Like a sauce-covered phoenix…

Rib Chasers: The history of a sandwich that keeps on keepin’ on

The McRib — the drippy, delectable, McDonald’s phenomenon of yesteryear — is back to celebrate its 35th anniversary, and fans are psyched. But how can one call himself a fan if he doesn’t know that rich McRib history?

Here are the deets on its roller-coaster journey into the cultish hearts of mystery-pork-lovin’ fans everywhere.

It all started with chicken

Amidst a 1979 chicken shortage, McDonald’s went looking for a quick fix to keep their customers smiling. Thus, the McRib was born.

After locking down its iconic shape as well as its 70-ingredients (including a flour-bleaching agent used in foam plastics), the chain began serving the sandwich in ‘81.

But in 1985, it vanished

Mouths were sad. Hope was lost. But the unwieldy disappearance only made the public yearn for that sweet meat even more.

Over the years, the ever-elusive barbecue lathered meat hoagie made random, short-lived appearances here and there, until it finally made a home for itself on the menu for ~10 years, from ‘94 to the beginning of ‘05. Then, it disappeared again.

Ronald the sadist?

It seems the restaurant’s on again, off again relationship with the McRib is some kind of cruel marketing ploy, and the fast food juggernaut has never fully confirmed why. This has spawned some pretty interesting fan-spiracies.

Some claim that the McRib only rears its head when pork prices are down in order to guarantee profit, which can only mean one thing: maybe the McRib fanbase isn’t nearly as big as we’re lead to believe.

HAHAHAHA, knock-knock, it’s the crazy-police, are you in there???

Whatever the reason, their silence is winning

From a fan-created McRib locator website to its very own iPhone app, the enigmatic quasi-menu item has toyed with the heartstrings of fans for an amazing 35 years, earning a feat that few hot-ticket items can claim.

It has also revealed that some people have wayyyy too much time on their hands.

Global Bitcoin mining now consumes as much electricity as Nigeria

Bitcoin prices are at an all-time high (over $7k per coin), but the trajectory comes with a surprising side effect: energy consumption for cryptocurrency transactions is through the roof.

As more and more miners take to their comps, they must solve “increasingly more difficult cryptographic puzzles.”

These complex computations, in turn, take more and more energy, meaning that today, just one Bitcoin transaction now takes 215 kilowatt-hours of electricity — enough to power the average American home for a week.

It’s all thanks to massive international mining operations

Operating overseas in countries like China, Malaysia, and Iceland, out of huge data centers filled with supercomputers. Aka energy-sucking monsters. Aka we aren’t talking Dells, people!

As a result, electricity costs comprise nearly 95% of total mining costs — hence why the highest concentration of miners are located close to cheap hydropower (near places like Tibet).

So sure, it’s not “mining” in the traditional sense… it’s crypto-mining in, like, “the future is now” kinda sense.

And crypto sure has a carbon footprint

According to Digiconomist’s “Bitcoin Energy Consumption Index,” as Bitcoin’s energy consumption continues to rise, it’s blowing other global payment systems out of the water.

Bitcoin mining currently takes 27 times more energy than the entire global Visa network and 3 times more energy than the next largest cryptocurrency, Ethereum — which, unlike Bitcoin, is actually taking steps to reduce its energy-sucking mining algorithm.

Don’t you dare make us start taking sides in the crypto-game, Bitcoin. It’s too soon!

Gothamist shut down a week after its writers unionized

Last Friday, Joe Ricketts, the billionaire founder of Ameritrade, announced he was shutting down his popular local news sites, Gothamist and DNAinfo.

The announcement came just a week after 25 Gothamist employees decided to form a union, sparking debate over whether the decision was driven by financials or politics.

The answer: partly financials…

DNAinfo and Gothamist, both owned by Ricketts, collectively covered stories in 5 US cities, through a local lens.

But local journalism has long struggled to find a sustainable business model in the digital age — and despite pulling in 9m visitors per month, the two sites never turned a profit for Ricketts.

… But mostly, politics

Ricketts has long been anti-union, going so far as to post a tirade on his personal blog, claiming that “unions promote a corrosive us-against-them dynamic that destroys the esprit de corps businesses need to succeed.”

So, when (likely underpaid) Gothamist writers formed one at the tail end of October, a stubborn Ricketts decided it was better to shutter the entire operation rather than work out a deal.

The companies’ 115 writers and editors will be paid 3 months’ full salary, plus 4 weeks of severance pay — a pithy gesture considering that they essentially lost their jobs over a power move.

How to use your boss’s feedback to get promoted

In the throes of a busy work environment, getting regular, productive feedback from your boss can be like pulling teeth. So, when you finally get that sweet, sweet one-on-one, you better know how to use it to your advantage.

Here are a few tricks and tips from the Harvard Business Review on how to use your boss’ feedback to start movin’ on up in the world:

The tricks

• Be proactive. Set the scene. Ensure you get the meeting you want by asking for it, and set a time to get it. It’s usually best to set a time during a monthly meeting so your boss doesn’t view it as an obligation.
• Ask questions that force specific answers. One-on-one meetings are a breeding ground for general notions and assurances. Instead of saying, “Do you have feedback for me?” Try to frame your question within a specific event in memory.

The tips

• Focus on compliments. While you might think focusing on your weaknesses is the best way to improve, studies show that focusing on your boss’ praise can help increase your performance at work, and make key business decisions more confidently.
• Be open to criticism. If your manager cares enough to present negative feedback, be gracious. Don’t be afraid to ask clarifying questions — ya gotta know the specifics if you’re gonna learn from your mistakes.

Alright great. You’re ready for that corner office now. Save us a seat at the exec table.

Calling for submissions

Dearest readers of The Hustle,

I’m sure you’re wondering why I’ve gathered you all here today. Well, I’ve got 2 requests:

1. We’re putting together our 2017 gift guide (here’s 2016’s) and would love your input. What product/service have you bought in the last 90 days that has had the biggest impact on your productivity, happiness, or career?

Wireless headphones? Comfy shoes? A life-changing book?

Comment on this Facebook post and let us know — and remember to include a link!

2. Want more behind-the-scenes action? Then follow us on Instagram. We post pics and vids from our office as we write the newsletter, grow our team, and build The Hustle into a massive media company (or at least have a ton of fun trying).

You can follow us here.

Ok. That’s it. I’m all out of requests.

— Sam, CEO of The Hustle

Hello Darkness, my old friend

We’ve officially crossed the Daylight Savings Time threshold over in the Northern hemisphere.

You know what that means: the days are darker, the nights are longer, and the toilet seats are colder than your ex’s heart.

Unfortunately, we don’t have anything to warm your buns, but we do have something that can help with the lack of sunlight and your plummeting serotonin levels (i.e. the real cause of your winter gloom)…

HappyLight, your daylight savings machine

The HappyLight gives you the bright, sunshine-y light you don’t get during the winter — literally tricking your brain into biochemical-supported joy.

How, you ask? HappyLight’s 10,000 lux light boxes are 10x stronger than standard indoor lights. So, unlike the mind-crushing glow of office lights, just 15 minutes of HappyLight exposure leaves your brain — and your mood — feeling like it was just gently caressed by the sweet, sweet sun.

And since we want to spread the joy, Hustle readers get $20 off + free shipping by using code HUSTLE20 .

Shine on, friends.