Rohit Bhargava's Blog, page 30

Four Entirely Predictable Olympic Stories That Happen Every Time

Anyone who follows the Olympics knows there are some media narratives that happen every four years and always turn out the same. There are myths and then reality. Since so many people ask me about those stories, I built my own list over the years. For your entertainment, I thought I’d share them. I could go and easily find multiple stories to support each of these – but they are the stories you see every time and will definitely happen in four years before the LA 2028 games too.

Myth #1: The ...

Women’s Athletics Are a Big Story at Paris 2024 … But Equality Remains a Challenge

This is the first Olympics which will have true parity in terms of male versus female athletes and competitors. It’s a big story here at the Olympics, and rightfully so, but the Games also showcase a different reality that may not be realistic to project onto fan behavior outside these Games. Unlike non-Olympic time sports audiences, fans here and watching on TV seem equally excited and tuned in for sports like swimming, track & field, or tennis, as well as less popular sports like badminton, ju...

The Non-Obvious Book of the Week: Parisian Charm School by Jamie Cat Callan

The author of the provocatively titled book French Women Don’t Sleep Alone, Jamie Cat Callan,  followed up her hit debut book with this more approachable guide to being charming—Parisian Charm School. I read it several years ago despite it’s obvious focus on being a guide for women to access their flirtatious side … whether seeking a romantic partner or not. What I found fascinating was the lessons in the book that transcend the world of dating. She talks of the importance to “recognize the valu...

Parisian Charm School

The Non-Obvious Book of the Week

The author of the provocatively titled book French Women Don’t Sleep Alone followed up her hit debut book with this more approachable guide to being charming—Parisian Charm School. I read it several years ago despite it’s obvious focus on being a guide for women to access their flirtatious side … whether seeking a romantic partner or not. What I found fascinating was the lessons in the book that transcend the world of dating. She talks of the importance to “re...

The Best Part of the Olympics You Don’t Get to See … Country Houses

For me, every Olympics has different highlights, from being one of the few non-athletes allowed in the Olympic Village in Beijing to watching Usain Bolt complete a fourth gold in Rio. One experience you might not see much coverage of are the unique country houses created by the delegations from various countries. This year, the houses featured reconstructed Mongolian gers, wood cabins from Slovakia, an open beach volleyball court at Casa Brasil, a full broadcast studio and three level experience...

The Real Reason the “Created with Human Intelligence” Badge Probably Won’t Work

Freelance artist Beth Spencer had a brilliant idea that went viral. She suggested that artists hand draw their own version of a “created with human intelligence” badge to put on their work to distinguish it from AI-generated art. The idea caught fire among other designers presumably also looking for a way to separate their art from the wave of generated content online. It’s a great thought, and one that we might hope succeeds … but it won’t.

The reason I say that, though, isn’t because of...

Milli Vanilli Could Have Been Heroes Today … Maybe?

If you are a certain age, you might remember Milli Vanilli. I still have a cassette tape of their album that I could have resold for the same price I probably bought it for … since it was officially recalled. Back at the time, that fact alone made me want to keep it. In case you don’t know the story, Milli Vanilli was the name for a German singing duo who had exotic looks, long hair and a catchy pop sound that got popular quickly in the late 1980s. The rapid rise ended in flames once it was disc...

Modern Artist Consults a Lawyer Before Not Stealing Coin from British Museum

The British Museum has faced plenty of criticism for its continued policy to hold onto its archives that were built from artifacts that were looted from native cultures around the world. To offer the museum “a taste of its own medicine,” Brazilian conceptual artist Ilê Sartuzi spent a year planning the oddest of heists. His piece of performance art involved attending a community event where patrons were allowed to handle old coins as part of an interactive exhibit and replaced a valuable 1645 si...

The Non-Obvious Book of the Week: Bullshit Jobs: A Theory by David Graeber

Here in the US, it’s time for summer jobs, August (almost!) introspection, family holidays, and the last glimpse of sanity before we get bombarded with election news and into the Fall. For some of you, this time might include some thinking about what you’re doing for work and how you’re spending your time. It might also bring up the notion of bullshit jobs. This week’s book recommendation features a title that is about exactly what you think … jobs that suck.

In the book, Graeber show...

Bullshit Jobs: A Theory

The Non-Obvious Book of the Week

Here in the US, it’s time for summer jobs, August (almost!) introspection, family holidays, and the last glimpse of sanity before we get bombarded with election news and into the Fall. For some of you, this time might include some thinking about what you’re doing for work and how you’re spending your time. It might also bring up the notion of bullshit jobs. This week’s book recommendation features a title that is about exactly what you think … jobs that suck.

...