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May 13, 2022
Have you ever wondered why "Friday the 13th" is a thing? Well, there's no easy answer. The fear of the number 13 has roots in Christianity, Norse mythology, and perhaps Hammurabi. While it's not clear exactly how Friday crept in, like Michael Scott, even if you're not superstitious, it's ok to be a little stitious.
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Of Mice and Memories
Overview
- US researchers have identified a molecule that may help rejuvenate the brain and recover memories
- The molecule was found in young mice: Researchers extracted fluid from the nervous systems of 2.5-month-old mice and injected it into 18-m/o mice — equivalent to 8- and 60-year-old humans
- The injection improved memory and alertness. The researchers hope the principal could be used to better understand and treat Alzheimer's
- Alzheimer’s begins killing neurons in the brain up to 20 years before symptoms begin, and brain rejuvenation could theoretically reverse that
DIG DEEPER
While mice are different than humans – and Alzheimer's has been cured in mice before – the researchers said these results show that "memory can be recovered.” "This opens up a very good avenue to search for other proteins with therapeutic potential in the cerebrospinal fluid,” one said.
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First Reported Case in North Korea
Overview
- North Korea confirmed its first Covid case
- Kim Jong Un ordered “all cities and counties across the country to thoroughly lockdown their areas” to “completely block the transmission of malicious virus”
- Even by North Korea’s strict standards, the country has further sealed its borders with Russia and China. A limited amount of Chinese freight can enter the country after being disinfected
- Neighboring China is currently experiencing its worst outbreak of the pandemic, with lockdowns keeping millions inside in Shanghai
DIG DEEPER
"There has been the biggest emergency incident in the country, with a hole in our emergency quarantine front, that has kept us safe over the past two years and three months since February 2020,” said North Korean state news.
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Menstrual Leave in Spain
Overview
- Spain’s government plans to implement medical leave for women on their periods
- A draft of the bill said that women suffering from severe period symptoms would be given 3-5 days off of work monthly
- The 3-day leave will be for women who have a doctor’s note vouching that they are experiencing intense symptoms. In extreme circumstances, the leave will be for 5 days
- If passed, Spain will become the first European country to give “menstrual leave.” A handful of countries in Asia and Africa currently offer it
DIG DEEPER
Spain is also eliminating taxes on women's hygeine products and extending maternity leave before childbirth as part of a broader women's health overhaul.
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The Supermasive Black Hole
Overview
- A group of scientists captured a photo of the black hole at the center of the Milky Way galaxy for the first time
- Astronomers had noticed the stars of the Milky Way, which contains Earth, circulating a massive, invisible body. They suspected it was a black hole
- The evidence, released today, confirms that it is. The black hole is named Sagittarius A* (“A-star”)
- “This black hole is the glue that holds our galaxy together,” said one of the astronomers involved. Scientists don’t fully understand how black holes form, but they hope this will help them learn
DIG DEEPER
A black hole is comprised of a black area surrounded by ring-looking bodies. The hole's mass is so great that nothing, including light, can escape its gravitational pull.
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 What do you think?
Today's Poll:
Do you like when a comedy movie you love gets a sequel?
Yes
No
Today's Question:
Just 20 Questions!
Reply to this email with your answers!
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See yesterday's results below the Wrap!
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 Popcorn
Culture & Sports
- Gift from heaven: Norm Macdonald secretly shot a 1-hour standup special in his living room a year before his death. Netflix will air it on May 30
- LA not-so-confidential: After days of leaks, the NFL confirmed that the season will kick off with the Buffalo Bills at the LA Rams on Sept. 8
- This is sequel tap: Nearly 4 decades after the release of cult classic This is Spinal Tap, the makers and cast are reuniting for Spinal Tap 2
Business
- Crypto-calypse: Nearly $200B of wealth was wiped out from the cryptocurrency market in 24 hours earlier this week
- Oh, for flying out loud: US airline bookings fell 17% in April from March due to rising ticket prices and cooling post-Covid demand
- Just plane better: Southwest, Hawaiian, and Delta were ranked the top 3 airlines in Wichita State's annual Airline Quality Rating report
Wildcard
- Watch your step: Chinese scientists discovered a giant sinkhole with a forest at its bottom. The sinkhole is 630 feet deep and 1,000 feet long
- Say that again, Ken: Barbie released its first doll with hearing aids in an effort to "understand and celebrate the importance of inclusion"
- Congrats, Larry David: A UK employment tribunal ruled that calling a man "bald" in the workplace constitutes sexual harassment
- A small town in Canada has enticed thousands of locals to participate in a horror-themed treasure hunt. The winner gets a $1,300 prize
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Happy Friday, all. For today's Roca 20 Questions, we bring back "this or that" (or "would you rather," as they call it at high school drinking parties). When we introduced this a few weeks ago, we received a record number of responses. We are delighted to run it back today!
