TWIL #01: From Einstein's Office to Nostalgia
Insights, observations, and the stuff that made me go "Whoa!"
Here it is. My very first TWIL (This Week I Learned). My aim is to share my observations with you, hoping they ignite the same inspiration in you as they did in me and awaken your curiosity.
Curiosity often begins with a simple act: daring to ask a question. It’s about stepping beyond the obvious and venturing into the realm of “what if?” Politico recently demonstrated this beautifully, turning a bold question into a fascinating thought experiment. You probably saw the headlines about Trump’s musings on Canada and Greenland.
What if… Canada became the 51st state?
Politico ran with this wild idea, exploring the political implications of making Canada the 51st state. The result? A playful and thought-provoking piece that culminated in a big blue map.
Politico’s deep dive reveals that Democrats would score big with Canada onboard, turning it into a second California with 45 House seats and 47 electoral votes. Republicans? Well, let’s just say they might be rethinking this northern expansion plan.
So here’s to always taking two steps forward in your thinking. You never know when you’ll uncover a gem like this.
Seeing the unseen
When Albert Einstein died in 1955, LIFE photographer Ralph Morse didn’t follow the crowd. While others swarmed the hospital where Einstein’s body was, he took photos of Einstein’s empty office.
This is about seeing the world differently. Where most do the obvious, Morse looked beyond. It’s a reminder that creativity often means stepping off the beaten path, trusting your instincts, and finding unique solutions in the moment.
If you were to capture the essence of someone or something important to you, what would you focus on? And why?
Just dare to ask
Steve Jobs’ story is a powerful reminder of the transformative power of simply asking. Fear of rejection often holds us back, but as Jobs points out, most people are willing to help if approached with genuine curiosity, enthusiasm and respect.
See this as a call to action: don’t just dream. Act, ask, and embrace the risk of failure.
What is the thing you want to ask somebody? Where could you use help and who could help you? Just ask.
“Life used to be better!”
We all know someone who loves to tell us how things used to be better. How people were kinder, more respectful, and more moral "back in the day." I’ve made it my own game to beat them to it: the moment they walk in, I’ll say, “Life used to be better!” It’s a joke, of course, but it gets at something real.
Adam Mastroianni’s article The illusion of moral decline, reveals that this nostalgia for a better past is more about perception than reality. Across cultures and generations, people consistently believe morality is declining, yet the data shows no real evidence of it. Kindness, respect, and even cooperation haven’t decreased—in some cases, they’ve improved.
So why do we feel this way? It’s our minds playing tricks on us. We focus more on negative events (hello, 24/7 news), and bad memories fade faster than good ones. This creates the illusion that things were better in the past, even if they weren’t.
Next time someone sighs, “Things aren’t like they used to be,” try telling them they’re right - just not in the way they think. Life has always been complicated, but humanity’s progress is still worth noticing. And who knows? Maybe someday, today will be the "good old days" they’ll look back on.
The ‘headless’ photography trend
This is just a fun fact I came across.
In the 19th century, there was a trend of 'headless' photography, where people would pose for photos in ways that made them appear decapitated. This was achieved through clever use of mirrors and multiple exposures.
“Although this genre is called headless portraiture, it is the head that is always present in the photograph, and the body may be absent.” - Wikipedia
And what else?
Cher Ami, the heroic pigeon: During World War I, a homing pigeon named Cher Ami was shot by the Germans but managed to continue flying and deliver a crucial message. Thanks to this, 194 American soldiers were saved.
Status in Nigeria: In Nigeria there is an entire second hand market around iPhones, since they are considered to be the ultimate status symbol.
M*A*S*H earnings: Recently, I read that Robert Altman, the acclaimed director of M*A*S*H (1970), earned just $70,000 for his work on the groundbreaking film. But here’s something even more fascinating: the lyrics to the film’s theme song, Suicide Is Painless, were written by none other than his 15-year-old son, Mike Altman. And get this… he wrote them in just five minutes and it earned him over $1,000,000!
Well, that’s it for this week. My very first TWIL! I hope you enjoyed it and found something to spark your curiosity. I’d love to hear your thoughts, feedback, ideas, or inspiration for the next issue are always welcome. Let’s keep the conversation going.
Onwards to the next week!