Stuck on Repeat: 2024's Greatest Hits

Good morning, weekend rebels!

It’s Sunday, and here we are again—ready to spark your curiosity, offer a few surprises, and hopefully crack a smile. Let's stick around for some stories you'll love.

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What you need to know—no more, no less:

It's clear from 2024 that certain pop culture moments are stuck in our brains. Remember the last match scene in "Challengers," when tennis suddenly felt like a dance routine? How about Carmy's almost wordless training montage from "The Bear" Season 3's premiere? Even after the track stopped spinning, the lingering lyric "I'm everywhere, I'm so Julia" repeated in our heads.

And it wasn’t just about single scenes or songs. Chappell Roan was mentioned throughout library chatter and Instagram stories. We were also fascinated by "Problemista" for its surreal commentary on immigration. Whether it was high art, a rom-com kiss, or Missy Elliott's first headlining tour, 2024 kept us replaying and cherishing those unforgettable cultural flashes.

Sure, we binge-watched that show too much or kept playing that silly song, but if it helped us cope, we're in. Let's acknowledge the strange magic of repetition and shake things up a bit.

Double-Tap Daze

If you think teens are glued to their screens, you're not far off: almost half of American kids are online "almost constantly" these days. TikTok and YouTube are their top hits, followed by Instagram and Snapchat. Their online world is exploding—and parents, schools, and governments are getting nervous about it.

Why the freak-out? The toll on mental health goes beyond screen time. It's tough out there, from non-stop comparisons to unrealistic images online to cyberbullying that reaches into kids' bedrooms.

So what’s the fix? Total digital lockdown? Probably not. Start with honest conversations, set time limits (and enforce them), and help kids scroll with a more skeptical eye. Let's try not to let constant connectivity become a digital demolition derby for the next generation.

I'm CEO, B*tch!

Meet John Cronin—he’s 28, has Down syndrome, and co-founded the world's largest online sock company: John's Crazy Socks. With over 4,000 designs, he has shipped over two million orders. Even cooler? Every order comes with a thank-you note and candy; most of his team has different abilities. They've donated nearly $800,000 to charities, too.

Before starting his socks empire, John struggled to find work after high school. Instead of giving up, he chose fun, wacky socks. Passion turned into a global operation, proof that you can rewrite the rules if you believe in what you do.

Remember John's story the next time you pull on your own pair of socks. We could all benefit from loving something, believing in it, and sharing it—one happy foot at a time.

What We Learned This Week?

1. How will women shape tomorrow’s markets?

2. Syria’s regime falls in a blink: the Middle East map shifts again.

3. Why did classical statues underplay their assets?

4. 50 innovations that will blow your mind in 2024.

5. Unmasked and under arrest: the strange twist in the CEO Case.

6. A New Blueprint for American Hopes.

7. Gemini 2.0: Google’s next-gen AI eyes your to-do list.

8. That extra guacamole may break the bank.

9. Back on the cover: Trump’s second-time triumph.

10. What do 2024 Google searches reveal about us?

💡 Core Wisdom

📸 Lens to Life

Johannes Plenio captures a peaceful side of our world.

🧮 Core Count: 7

Percentage of US eats McDonald's daily.

🗓️ Flashback:

1256 - Hashshashin's stronghold at Alamut is captured and destroyed by Hulagu Khan when he attacks Islamic southwest Asia.

1612 - German astronomer Simon Marius made the first telescope observation of the Andromeda galaxy.

1791 - With Virginia's approval, the US Bill of Rights becomes US Constitution amendments 1-10.

1840 - Napoleon Bonaparte's state funeral in Paris 19 years after he died.

1915 - After Ottoman forces successfully defended access to Istanbul, ANZAC forces withdrew from the Gallipoli peninsula.

1973 - The American Psychiatric Association declares homosexuality is not a mental illness.

I'm glad we could get together here. Looking forward to seeing you tomorrow!

Fatih Taskiran