Just choose the option you prefer in each prompt. Send replies to Max@RocaNews.com, and have a wavy weekend!
P.S., answers to last week's Qs are below.
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Would you rather...
1. Have 20% long-term inflation, or 12 fingers?
2. Eat 50 wings in a sitting, or sit in traffic for 6 hours?
3. Be an ugly genius, or a beautiful imbecile?
4. Go barefoot for a month, or only eat bananas for 30 days?
5. Have a tail, or have no taste (food-wise)?
6. Fly but go blind at 35, or live a normal life?
7. Start a news company, or run a restaurant/bar?
8. Be on the Titanic and survive, or not have been on the ship at all?
9. Fight a chimpanzee once a year (you have a machete), or have to kill a chicken every time you get in your car?
10. Fart every time you meet someone new, or burp whenever you kiss someone?
11. Receive $5M now, or wait ten years for $30M?
12. Spend 1 year in 2122, or 1 month in 3122?
13. Be able to instantly cook any food to perfection, or change what food is the moment it hits your stomach?
14. Eat Gordon Ramsay's cooking every day, or receive a motivational talk from Tony Robbins every day?
15. Be a Jedi in Sar Wars, or a wizard/witch in Harry Potter?
16. Get slapped by a different random 12 year old every morning at 7 AM, or slap a random 7 year old every night at 11 PM?
17. Drink only Red Bull for a day, or eat only Cinnabons for a day?
18. Shadow Paul Blart for a day as a mall cop, or shadow Ron Burgundy for a day as a TV anchor?
19. Live in space for a week, or live in Dave & Buster's for a month?
20. Have a great weekend, or have a mediocre weekend?
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Last Week's Responses:
Last week's 20 Qs asked you to rank each of the below with a number between 1 and 10 that indicates how you feel about it. Here are the average answers:
1. Margaritas - 6.4
2. Your job - 7.7
3. Your last job - 5.3
4. Your weekend plans - 6.8
5. The poo emoji - 4.1
6. Rice Krispie Treats - 5.9
7. Red Bull - 3.6
8. Mini golf - 6.2
9. Laser tag - 5.7
10. Rock climbing - 4.7
11. Smell of gasoline - 6.2
12. Current price of gasoline - 1.8
13. Hawaiian shirts - 7.1
14. Espresso - 5.5
15. Flossing (the dental care activity) - 4.2
16. Flossing (the dance move) - 5.1
17. Donuts - 8.0
18. Chocolate croissants - 7.7
19. Breaking Bad - 7.5
20. Game of Thrones - 6.9
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 Roca Clubhouse
Yesterday's Poll:
Part 3: Which correctly spelled word looks more misspelled?
Liquefy: 70.4%
Ranch: 29.6%
Yesterday's Question:
Do you generally view a politician changing their mind on an issue (i.e., "flip-flopping") as a weakness? Elaborate.
Camden from Los Angeles: "It depends on if they have reasoning behind it. If they are changing their mind because they learned something new, than it shows the ability to grow and not be set in your ways, but if you’re just flip flopping to please whoever you’re talking to, then it’s a weakness"
Daniel from Virginia: "Not at all! Changing your mind means you learned new information, considered its impact, and made a wiser decision based on it. Politicians who dogmatically stick to their original opinion leads to the dumb partisan disputes that are all too prevalent today."
Peter from Dallas: "It depends on why they are changing their view. I don't like politicians who are so rigid they will never change regardless of new information. I also hate politicians who flip flop on every issue as soon as it becomes politically expedient for them. "
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This week we're debuting: Live from Roca HQ!
Many of you keep asking us what it's like to work at Roca. Now we're going to show you. Each week, we'll share a video from life at the office. First up: Watch the guys in the office take a Love Language quiz.
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Share The Current with friends, and win free swag! Some are secrets, some are awesome Roca gear.
Let's make this wave a tsunami, and share away!
Copy and send your referral link to others: https://sparklp.co/5b5757bc
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PS - You've brought 0 friends to The Current so far.
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― Final Thoughts
On this day in 1950, Stevie Wonder was born; in 1977, the rapper Pusha T was born; and in 1993, the country star Morgan Wallen was born.
In honor of that, we hope you all have fantastic weekends full of music, would-you-rathers, and black hole discoveries.
- Max and Max
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