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A newsletter for the terminally curious

“High quality esoterica, quirky inner musings, and one of the best advice columns on the internet. McKinley always digs up interesting content I can’t find anywhere else.”
  — Angus Hervey, Future Crunch

“It’s eclectic and personal in a way that kind of reminds me of the glory days of blogging — a delightful cabinet of curiosities. McKinley is an interesting thinker who spots interesting facts and occurrences, and says interesting things about them.”  
  — Rob Walker, The Art of Noticing

“I never know what I’m going to get in an issue of The Whippet, but I know it’s going to be good because McKinley is an excellent writer and curator.”  
  — Mark Frauenfelder, BoingBoing / The Magnet

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Recent Issues

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The Whippet #181: Much better than horses

The Whippet #181: Much better than horses

Tautophrases, a post that will make you love rooster, United States v. One Solid Gold Object in Form of a Rooster

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Venus Rose cover image "the whippet"

The Whippet Special: Venus News Extra Extra

This is 100% and literally the pattern Venus makes in the earth's sky over an 8-year cycle. Each 'rose petal' takes about 18 months.

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The Whippet #179: Antarctica is not the answer

The Whippet #179: Antarctica is not the answer

"They should probably have a screener on that job. “Do you actually want this job or are you experiencing a midlife crisis?”

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The Whippet #178: Somebody better say something about the moon

The Whippet #178: Somebody better say something about the moon

"You have eighteen months. Go back to your computer, and do whatever you have to, but don't come to our conference unless you have something to say about the Moon's birth."

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lightbulb cover image for the whippet

The Whippet #177: The key to lasting happiness is cdeispnili

I am increasingly of the belief that your brain doesn't really understand that you have taken an action unless you move your body and/or other objects around in physical space.

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paleolithic bison

The Whippet #176: Smeared across time

Most predators sneak up on their prey and surprise them, because most prey is fast and if you don't catch it by surprise, you don't catch it. But cheetahs are the fastest (land) animals in the world. They can outrun anything.