Weekly Quick Hits - April 7

If this cat doesn't get home, I demand a refund

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Neo-utiliarians are utter philistines, Justin Smith-Ruiu | Justin Smith-Ruiu’s Hinternet

• I don’t know much about philosophy, but I do know what I like, and that’s intelligent, educated philosophers cleverly and humorously smack talking other philosophers’ ideas.

• A highlight: “…history matters because every single word you use is shaped by history, and if you don’t know what that history is you literally don’t know what you’re saying.”

Watch

The Babadook | Netflix

• A widowed mother contends with her young son’s increasingly difficult behavior, when a strange picture book appears on his shelf, introducing a new nightmare: the Babadook. Mother and son must overcome their increasing separation, or the Babadook will kill them both.

• Considering this is the film people accused Run Rabbit Run of ripping off, it wasn’t as interesting as I expected. But it is still a great, modest budget film. The effects are clever and intentionally separate from reality—the monster isn’t what’s scary, to say the least.

My Celebrity Hair Doctor - Dr. Dubow, Daniel Tosh | Tosh Show

• Comedian Daniel Tosh takes us inside one of his scalp injection appointments, talking openly about his hair loss, the costs of treatment, and the pressure to “look 45 forever.”

• I’m so happy Tosh is having a resurgence. He’s even funnier than I remember, and his honesty and self-deprecating humor make this video edu-taining.

RFK Voters Do Their Own Research, Ben Meets America | The Free Press

• The Free Press does great, short videos on YouTube, and this is my favorite series. Usually they make me chuckle, but this one is the first to make me a bit uncomfortable and worried about the interviewees.

Listen

Cemeteries, The Economics of Everyday Things | Freakonomics

• A topic no one likes to talk about but is worth understanding: what you do with a deceased loved one, and how much it might cost you. Also, there will always be more dead people than alive ones…will we all fit in the ground together?

New Gurus: Bonus Episode - Gigachads and Sigma Wolves, Helen Lewis has Left the Chat | The BBC

• If you haven’t listened to the New Gurus series, you should. Helen Lewis is a great presenter, and it is fascinating to take a peek inside the minds of people who follow gurus or become a guru themselves.

Play

Stray | Annapurna Interactive and Blue Twelve

• Play as an adolescent cat, alone in a city abandoned to left-over companion robots and decay. Traverse puzzles and avoid dangerous creatures, as you make your way to the top of the city, in the hopes of reuniting with your siblings.

• Yes, I cried at least once playing this game because I want all kitties to be safe and warm and snuggled. The game makers clearly love cats, too, because the game design and cat behaviors are fantastic. Even the robots have inventive little character details and habits. I finished this game in one day, so if you like cats and 3D platform/puzzle games, definitely check this one out.

Thanks for reading! Have you seen any of these already? Don’t forget to leave a comment or send me a note with your thoughts or what you’d recommend next!