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
The Most Important Question You Can Ask: “How Can I Help?”
Hi!
Yesterday was the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. It’s an opportunity to reflect upon the year that was and think about what we could have done differently and better, in an effort to make a better world for families, communities, society, and even ourselves.
Now I Know gives me the opportunity to do that. Later in the year, I’ll run a fundraiser for a worthy cause — I’m still debating between two or three — asking you to support it. But today, I’m asking you how I or the rest of the Now I Know readership can help you. More than 60,000 of you receive this email each day, and that puts me in a position to ask “How can I help?” and, perhaps, actually deliver on something that meets that call. I also like writing and am very good at helping other people tell their stories — I’ve This isn’t the first time I’ve said this here. A year ago, I wrote the following:
Charity isn’t just about writing a check. When we come across someone who seems to be in need — economically, physically, emotionally, it doesn’t matter — I think we should try to help if we are able. And we should be mindful that our way of helping may not be what they actually need; people who need assistance often feel a lack of agency, and helping them without listening to their needs can actually make things worse. All of that, though, is solved by asking the simple question: “How can I help?” And more times than not, simply asking will solve a big part of their problem.
So if you’re in need, reply to this note and let me know: how can I help?
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The Now I Know Week In Review
Monday: A Bench You Can’t Sit On?: You can’t sit on it but you can sit in it.
Tuesday: History’s Strangest Parking Spot?: “Long-term underground parking” doesn’t really mean this.
Wednesday: The World's Dumbest Bank Robber: Invisible ink doesn’t make you invisible.
Thursday: Yom Kippur — no newsletter.
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To become a monthly supporter via the newsletter’s Support page, click here. If you do, you’ll get the ad-free version going forward!
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And thanks! — Dan
Long Reads and Other Things
Here are a few things you may want to check out over the weekend:
1) “The Life and Death of the American Foodie” (Eater, 20 minutes, September 2025). The title if this is misleading — “foodies” don’t exist, it argues, because American cuisine has improved so much over the last generation. And I think the author is right. The food I ate growing up would fairly be considered bland and disinteresting by today’s standards. I’ve never considered myself a “foodie” or a “gourmand,” though — because I don’t think it’s unique to me. As the author argues, “the story of American food over the past 20 years is one of a speedrun of cultural importance,” but I’ll let them make that argument!
2) “The Tiny New York Town Where Mediums Give Voice to the Dead” (Smithsonian Magazine, 13 minutes, September 2025). It should go without saying that I don’t believe in mediums, but that doesn’t make this article any less interesting.
3) “Carol Kaye Is Being Honored by the Rock Hall. She Doesn’t Care.” (New York Times, 13 minutes, September 2025). I’m not all that into music but I still really liked this article.
Have a great weekend!
Dan