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| THE BIG IDEA |
What the heck is ‘goblin mode’? |
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The pandemic has changed our habits in a lot of ways. Some people are wearing more sweats. Some are showering less. Some are watching a little more Netflix than they used to. Then there are the ones scouring Reddit until 4am while eating fistfuls of raw pasta as a snack. That, my friends, is an example of “goblin mode,” which, according to The Guardian, has become the new normal for many. Goblin mode…… can be described as a full-on rejection of self-betterment. The phrase first appeared on Twitter in 2009, and spiked in popularity in February when a headline incorrectly attributed it to Uncut Gems actress Julia Fox, who was dating Kanye West at the time. Some examples of goblin mode include:
In other words, goblin mode is all about embracing your inner slob, and relishing in socially unacceptable behavior. Why is goblin mode blowing up?One reason is its direct opposition to more conventional internet aesthetics — AKA presenting one’s best self online. For example:
A simpler reason? The pandemic has dragged on, and people are losing their sh*t cutting themselves some slack. In a way, goblin mode is a form of self-love — which, ironically, is one of the most powerful paths to self-betterment. The return to the office…… poses a serious threat to the goblin lifestyle. Many workers are being forced to do things they haven’t done in years, like talk to people face-to-face and dress presentably. If you find yourself needing to brush up on your social skills, NYT’s got you covered. Just remember, there’s nothing wrong with letting out your inner goblin every once in a while. |
| SNIPPETS |
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As Walmart expands, it looks to hire 50k+ new employees, including personal shoppers, drivers, and data scientists, by the end of April. #ecommerce-retail Cool: Environmental startup InterEarth has a plan to trap greenhouse gases, and it involves burying wood in the ground. #clean-energy Bear Robotics, which makes robots for restaurants, scored $81m in Series B. Its Servi bot has delivered 28m meals to hungry diners so far. #emerging-tech Hacker vs. hacker: A Ukrainian researcher leaked 60k emails from the Conti ransomware group after it backed Russia, revealing how the criminal group operates. #privacy America Express wants to let people use its cards in the metaverse and set up a virtual marketplace, per recent filings with the US Patent and Trademark Office. #fintech-crypto After 7+ years, Google’s domain registration service, Google Domains, is out of beta. Users can choose from 300+ domain endings. #big-tech |
| CLOSE YOUR EARS, CALI |
The US hit a record number of $1m+ homes |
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In February 2020, the number of US homes worth $1m+ was 4.8%. Last month, that number was 8.2%, per Redfin. The jump was most notable in the Golden State, which never fails to live up to its name:
Why’s this happening? According to Redfin, low mortgage rates and covid trends led to a 50% drop in the number of homes for sale despite high demand. The good news — there’s always Elgin, Illinois, where the share of $1m+ homes has grown just 0.1%. That’s lower than anywhere else. |
| FREE RESOURCE |
New companies, innovators, and challenges…… every week. We’re in there. Jacob Goldstein, former host of Planet Money, leads Pushkin Industries’ new podcast into the stories of how really smart people are finessing their problems and paving new paths. He’s an author and journalist. We like his attitude, and the timbre of his voice. Incoming topics from What’s Your Problem? by Pushkin Industries
Hear Goldstein illuminate and entertain on topics you didn’t know you’d love. |
| Listen now → |
| HOW MUCH IS A FINAL FOUR WORTH? |
The economics of March Madness |
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March Madness begins today. While the nation collectively cheers for an upset of the Duke men’s basketball team in the 1st round, here are 5 data points that explain the economics of the NCAA Tournament:
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| AROUND THE WEB |
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☘️ On this day: In 1601, the 1st St. Patrick’s Day parade was held in a Spanish colony in what is now St. Augustine, Florida. The colony’s vicar was Irish. 📻 Cure boredom: Drive & Listen simulates cruising through cities across the globe, complete with local radio stations and street noise. 💸 That’s interesting: Behind Amazon, Facebook Marketplace is the 2nd-largest marketplace in the world. Here’s the inside story of how it came to be, from the woman who built it. 💰 How to: Why your gut feelings are important and how to lean into them. 🇺🇦 That’s cool: The 1K Project for Ukraine allows people to instantly donate $1k to a family in Ukraine, no middlemen. It was founded by Alex Iskold, a Ukrainian-American VC who previously raised $3m for families during the pandemic in the same way. 🐈 Aww: And now, a prairie dog and its cat. |
| MEME OF THE DAY |
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Valid defense. (Source: Twitter) |