Buzz
This week, we’re embarking on a pinball-inspired journey across the country, visiting iconic buildings from the last century, and capping it all off with a live kitten stream that you can’t miss.
Welcome to Mytour’s Monday Brain Buffet, a collection of fascinating podcasts, interviews, articles, and other media that are designed to educate, inspire, and kickstart your week with something fresh and thought-provoking.
The Most Influential Structures of the Past Century
Although I’m no architect, I do appreciate innovative and beautifully crafted buildings—those that transcend traditional design, blending both function and artistry. Luckily, The Architectural Record recently compiled a list of their top 125 buildings from the last hundred years, showcasing each structure’s impact on art, architecture, and forward-thinking design.
The list features a mix of timeless, classic structures alongside new, cutting-edge designs. Whether you're a fan of the traditional or the sleek and modern, there's something for everyone. Notable examples include the High Line in New York City, the Heydar Aliyev Center in Azerbaijan, and, as seen above, Diamond Ranch High School in California. Along with these, you’ll find several well-known landmarks, whether from history books or documentaries about iconic places. But don’t be fooled—there are some unexpected gems too. [via Architectural Record, thanks Kottke!]
Why Are Textbook Prices Always on the Rise?
Anyone who has spent time in college over the past few decades knows all about the outrageous costs of textbooks. Sometimes it’s a course where the professor insists on using their own book—and naturally, it’s the latest edition. Other times, it’s because fewer publishing companies are holding onto more of the academic texts. This episode from the Planet Money Podcast delves into the reasons behind these skyrocketing prices and explores the deeper causes. Although it’s an older episode, it was recently aired again for a good reason. [via NPR’s Planet Money]
Plan a Pinball-Themed Road Trip Across the Country
Atlas Obscura always offers fascinating insights into the hidden wonders of our world, but if you’re a pinball enthusiast, this interactive Google Map and road trip will definitely excite you.
I’ll admit, I’m not a big pinball fan—it’s just not a hobby I ever really embraced—but I can certainly appreciate the quirky charm behind it and the fascination with unique and rare pinball machines, some of which had only a few copies ever made. Atlas Obscura dives deeper into the history here, giving you a complete overview of pinball’s rise in popularity and its eventual sharp decline, especially for newcomers like me.
The interactive map (above) on Google Maps is designed with a road trip to America’s top pinball arcades, complete with detailed highlights for each stop—ideal for that vacation you’ve been putting off. Time to pack your bags. [via Google Maps, thanks Atlas Obscura!]
The Monty Hall Paradox Unpacked
The Monty Hall Problem is a classic brain teaser that illustrates how humans often make irrational decisions, even when a situation is easy to understand mathematically. The video above from Numberphile explains the problem and its solution clearly, but for a deeper dive, you should read Priceonomics’ article, The Time Everyone “Corrected” the World’s Smartest Woman. She correctly answered the Monty Hall problem in a Parade Magazine column, only for people—from amateurs to PhDs—to insist she was wrong. But the truth was, she was right all along.
Similarly, Kottke—where I found this video—offers a similarly insightful explanation of the problem and how surprisingly simple it really is. Watch the video, then read the full article. [via Numberphile, thanks Kottke!]
A Nonstop Kitten Stream. Kittens, All Day Long.
It seems like you could use a little kitten therapy. Hit play. Watch as the kittens frolic, nap, and stumble around—everything you’d expect from these tiny furballs (and their mom, naturally) throughout the day. Maximize it and put it on your second screen while you get to work. Keep those stress levels in check. Have a fantastic week. [via Kitten Academy]
That’s a wrap for this week! If you’ve got any thought-provoking articles, fascinating podcasts, eye-opening videos, or anything else you think would make a great addition to the Brain Buffet, we’d love to hear from you! Send me an email, leave a comment, or just get it to me however you can.
Title GIF by Nick Criscuolo. Additional photos by ThreeBestFriendsTour, Matt Machtley,
