The Matchbook | 3.1.24

A new Matchbook for a NEW MONTH. It’s March now, and I don’t really have any idea how that happened. We’re on the road this weekend, so we’re recording early, so if anything amazing happens between Wednesday afternoon and Friday morning, expect it to be sadly omitted haha. That said, still some interesting, rad, and otherwise sillily noteworthy things for your viewing pleasure.

It’s tough creating all this content, and takes up damn near all of my time. If you’re finding value in it, consider upgrading your membership for awhile? It’s fun behind the little curtain, I promise:

---

Here’s the scoop, kids:

Lord G’s Finds:

1. Could You Pass The Presidential Physical Fitness Test Today!? - Oh elementary school, you silly little nugget of angst and awkwardness. Remember, for all you people living in the United States, back in the day when in gym class as wee tots, we had to take the Presidential Physical Fitness tests? Remember the sit and reach? The shuttle run? The mile!? The softball throw? Did you know all those were because Prez Lyndon Johnson thought American children were too weak, and he feared the Russians so much? Yeah. This article is a fascinating look back, and asks the question: COULD you pass today? Might be harder than we think, just like it was back then. Interesting read.

   

   Getty Images

2. Napoleon Dynamite 20th Anniversary - Feel old yet? It was TWENTY years ago that this comedy classic first launched into our brainpans, and somehow, it still holds up as both hilarious, and weirdly touching. It’s a glance back at a world we think was, when maybe it wasn’t, or maybe just wish it could be. To celebrate the 20th anniversary, the 3 stars made a hilarious ‘day in the life of’ video that just made my entire day.

   hederjon

   

   A post shared by @hederjon

3. All The Ways Mt. Everest Can Kill You - I think Mt. Everest is one of those things that so many ‘tough’ people think that they could hike if they really wanted to. They think that with a bottle of oxygen and a little training, they too could summit and stare out at all things below them. This video begs to differ, and to put it plainly, I had no idea just how many ways Everest could actually end your little life. What a fascinating thing.

4. ALL of U.S. History Takes Place In Less Than One Year On Pluto - You Know I’m always in for weird facts, and this one just might be the weirdest. If you take the date that the United States was born, July 4, 1776, and applied that to the start of one year on Pluto, which is still a planet dammit, it turns out that not even ONE year has elapsed there yet, and won’t until June 12, 2024. That means, the entirety of the history of this weird country has taken place in less time than it’s taken Pluto to go around our Sun one measly time. Talk about strange.

   

   Image via NASA/New Horizons

5. New MLB Uniforms Look Like Diapers - In today’s installment of pro-sports not knowing how to just be cool like they used to be, we have this hilarious fact and accompanying image. Turns out, in the pursuit of making uniforms that are lighter, stretchier, and deal with heat better, Nike and other companies have created baseball uniforms so simultaneously translucent and the tops so long, that it looks like all the players are wearing diapers, and I for one, am here for it. Paying people bajillions of dollars to play any sport is ridiculous, and most of them behave like small children anyway, may as well have them look like they are wearing diapers, right?

   

   Getty Images

Lady G’s Finds:

1. Most Underrated Cities in Europe - Tyler won’t like it, but Sligo is on this list, and we both had a not-so-great time there. Even still, there are so many places on here I want to visit, and now that we know they are underrated, even more so! Here’s to no crowds!

   

2. What We Can Learn From Overwintering - It’s not just plants that can, and should, overwinter. Sometimes, we should too. This beautiful article is about just that, about how we can tuck away from so many things to allow ourselves the time and space to heal. What a stunning concept. Read this one, it’s great.

3. Biggest Wastes of Time We Regret When We Get Older - No one wants to waste their life away, no one wants to feel like they are running out of time. This article jumps into that, and finds out what people’s actual regrets are for the time they feel they’ve wasted. Where they erred, we don’t have to. Some amazing advice here.

   

   Lifehacker

4. Sourdough Blueberry Muffins with Crumb Topping - Just whipped these up today, and we're eating them IN the video above! So far, Little Spoon Farm hasn’t gone wrong for me, and this is no exception. As always I cut the sugar, and I added raspberries too, and they turned out pretty darn yummy, if I do say so myself.

   

   Image via Little Spoon Farm

5. World War II: From The Frontlines & Jo Jo Rabbit - Tyler and I have been full on engrossed in all things World War II lately, and the first, a documentary on Netflix, blew our minds. Simply put, I had no idea just how much went on during the war. Then, for a comedic/heartbreaking second act, we re-watched JoJo Rabbit. Oof. Stunning. Everyone should watch both. Please.

We love you all. Be good.