#7 - Everything Random
Happy New Year and welcome to the seventh edition of Everything Random. A series of links, articles, notes, idea, and everything random living rent free in my head (and open browser tabs). Hopefully you find something interesting or helpful. Some of these topics may be explored further in future posts, so let me know what you enjoyed in the comments.
I’m going to apologize in advance for all the Wikipedia influence you’ll see in this edition. I’ve been down the Wikipedia rabbit hole. And as a side note, if you used Wikipedia as much as I did in 2024, consider given them a donation. It really is an amazing resource that is kept freely available.
Onto the links…
Also known as Kaprekar's constant. Here is the basic principal.
Take any four-digit number, using at least two different digits (leading zeros are allowed).
Arrange the digits in descending and then in ascending order to get two four-digit numbers, adding leading zeros if necessary.
Subtract the smaller number from the bigger number.
Go back to step 2 and repeat.
The end result will be 6174. I recommend reading the Wikipedia article for a better understanding, then trying it yourself on a some scrap paper. How do people discover things like this?
30 Book Recommendations From the World's Most Successful People by Polina Pompliano
Who knew that legendary marathoner Eliud Kipchoge loves reading business books? Or that Dolly Parton's favorite book is a beloved children's classic?
Books mean different things to different people. Stephen King believes books teach us how to think, Dolly Parton sees them as a ticket out of poverty, and Matt Haig claims that reading books is a form of therapy.
Polina Pompliano, writing on The Profile, has done a great collection posts of books recommended by some of the most famous people in the world. I have already added several to my reading list, and I’m sure you’ll find some interesting as well.
How to Find Your Calling By Asking Five Questions by Casandra Campbell
Cassandra explains why you should read this article best with these three bullet points.
If you're still trying to find your calling, this article is for you.
If you've been wanting to start a business but don’t know what to do, this article is for you.
If you thought you had everything figured out but still feel stuck, this article is for you.
I’ve seen this method in a similar way on other websites, but this article did a really good job of walking your through the process. If you’re feeling stuck in starting a business or maybe just crafting your current job to fit yourself better, this is a good practice to go through.
Pull up the article, have pen and paper nearby, and start going through each questions. And honestly answer them.
Found anything interested you want more of or expanded on? Let me know in the comments.
Auld Lang Syne
With it being New Year’s Eve and having listened to this song when the clock hits midnight for as long as I can remember, it seemed time to look up what the song actually means.
First, a little history. It’s not surprising that the song is very long (even older than I originally guessed). From Wikipedia…
The text is a Scots-language poem written by Robert Burns in 1788 but based on an older Scottish folk song. In 1799, it was set to a traditional pentatonic tune, which has since become standard.
Poets.org has the full version of the Robert Burns poem for you to read here.
But all that doesn’t answer what Auld Lang Syne means. For that, a little more from Wikipedia…
The poem's Scots title may be translated into standard English as "old long since" or, less literally, "long long ago", "days gone by", "times long past" or "old times". Consequently, "For auld lang syne", as it appears in the first line of the chorus, might be loosely translated as "for the sake of old times".
Matthew Fitt uses the phrase "in the days of auld lang syne" as the equivalent of "once upon a time" in his retelling of fairy tales in the Scots language.
So there you go. Go off to your New Year’s Eve celebrations with a little more knowledge about the song we’ll all be singing at midnight.
This week’s living rent free song is Rich Men North of Richmond by Oliver Anthony. This song was a random find on Pandora (yes, I still use Pandora). I saved the song, then forgot about it for awhile.
After hearing it a few more times, I had to look up a bit about the song and the artist. Slowly making my way down the rabbit hole of this songs overnight success and how it was used in the political landscape in 2024. Ultimately forcing Oliver Anthony to release a statement on the songs use.
On August 25, Anthony released a video statement on YouTube. On the Republican presidential debate, he said: "It was funny seeing my song at the presidential debate, because I wrote that song about those people, you know. ... That song is written about the people on that stage—and a lot more, too. Not just them, but definitely them." He clarified that he does not support President Joe Biden, either.
Anthony said that his song has been "weaponized" by the right and the left: "I see the right trying to characterize me as one of their own. And I see the left trying to discredit me, I guess in retaliation." He said the people he wrote about in the song have "done everything they can in the last two weeks to make me look like a fool, to spin my words, to try to stick me in a political bucket." He also addressed those who interpreted the song as "an attack against the poor", saying that "all of my songs that reference class defend the poor". He said of "Rich Men": "30-some million people understood what I was saying, but it only takes a few to try to derail the train, to try to send out false narratives."
I recommend giving the Wikipedia article on the song a quick read, it’s an interesting ride.
This wraps up Edition #7 of Everything Random and 2024. If you enjoyed this edition, there is no better way to show your support than sharing with friends, by hitting the button below.
*Disclaimer: This post is a stream of consciousness type of writing. If you find spelling, grammar, or other issues, please let me know and they will be corrected.
Feature articles from @Polina Pompliano and @Casandra Campbell