A Festive Recap and Exciting Updates in the Second Edition! 🎄✨
From Banksy's Street Art Drama to Apple's Virtual Keyboard, Dive Deeper into the Latest News and Discoveries!
Hello, everyone!
I hope the holiday magic found its way to your heart, and you had a truly wonderful time with your family and loved ones. 🎄✨
Apologies for the one-day delay in this email. The holiday weekend was wonderfully relaxed, and breaking away from the quality time with family proved a bit challenging. I hope you can relate to those moments of sheer joy and connection.
But let’s keep the intro short and dive right in!
Housekeeping
- Remember when I shared my recent personal newsletter, mentioning a 6-month project that unexpectedly wrapped up in just 3 months? Well, it seems life had different plans. I had promised to share crucial insights for photographers/videographers in this week’s newsletter, but I find myself needing a bit more time to compile the valuable information.
Rest assured, I’m working diligently to refine the details, and the feature will be ready for you in next week’s edition. I appreciate your patience and understanding as I aim to provide you with content that’s not only informative but also well-crafted.
- As the year draws to a close, it’s a common tradition for people to contemplate New Year’s resolutions. Personally, I believe that change can happen any day in our lives, and we don’t necessarily have to wait for the end or beginning of something. Nevertheless, I appreciate the energy and approach that setting new goals for the upcoming year brings.
I’ve already jotted down my goals for 2024. Primarily, my focus is on being present and cherishing moments with my family. On the professional front, I aspire to cultivate more consistency in content creation. My aim is to release a YouTube video every two weeks and maintain a regular presence on short-form platforms such as Instagram and TikTok.
I’m also committed to reading more books in the upcoming year. While there are periods when I devour books, I admit there are times when I fall off that routine. I aim to work on this inconsistency because I genuinely believe that reading, coupled with journaling, is one of the fundamental pillars for cultivating a healthier mind and enhancing the ability to focus.
What about you? Do you make New Year’s resolutions, or do you have a different method for manifesting your goals? I’d love to hear your thoughts. Feel free to share!
Art & Design
Adobe Scraps $20 Billion Figma Takeover Amid Regulatory Scrutiny
Adobe abandons its $20 billion takeover of Figma due to growing regulatory opposition, offering a substantial $1 billion breakup fee as part of the now-scrapped deal. The proposed merger, announced last fall, aimed to give Adobe control of the rapidly growing collaborative design software provider Figma. However, antitrust regulators in the United States, the European Union, and Britain expressed concerns about reduced competition and potential consumer price hikes. This reflects the broader trend of increased government scrutiny on mergers. For more information, you can access the original news article here.
Tony’s Chocolonely Unveils Edible Logo
Tony’s Chocolonely, known for its slave-free commitment, unveils a delightful secret: its logo incorporates the chocolate bar itself. Arjen Klinkenberg, the brand’s creative director, shares this unconventional design that challenges norms. Beyond visuals, the logo is crafted as an experience, aiming to evoke the touch of holding and unwrapping a Tony’s chocolate bar. The irregular pieces symbolize industry inequalities, sending a robust message about fairness and ethical trade. This aligns with the enchantment of the Wonka season, introducing an edible logo to sweet treats. For more details, check out the original article.
Hangover Whopper Campaign: Burger King Brazil’s Facial Recognition Deals!
Burger King Brazil is offering a unique solution for post-party blues with its Hangover Whopper campaign. Teaming up with advertising agency DM9, the fast-food giant introduces facial recognition technology to gauge customers’ hangover levels and provide discounts on signature sandwiches accordingly. By submitting a selfie through the app or dedicated microsite, festive revelers can receive scaled discounts on Whopper Jr Double, Whopper, or Whopper Double based on their perceived hangover severity. The more worn-out you look, the more appetizing the deal. For additional information, explore the full article here.
Banksy’s Stop Sign Street Art Swiftly Stolen
Banksy’s latest street art installation, a stop sign with a commentary on military attacks, lasted less than an hour on the streets of Peckham, south London. The authentic artwork featured three drone-like aircraft added to the stop sign. In a scene reminiscent of Banksy’s infamous shredding stunt, opportunistic thieves swiftly dismantled and made off with the piece in broad daylight. Banksy was not involved in this takedown. Here the video of the takedown.
Music & Movies
Bradley Cooper and Spike Lee Explore the Cinematic Power of Music in ‘Maestro’
Bradley Cooper and Spike Lee delve into the cinematic power of music in 'Maestro.' In a recent 'Directors on Directors' discussion, the duo explores the intricacies of filmmaking, emphasizing the role of music as a potent storytelling tool. This insightful conversation, set against their collaborative project in the Netflix film 'Maestro,' where Cooper portrays Leonard Bernstein and directs the film, offers a brief yet nuanced glimpse into the dynamic relationship between music and filmmaking.
The New York Times Readers' Top Holiday Films!
In a holiday survey, the festive spirit was alive as nearly 3,000 readers from The New York Times shared their cherished holiday movie selections, emphasizing a timeless affection for Charles Dickens’s enduring tale, “A Christmas Carol.” Securing the top position was the 1951 rendition titled “Scrooge,” starring Alastair Sim and known as a classic in Britain. Alongside this perennial favorite, readers celebrated heartwarming classics like “It’s a Wonderful Life” (1946) and “A Christmas Story” (1983), as well as contemporary gems including “Love Actually” (2003) and “Elf” (2003). Notably, the eclectic mix of choices extended to unconventional selections like “The Ref” (1994) and the Finnish horror comedy “Rare Exports” (2010), reflecting the diverse holiday movie preferences of the readership. NY Time Article.
Rediscover the Beastie Boys
When was the last time you tuned in to the Beastie Boys? This week, we take a profound dive into the musical realm of this iconic group. Special thanks to Flowstate for reminding me of just how exceptional their music is. Check it out here: Beastie Boys Deep Dive.
Tech & Gaming
Apple's VisionOS Virtual Keyboard
Apple unveils its VisionOS-powered virtual keyboard, demonstrated by YouTuber Brian Tong. This futuristic keyboard allows mid-air typing through two methods, providing haptic feedback for each keypress. Despite developmental limitations in typing speed, the design aims to mimic real key presses, offering a positive user experience. Early test-drives by tech journalists reveal emotionally resonant and immersive moments, demonstrating the technology's potential to connect users with cherished memories.
What game am I currently playing?
I'm currently immersed in Yakuza Zero, and I anticipate that won't change for quite some time. Most nights, I only have about 1 to 2 hours to play, and playing during the daytime? Well, that's a bit humorous. After all, I'm a father—please don't forget that. Do you have any time to play? Please reach out to me. I'm open to all kinds of tips and tricks.
This is the End, Beautiful Friend
Thanks for checking out the second edition of the newsletter! I hope you enjoyed it. Stay tuned for more updates and cool stuff in the next one. Your feedback and experiences are greatly appreciated, so don't hesitate to hit reply and share your thoughts. Until our next rendezvous, keep creating and seizing those special moments!
Best regards,
Ferhat Topal