The mother of all megatrends

Before we get to what great things other people have published on the web, allow me to mention this: Over at my real job, we've launched something I've been working on for most of 2023. We had started the year with a public exploration of what people expect from journalism in the climate crisis. More than 7500 people took part and informed our product discovery and development over the past couple months. This week, it's time to launch: CHALLENGE ACCEPTED! (It's in German, but you can still explore the «25 people who are making a difference in the climate crisis», and Google Translate will help with all the text).

1. The World Is Becoming More African

An insightful analysis on «the mother of all megatrends». Over the next 25 years, Africa's population is projected to double. While the rest of the world ages quickly, Africa will be by far the youngest continent. That shifts global momentum, presents Africa with a host of opportunities, but also many challenges most countries are badly equipped to tackle. (Gift link so you can read it without a subscription)

The World Is Becoming More African

Africa has the fastest growing, youngest population of any continent. By 2050, one in four people on the planet will be African. Early tremors of this seismic change are already registering around the world.

The New York TimesDeclan Walsh

As always, you can use my game You Don't Know Africa to embarrass yourself and educate yourself a little.

2. Israel-Gaza war explained

When it comes to illustrated explainers, nobody comes even close to the South China Morning Post. This on the war in Gaza is both excellent in the breadth and depth of the information it contains, and the visual storytelling that makes it compelling to take in.

Israel-Gaza war explainer: a visual analysis | SCMP Graphics

A visual guide to the Palestinian territory of Gaza and the war between Israel and Hamas, following the deadly October 7 attack.

South China Morning PostRocio Marquez, Marcelo Duhalde, Andrew London

3. ​​Trump and allies plot revenge

As much as I try to accept reality as it presents itself, my brain still fails to compute when trying to grapple with the real possibility of a second Trump presidency. Make no mistake: It would be terrifying. This piece from The Washington Post makes it very clear how dangerous and unhinged a Trump return to power would be. (Gift link so you can read it without a subscription, and you should)

4. How to do great work

This essay is for you if you like to reflect on the work you do, maybe recalibrate what to focus on. I feel it's most useful if you're somewhere mid-career, with some years of dedicated work for reference. There are too many good bits to highlight, but just to give you an idea: «What are people in your field religious about, in the sense of being too attached to some principle that might not be as self-evident as they think? What becomes possible if you discard it?»

How to Do Great Work

5. The 10 Rules of Being Human

Expected little when clicking on the link, but found the list surprisingly wholesome. Number 4 is the truest, number 10 delivers a nice twist.

The 10 Rules of Being Human

A few decades ago, Chérie Carter-Scott devised a list of 10 Rules for Being Human, which was published in her 1998 book If Life Is

kottke.orgJason Kottke

What else?

• Nice, simple geography game: A random country, name all neighbouring countries.
• Infinite Monkeys: Find out how long it takes a million monkeys until they will produce the text you enter.
• If you spent some time on the internet in the past couple years, you're easily bored by Rube Goldberg machines. Not this one.
• Currently listening to on repeat: «Summer Moon» by There Will Be Fireworks.
• Fascinating: photographs of a transparent-headed octopus.
• Oh, nothing, just a guy solving three Rubik's cubes — while juggling them.
• Looking forward to this: Song Exploder goes Symphony Exploder.

The Future of...Society

In data we trust,
Society evolves, swift,
Harmony or bust.

A gem from the archive

Statistically, humans are actually not that bad in foreseeing the future. When it comes to guessing where to find erotic images, that is.

The Case for ESP -- New York Magazine - Nymag

I stare at the two curtains side by side on my computer screen. I try to focus on the task at hand: Which image has a photo hidden behind it? And what might it be? The alpine lake at sunset? The loving husband embracing his wife?

New York MagazineDan Kois

Thanks for reading. I wish you a nice weekend and hope to see you again next Friday!

— David 👋