diseases like Malaria.
  2. Innovative strategies like gene-editing are being used to control mosquito populations.
  3. Technology like Oxitec's gene-editing approach shows promise in suppressing mosquito populations without harming other species.

The Cooking Time Edition

784 implied HN points • 07 Feb 24
🍲 Food & Drink Cooking Recipes Ingredients Cuisine Culture
  1. Understanding time as an ingredient in cooking is crucial for creating excellent dishes.
  2. Different cooking time ranges affect flavor profiles and textures; shorter times for quick sauces and longer times for richer stocks.
  3. Extended cooking times, like in master stocks, can create deep complexity, history, and community in dishes.

The A.W.N Pugin Edition

784 implied HN points • 14 Mar 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Architecture
  1. Augustus Welby Northmore Pugin was a significant figure in the Gothic Revival movement, known for his diverse design portfolio from churches to furniture.
  2. Pugin's conversion to Catholicism influenced his strong belief in Gothic architecture as a spiritual style that could restore order and morality to society.
  3. The collaboration between Pugin and Charles Barry on the Houses of Parliament exemplifies the power of Gothic design to inspire and uplift a society, leaving a lasting impact on London's architecture.

The Ski Trail Ratings Edition

723 implied HN points • 14 Feb 24
🏝 Travel Europe
  1. Ski trail ratings were standardized in 1964 due to pressure from insurance and Walt Disney was involved in creating the colors and shapes used today
  2. Trail ratings are subjective and vary between resorts, with ratings based on factors like vertical grade, obstacles, grooming, and more
  3. Ski trail ratings differ between regions like the West/Rockies and East Coast in the US, and between Europe and the US, impacting how difficult trails may feel
Get a weekly roundup of the best Substack posts, by hacker news affinity:

The Retail Piggybacking Edition

723 implied HN points • 28 Feb 24
🎭️ Culture Fashion Retail Brand Design Art
  1. Sir Paul Smith discovered Aesop deodorant during his travels and appreciates the brand's growth near his stores, showing a positive outlook on retail piggybacking.
  2. Collaboration between stores serving the same customer base can create a positive synergy benefiting all, contrary to a strategy of spiteful competition.
  3. Over-association with another brand can potentially impact the image and story of an independent brand negatively, as seen in Aesop's evolution and potential risks for Sir Paul Smith's brand.

The Monday Media Diet with Kelsey Keith

603 implied HN points • 18 Mar 24
🎭️ Culture Media Books Podcasts Fashion Architecture
  1. Kelsey Keith, brand creative director for Herman Miller, describes her varied background in editing design and architecture publications.
  2. Her media diet includes a mix of work-related and personal interest subscriptions like AD Pro, New Yorker, and Bloomberg Business Week.
  3. She recommends lesser-known writers like Stephanie Madewell and Fred Nicolaus, and praises the app Libby for library downloads on Kindle.

The Fazioli Edition

542 implied HN points • 12 Mar 24
🎶 Music Musicians Instruments Luxury Recording
  1. Nick Cave's pandemic-recorded album 'Idiot Prayer' showcases the unique and poignant sound of the Fazioli piano.
  2. Fazioli pianos are luxury instruments crafted in Italy, known for their exceptional tonal range and precision.
  3. Each Fazioli piano takes three years to build, reflecting the brand's commitment to combining physics, technology, and artistry.

The Monday Media Diet with Sophia Smith Galer

542 implied HN points • 05 Feb 24
🎭️ Culture Media Books Journalism Language Apps
  1. Sophia curates her news from social media like Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok, finding content that aligns with her interests.
  2. She enjoys leisurely reading the weekend papers and is a fan of Private Eye, read in a unique way as a family tradition.
  3. Sophia recommends reading Megha Mohan's journalism and mentions Reverso Context as a great language app.

The Operations Order Edition

482 implied HN points • 08 Mar 24
🚌 Education Military tactics
  1. The Operations Order follows a structured format with key sections such as Situation, Mission, Execution, Service Support, and Command and Signal.
  2. Using the OPORD model ensures important information is communicated effectively, reduces risks, and speeds up operations.
  3. The concept of mission command in the military emphasizes decentralization of decision-making and thorough understanding of the operation's intent to adapt quickly and reach the end goal.

The Presidential Physical Fitness Edition

422 implied HN points • 22 Feb 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Fitness Nutrition Lifestyle
  1. The Presidential Physical Fitness Award had high standards like 40 push-ups, 10 pull-ups, and a 6:30 mile run, with the goal of improving national health and reducing childhood obesity.
  2. The program was ingrained in the US school system and became a cultural memory for a certain generation, showing the impact of collective fitness goals.
  3. China is now emphasizing physical fitness similarly to how JFK did in the 1960s, with a focus on societal benefits like fitness and achievements reflected in their social media platforms.

The Kiss of Death Edition

422 implied HN points • 13 Mar 24
🎭️ Culture Film History Art
  1. Michael Mann is known for his meticulous attention to detail in filmmaking, like the extensive training for the cast in 'Heat'.
  2. The 1957 crash in Guidizzolo, known as the 'Kiss of Death', ended the Mille Miglia race and symbolizes audacity and the recklessness of youth.
  3. The photo of Linda Christian kissing Marquis Alfonso de Portago before the fatal crash is seen as a haunting symbol, with Christian's seemingly detached gaze hinting at a premonition.

The Monday Media Diet with Geoff Rickly

361 implied HN points • 11 Mar 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Music Literature Perfume Travel Books
  1. Geoff Rickly reads voraciously, including magazines, newsletters, and novels, with a preference for publications with a strong physical presence.
  2. Rickly recommends John Fosse's 'Septology' as a transformative read that had a profound impact on him as an artist, blending modern and eternal spirituality.
  3. Rickly fell into a deep rabbit hole exploring perfumes, starting from wanting to smell good to seeking unique and even repulsive scents, mentioning various indie perfume brands and his personal favorite, MeM by Antonio Gardoni.

The Monday Media Diet with Ahmed Al Omran

301 implied HN points • 04 Mar 24
🎭️ Culture Media Books Apps Travel Web Development
  1. Ahmed Al Omran shares his diverse media diet, including newspapers, RSS feeds, newsletters, podcasts, and social media platforms like Twitter and Instagram.
  2. Al Omran recommends 'Endel,' an AI-generated personalized soundscapes app, and expresses a preference for trains over planes due to the unpleasant aspects of flying.
  3. Japan is highlighted as a must-visit destination known for its attention to craftsmanship across various aspects of culture, providing unique experiences.

Early Look: WITI Recommends

180 implied HN points • 20 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Recommendations Feedback Launch
  1. A new recommendation site called WITI Recommends is being tested out by Why is this interesting.
  2. They are seeking feedback from their paid subscribers before launching the site to the public.
  3. Paid subscribers can start a 7-day free trial to access full post archives.

The Explorers Club Edition

120 implied HN points • 19 Mar 24
🎭️ Culture Storytelling Adventure
  1. The Explorers Club has a rich history of adventurers and remarkable achievements like reaching the North Pole and diving to the ocean's deepest point.
  2. The club features fascinating artifacts such as a Yeti scalp, Egyptian writings, and rare animal specimens, creating a real-life 'Night at the Museum' experience.
  3. Through narratives like 'As Told at the Explorers Club,' the journal presents contemporary stories of adventurers like Thomas Baker Slick Jr., who sought legendary creatures like the Yeti.