[AKN #118] Tell Us How You Really Feel.

LAUGH: The Forbes 30 Under 30, LOVE: It’s Shocking How Alone We Are

Sup homies?

The USA beat Iran and moved on in the World Cup today.

But what I found fascinating was the commentary surrounding the game.

When two geopolitical rivals meet in sports, we build up the significance of that game.

We talk about how a win for the good guys could bring a nation hope.

We talk about how a win for the bad guys would be terrible for morale.

But I believe we are missing the point.

A point that Jarvis makes beautifully:

Jarvis @jarvis_best

How to fix soccer: 1. The field is fucking huge. Shrink it. 2. Too many players on the field. Limit to three forwards, two defenders, and a goalie. 3. Players should get to come in and out whenever they want. Don’t stop the game. 4. Shrink the goal. 5. Ice everywhere

Soccer blows.

Like consider this next generation stat powered by AWS:

The US played 3 games this World Cup and scored 2 goals. That is less than 1 goal per game. #stats

People. We tied one game 0 to fucking 0. 90 minutes. 0 goals.

Today’s match with Iran? 90 minutes. 1 goal.

Soccer is less goal oriented than that stoner kid you went to high school with who had an endless supply of black rock band t-shirts and always claimed he would do well in class “if he cared.”

But how boring the game was seemed to be a complete after thought.

Post game, the media exclusively focused on “inspiring” narratives.

Like commentators couldn’t stop talking about how “today…love wins.”

Give me a break.

Love died the day we started pretending soccer was a good sport.

Go USA though. Purely from a tribalism standpoint.

I’m a huge hometown team fan.

On to the newsletter!

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LIVE: Tell Us How You Really Feel.

I’m interested in hearing your pure, unadulterated feedback about what you think of Full Of KRapp.¹

So please reply to this email and help me improve the newsletter!

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• What were your favorite editions of the newsletter?

• What were your least favorite editions of the newsletter?

• What would you like to see me write more about next year? Name a topic, person, place, thing, you want to hear me riff on.

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Don’t try to be perfect. Don’t hold anything back. All feedback is helpful.

Just press reply RIGHT NOW, word vomit anything that comes to mind, and send it to me.

It would mean a lot :)

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LAUGH: The Forbes 30 Under 30

Every year, Forbes magazine posts this list of 30 people who are remarkable and just so happen to be under 30 years old.

The list is mostly rich kids whose parents funded their inclusion on the list.

But sometimes, the list highlights some soon to be famous people!

Like this list of 5.

Stonks.com @Stonks_dot_com

Congrats to the new Forbes 30 Under 30! To celebrate, here's a thread of our favorite previous 30 under 30 recipients:

You will find some well known criminals in there!

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LOVE: It’s Shocking How Alone We Are

This graph should be a reminder to go talk to a friend today.

Derek Thompson @DKThomp

There is a 100% chance that this graph is a core reason for America's surge of anxiety and depression. Time spent with other people has plummeted—for every age group, ethnicity, gender, geography, and income level. washingtonpost.com/opinions/2022/…

It’s never been easier to stay at home all day, but what if being alone all day isn’t good for you?

So go outside and hang out with a friend today.

Unless that friend invited you to watch a soccer game…in which case it would be far less depressing to stay home alone.

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CLOSING TIME

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Disclaimer: Opinions expressed are strictly my own. Who else’s would they be?

See you in the replies,

K.Rapp

1. Unless you like soccer. In which case I’m not sure we can trust your judgment.