☀️ Awesome Things 219: RIP Brian Wilson & Sly Stone, Taco Bell Vegas Wedding, The Smell of Rain, Ditch Modern Tech, Best Times to Fly
Another week of internet awesomeness. Awesome Things is read across 40 US states and 34 countries.
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On to this week’s Awesome Things:
It was Nice, Brian
Brain Wilson passed last week at the age of 82. Wilson's musical journey began in the early 1960s. Alongside his brothers Carl and Dennis, cousin Mike Love, and friend Al Jardine, he formed The Beach Boys in 1961. Their breakout hit, “Surfin’ USA” (1963), captured the sunny optimism of California youth culture. But while the band was celebrated for its catchy surf anthems, Brian had deeper musical ambitions.
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Merch Alert!
We’ve got new products in the Awesome Things Etsy store
Use code SAVE20 or click here for 20% off any item in the store. Discount valid until June 30, 2025
Sly Stone: A Life in Pictures
Why so many people say they'd ditch modern day tech to go back to life in the 1980’s
More technology doesn’t equal happiness.
Have the Taco Bell Wedding of Your Dreams in Vegas for $777
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Women find other women’s faces even more attractive than men do
Across many cultures, both men and women rate female faces as more attractive, and women exhibit this preference even more strongly than men
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Here’s the $2,000 fully AI-generated ad that aired during the NBA Finals
It apparently took just days to make using Google’s new text-to-video generator, Veo 3.
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The Best Times To Fly To Avoid Flight Delays
The science behind the smell of rain
A story of bacteria, arthropods, and two very smelly organic compounds.
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US bartenders on which generation has the worst behavior
‘They tell you every minor inconvenience’
The 15 food capitals of the world right now, revealed
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Leftovers
✅ Paul Simonon from The Clash singing The Guns Of Brixton with young street performers
✅ Is 54 years soon enough? (Found at a friend's house, taped to the inside of a heating duct grill)
✅ Take the guesswork out of grilling - this digital meat thermometer is now 15% off*
✅ One second from every episode of The Sopranos
// Quotable
“You have to fail in order to practice being brave.”
– Mary Tyler Moore
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Retail Focus dives into the latest trends, news, and innovations shaping retail, e-commerce, and technology. Whether you're a professional, a curious mind, or someone passionate about the industry, our engaging discussions and timely insights will keep you up-to-date and inspired.
Hosted by podcast and e-commerce vets John Suder and Bart Mroz.
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