The Dann Chronicles: May 🌷
Dann Berg's further blurtings, et cetera et cetera
May 2021
Hey all,
You may have noticed there wasn’t a newsletter last month. Or maybe you didn’t notice; that’s also fine. The fact remains that there was no newsletter last month.
To be frank, April’s newsletter was 90% done, but I felt it was boring. I didn’t really have much to say in this opening paragraph, and the links I shared felt uninspired. Rather than force it — ie send out a newsletter just for the sake of hitting my arbitrary self-imposed requirements — I decided to scrap it entirely.
Now that I’m putting together the May newsletter, I 100% feel like it was the right move. As I’ve said several times, I want this email to be one of the best things that arrives in your email inbox each month. And if I feel like one has fallen short, I’m just not going to send it.
There. I feel better now that that’s settled. This is still a monthly newsletter, except when it’s not. And if it’s not, it’s for everyone’s benefit.
See you next month.
-Dann
🛸 Get UAP (Get on UAP)
The reason why science and facts are so difficult is because everyone can't be an expert in everything. Let’s take Global Warming as an example. Most people aren’t subscribing to journals and reading all the latest studies. All we, as regular people, can do is choose the experts we trust, using whichever credentials we feel are sufficiently validating, and take those expert opinions as our own.
It’s a fantastic shortcut, allowing the layperson to behave just as intelligently as an expert — assuming they’re able to pick the right people to emulate. It’s also the reason why conspiracy theories and the current political rift are so prevalent: each side has their own set of “experts” they rely on, and they’re all saying drastically different things.
But while society has been battling this rise in conspiracy theories, one prominent theory has quietly left the realm of conspiracy and crossed the threshold into reality.
I’m talking, of course, about Unidentified Aerial Phenomenons (UAPs), or UFOs as they’re more commonly known. No, I’m not talking about aliens, per se, but actual flying objects that defy our understanding of physics and that professionals cannot identify. Objects that have been 1) observed by radar, 2) visually verified by multiple US military members that have risked their reputations and gone on record.
Up until now, I’d been ignoring UFO research in the same way I’d been ignoring “research” about Big Foot or ghosts. The 2017 New York Times article with radar footage of purported UFOs momentarily caught my attention, but then was quickly forgotten.
But a 60 Minutes segment on UAPs made it impossible for me to ignore. The sheer number of reliable people now going on record is astounding. And the facts of the cases are mind-blowing. If you’ve been ignoring this story like I had, it’s officially time to catch up.
I’m staying away from any theories about what these are, because that’s still rife with conspiracy, but it’s now pretty much impossible to deny that these things actually exist.
🏠 It’s one banana, Michael...
I’m not following the New York City mayor race super close, but I can tell you who I’m NOT voting for: Shaun Donovan or Raymond J. McGuire.
Each were recently asked to estimate the median home price in the borough of Brooklyn. One answered $90,000, the other $100,000 (the real answer is $900,000).
I’m not usually one for discounting a candidate for one infraction, but come on.
🧩 Favorite Noods
One of my favorite iOS puzzle games recently got a sequel. Which is great because I beat all the levels for the 6x6 grid on the original game.
Noodles 2 has an extremely simple premise: spin the tiles to make everything a single unbroken pipe. Each new game feels fresh, even after mastering the strategy. It quickly became my go-to casual game.
The best part? Zero microtransactions. It’s free to play, and $1.99 if you want to remove ads. The way it should be.
💡 Big brain energy
Some people like to put weird brain-enhancing chemicals in their bodies. I find that to be incredibly interesting. So does Scott Alexander, the man behind Astral Codex Ten.
He got 852 people to take his survey on Nootropics, and it’s one of the most comprehensive overviews on the topic that I’ve seen. It’s a fantastic jumping-off point for anyone wanting to deeper research. I hadn’t heard of most of these chemicals, but nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) seems really interesting (it’s the most-stuck-with nootropic). It’s an anti-aging pill that actually helps stop aging?
I’m personally still a loooong way from taking any of these myself. Not only do I want to read more peer-reviewed research first, but I think that chemical supplements should only enter one’s wellness strategy after nailing the basics such as diet, exercise, and sleep.
But if any of y’all have any experience in this area, let me know. I’m in sponge-mode when it comes to Nootropics, and would love to pick your supplemented brain.
🪦 Night of the living Dann
My newest sticker just dropped, and I think it might just be my favorite yet. Zombie Dann is now available at my online store in limited quantities.
I can personally attest that it looks pretty damn cool on the back of a mobile phone or your favorite e-reader. And I imagine there are probably other places where it’d look pretty cool, too.
End note
If you've enjoyed this, I'd love it if you shared it with a friend. You can send them here to sign up.
I'll be sending out these emails once per month, and I'm happy you're along for the ride. I'm trying to make it one of the best things that arrives in your inbox each month, so thoughts and feedback are always appreciated. You can just reply to this email.
Also, if you find anything interesting this week, send it my way.
Thanks for reading. Until next time,
Dann