Something For the Weekend #52
Mythic Quest, Noah Smith on the phones, and the GORUCK GR1: selections from the weird and wonderful for the week ending June 19, 2026
52 weeks! We’ve made it to a whole year of Something for the Weekend. What a ride. The genesis of this weekly missive was my original “Three Epic Things” posts on Medium, because I figured if I can’t find three things that surprise, delight, and make the world more wonderful, well, what am I doing here? “Books, records, films—these things matter.” And I love doing this. I love that you’re here reading this. I have a few pieces still in the works, and I’m ready to go. But the last couple of weeks have been a bit of a scramble, so please bear with me, and enjoy this weekend’s recommendations.
Loving your work.
Thank you,
Benji
Top 5 this week from the Daily Active User:
We’ve been re-watching and falling back in love with the show Mythic Quest. I originally thought it wasn’t going to be for me because I’m not into gaming, but it’s a wonderfully funny and poignantly touching show, so well written and well worth your time. The “Side Quest” episodes are terrific, in particular the Kurt Vonnegut oubliette reference, anyone? And I do love a show that purports to be one thing while really doing something else at the same time. Great characters, some over the top (in a good way), and the show packs an emotional punch when you least expect it. A second watching is nice because you get to see a lot of the underlying references you might not catch the first time; it’s Easter eggs galore from there on in. So if you were skeptical because it’s about gaming and you’re not into gaming, you’ll be fine. And a shout-out to the great John DiMaggio, who makes an appearance and is as marvelous as ever.
I’ve been reading Noah Smith’s blog for about six months now, and find much to commend. It’s not always for me, but when it hits home, it hits home. This piece was shocking and alarming and really did land for me: Are you finally ready to admit it’s the phones?
I almost don’t want you to read it because of the implications and the data it pulls together. It sent me spiraling—angry, sad, and worse. It also ties in with Derek Thompson’s conversation with a demographer about global fertility collapse, which is worth reading alongside it: The Global Fertility Crisis Is Worse Than You Probably Think
I know that even though tens of thousands of people have read these things, little will be done. And as a parent, that makes it heavy going. But a year into Something for the Weekend, I feel confident recommending a piece of hard-going stuff, because if even one or two of you reading this make a change (small though it might be), the difference could be immense. The data is telling us what we need to know. We just need to read it and act.
I’m going back to the GR1 after a long time of flirting with over-the-shoulder bags and various backpacks—and yes, I am really super into these things. I’ve returned to the GORUCK GR1 as my main day-to-day 21L pack. I originally ditched my 26L because it was a little too big and a little too militaristic in the green, but the black 21L is simply the best pack out there. And as much as I wanted to be the off-the-shoulder guy, it’s just not happening. At one point, I even tried the tote bag. Not a chance.
My OCD or ADHD (or combination of the two) simply cannot handle the wrong bag, particularly when I’m carrying precious cargo (books; I won’t even bore you with the book sleeves and protectors). I’ve gone down spirals and rabbit holes (as is the proclivity of my strange brain), but the made-in-USA, scars-for-life guarantee, overbuilt pack is such a wonderful, comfortable thing to wear, whether weighted or not. And I admire the company and what they’ve built.
I also love the way they celebrate National Bitcoin Pizza Day. As it turns out, one of the engineers, Laszlo, is the person who gave National Bitcoin Pizza Day its name, so they made a patch for him if you paid in Bitcoin back in the day (which I have done). Not cheap, but then again, it’s probably the last backpack you’ll need to buy. Worth every penny.
Mokkiri-zake:
We have built ourselves a second nervous system. - It’s Too Late, Techno-pessimists - Katherine Dee
The smart things are paining us. The dumb ones are blessedly quiet, which, at this point, can feel like the more intelligent option. - Why ‘Smart’ Products Have Started to Look Like the Dumb Choice - New York Times - Nitsuh Abebe
The world at present is full of angry self-centred groups, each incapable of viewing human life as a whole, each willing to destroy civilisation rather than yield an inch… What is needed is not this or that specific piece of information, but such knowledge as inspires a conception of the ends of human life as a whole… - In Praise of the Useless: Bertrand Russell’s Salve for Hard Times - The Marginalian - Maria Popova
You can’t profit maximize your way to greatness. - Misguided optimization - Seth Godin
I hate it. I find it viscerally disgusting… AI writing all tends towards a very specific mood. Poignant, wistful, simpering, dickless. - If you let AI do your writing, I will come to your house and kill you - substack.com - Sam Kriss
After a man turns 30, he has to choose between specializing in the history of the Roman Empire or the World Wars. - 2025 letter - Dan Wang