The Envy List #15: Lyft Drivers are Designated Drivers every night

Weird but true edition.

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1. The search for life outside our solar system continues with news that of another planet that might just be habitable. Read more...

A planet just 124 light-years from Earth could be teeming with life even as you read these words.Astronomers have conducted in-depth analyses of the properties of an exoplanet mid-weight between Earth and Neptune, and found that it could be hospitable after all. The discovery broadens the range of planets astronomers can include in their search for extraterrestrial life.

—"This Exoplanet Could Actually Be Habitable After All, And It’s Not Even That Far” by Michelle Starr from Science Alert

2. What it’s like to be a designated driver every night. Read more…

Whether or not ride-sharing companies really curb drunk driving is complicated, and findings often vary by the study. My experience as a Lyft driver, and as a former congressional reporter focused on health care, tells me ride-sharing’s relationship to alcohol and health is complicated regardless.

—"The Drunk Men I Drive Around Every Night” by Peter Jakubowicz at Slate

3. This binge-worthy podcast takes down pyramid schemes (and their progeny, MLMs) in season 1 and the wellness industry in season 2 WITH SCIENCE. ;-) Listen…

We’ve all got that friend or cousin who steadily hawks some overpriced miracle drink, leggings, or shampoo on social media. They aren’t just trying to sell you something, but would like to offer you the opportunity of a lifetime to achieve riches while working from home on your own terms. You’ve probably been too afraid, or too loving, or too reasonable to confront them. Not us. This season on The Dream we go inside the world of multi-level marketing to expose this pyramid-shaped business model for what it is. Join us on this bizarre journey filled with snake oil salesmen, shifty millionaires, struggling single moms, and a few sweet grandmas.

—"The Dream” podcast from Stitcher

4. In this Lenten season, read a reinterpretation of the “woman at the well.” Read more…

As for the woman at the well, I imagine her as beautiful and powerful and therefore frustrating to those who might have wanted to yoke her in marriage. But she doesn’t frustrate Jesus. Jesus finds in her an equal…

—"Lectionary Readings: March 15, Lent 3A, John 4:5-42" by Liz Goodman at The Christian Century

5. Kegels are funny. Read more…

You want to know how to do Kegels? No? I’ll explain it anyway. You just have to locate your pelvic floor muscles, then clench them tightly. Pretend you’re squeezing a tampon or holding in a fart. But make sure you squeeze the right thing — if you do Kegels wrong, you’ll just be exercising your lower butt muscles or inner thighs. No, nothing’s wrong with that — if you want to waste your precious last childless months on crotch-adjacent muscles instead of making sure your insides stay inside.

—”You’re Training for a Half-Marathon? Cool, I’m Doing Kegels” by Elizabeth Preston from McSweeney’s Internet Tendency

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