Happy Friday! If you're new to Now I Know, you'll notice that today's format differs from the rest of the week. On Fridays, I pause to write the "Weekender," my  "week in review" type of thing, or to share something else I think you may find interesting. Thanks for reading! — Dan

Hi!

I ran two re-runs this week and will have two more next week — and I figured I’d share why I’m taking this time off. When I started Now I Know sixteen years ago, I was the father of two young boys. Now, I’m the father of two college-aged boys and a high school-aged daughter. And this week and next, “college” has been the word of the week. My oldest went back to school yesterday and my middle one starts this weekend. My daughter is starting the tour process, too. In short, I’m unusually busy, although for only good reasons.

(A quick non-sequitur which obviously isn’t one: if you’re currently donating to support Now I Know, I really appreciate it! 👨‍🎓)

As you can imagine, this is a moment of pride for me. College is, increasingly, seen as a must-achieve credential, particularly in many communities like my own — so it was not really an open question as to whether my kids would follow that path. But all three of them have demonstrated the same intellectual curiosity and desire to be lifelong learners that I hope to foster both at home and via Now I Know. The world is a fantastically interesting place and we’re all fortunate to be part of it; if you keep your eyes and ears open, there’s always more to learn and discover. College is only one of many paths, but it’s also unique — they’ll never have another opportunity to just go somewhere and learn, formally and informally, without the realities of the rest of the world interrupting every day.

If you’re at that stage of your life, don’t take it for granted. And if you have a loved one who is entering or in college, encourage them to embrace the opportunity. And in case my kids read this newsletter, we’re all in your corner. Be safe, have fun, learn a ton, and don’t tell me about the stupid stuff you do — we’ve all done it, and I don’t need the stress. 😀 And if things go wrong — and they will — we’re here to help.

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Monday: The President that Fleeced the Country: This is about sheep, not corruption.

Tuesday: Don't Use This "Random" Password: The password is “ji32k7au4a83” and if you’re using it, you should change it immediately.

Wednesday: How Baseball Closed Its Tiny Loophole: A belated happy anniversary to the most ridiculous thing to ever occur in Major League Baseball — well, a top 10 most ridiculous thing, at least.

Thursday: A Chicken &*#! Tax Policy: A tax break for chicken stuff? You betcha.

Now I Know is supported by readers like you. Yes, you! Many of my readers donate a few dollars a month to help Now I Know grow and thrive. And in exchange, they get an ad-free version!

And thanks! — Dan

Here are a few things you may want to check out over the weekend:

1) “Why did we wait so long for the bicycle?” (Roots of Progress, 11 minutes, July 2019). This isn’t a new article and I have a nagging feeling that I’ve shared it before, but whatever, it’s been seven years. It asks a very interesting question — the modern bicycle wasn’t invented until about 150 years ago, but humans knew enough about mechanics and physics and the like to have invented it decades if not centuries beforehand. What took so long?

2) “The Grate Cheese Robbery” (Longreads, 17 minutes, May 2026). Organized crime loves cheese — stealing it, mostly, but probably eating it, too. Why? (The “stealing it” part, not the eating part — that I get.)

3) “Inside the World of High-End Matchmaking” (New York Times/gift link, 17 minutes, August 2026). The subhead: “As he looks for The One, Joseph Pascaretta is investing in pricey matchmaking services. Will it help him find love?” I predict this article will demonstrate that Betteridge's law of headlines also applies to subheads.

Have a great weekend!

Dan