Facts and Egopinions
Plus: Understanding the Iberian blackout, India-Pakistan tensions, and 48 Things Women Hear In A Lifetime (#528)
The Vatican now has its third Pope since I started this newsletter. I'm still the original David, your secular guide to all earthly and divine pleasures the web has to offer. This is Weekly Filet issue 528, as always trying to help you make sense of what’s happening, and imagine what could be. It's great to have you.
1. Another Country
How do we know what we know? Why do we believe what we believe? And why do we change our minds less willingly than we'd like to admit? «Notoriously often, small but key events in our lives can produce a rigid intellectual or political orientation thereafter.» And thus: «Our political opinions, ultimately, are what we feel about the world, not what we think about it.» And also: «Most people’s views about the kind of things that happen today are extensions of concerns of their own ego. And consequently, invitations to change their minds because new facts emerge are in fact a threat to the strength and even survival of that ego.»
Aurelien
2. What does Spain’s blackout mean for the future of clean energy?
Two weeks ago, most of Portugal and Spain went dark, due to a massive power outage. What happened? And why is it relevant to the green energy transition? Illuminating conversation.
3. Why are India and Pakistan on the brink of war and how dangerous is the situation? An expert explains
Two nuclear powers on the brink of war – just what we needed. If you're not particularly familiar with the history of tensions between India and Pakistan, and what sparked the most recent escalation, this is a helpful primer for you.
Natasha Lindstaedt
4. Don’t Know Where to Go? Go Where You’re Needed
Jodi Ettenberg writes one of my favourite newsletters (go subscribe!). This, however, isn't from her, but about her. An essay on acceptance, resilience and dedication – after her life took a drastic turn eight years ago. «Finding ways to help others can provide much needed meaning in our lives, especially if we have had our identity stolen or life has changed.»
5. 48 Things Women Hear In A Lifetime (That Men Just Don't)
This video is nine years old, I only discovered it this week. It hasn't lost any of its relevance, because, well, gender norms change at glacial speed. Make sure to also watch the second video: 48 Things Men Hear In A Lifetime (That Are Bad For Everyone).
What else?
Instant-gratification links that make you go wow! or aha! the moment you click.
- This week I learned that The Economist not only has coined the Big Mac Index, but also the Carrie Bradshaw Index.
- The struggles of being a crocodile.
- A 108 gigapixel scan of Vermeer’s Girl with a Pearl Earring, allowing you to zooooooooom in quite a bit.
- Art made with chemical reactions, or, as someone commented, it's like watching galaxies being born.
- Next time someone complains to you about their job, tell them about this guy.
Books for curious minds
Some new ones as I read them, some older ones that continue to inform how I look at the world and myself. More on my digital bookshelf.
One of my favourite books of the past few years, now available in an edition for young readers. At first glance, a fantastic book about the many mind-bending ways animals sense the world around them. But really a lesson in empathy, full of reasons why you should never assume others experience the world the same way you do. Buy it here.
A gem from the archive
The Weekly Filet archive offers more than 2500 hand-picked links since 2011, like this one. You can search by interests, explore collections, shuffle for a gem or check out my all-time favs.
That's it for this week. Thanks for reading. I wish you a nice weekend and hope to see you again next Friday!
— David