5SR - October 11, 2023

Today’s curator is the founder of #5SmartReads, Hitha Palepu. She’s a consummate multihyphenate - CEO of Rhoshan Pharmaceuticals, author of WE’RE SPEAKING: The Life Lessons of Kamala Harris and How to Pack: Travel Smart for Any Trip, and professional speaker. Hitha is an unabashed fan of Taco Bell, Philadelphia sports teams & F1, romance novels, and is a mediocre crafter. She lives in NYC with her husband and two sons.

‘Nowhere to go’: Ordinary Palestinians live in fear as Israel retaliates against Hamas (CNN)

This is an article to read in full, with an open heart and mind.

Innocent Palestinians in Gaza have nowhere to go and are squarely in the line of fire of Israel’s response to Hamas’ grotesque attack.

We can - and must - extend equal empathy and compassion and attention to these innocent people the way we do for innocent Israelis.

And we need to urge our leaders to work on ensuring Palestinians’ safety and security while supporting efforts to fight Hamas.

Geri Halliwell-Horner on ‘Rosie Frost and the Falcon Queen,’ New Music and What Girl Power Means to Her Now (Shondaland)

Geri Halliwell-Horner has come a long way since Ginger Spice.

Solo recording artist. Author. F1 spouse (I squealed when I saw her on Drive To Survive). Lover of monochrome white outfits (even when tending to her farm).

We love a multi-hyphenate.

I immediately purchased Rosie Frost after reading this interview, to read with Rho and also just for myself. I love any book that lets kids fall in love with magic and preserves it in their lives as long as possible, and I’m particularly excited for this one.

Nobel Prize in economics goes to Harvard economist Claudia Goldin (NPR)

For too long, elected officials cited “means testing” and the need for data in order to invest in social programs and the care economy.

Claudia Goldin, this year’s winner for the Nobel Prize in economics, delivered on just that.

Her decades long research has been centered on why the gender pay gap exists, having examined census records going as far back as the 1800s to more recent historical data (such as the availability of birth control in the 80s and the impact of the pandemic on women’s workforce participation).

And while I expect those same elected leaders to continue to punt this issue, I’m hopeful that this data can begin to build more local and state-level efforts to build a sustainable care economy and close the pay gaps that exist between gender, race, identity, and other factors.

The glories of dining out alone (Vox)

While in Charleston yesterday, I savored a solo lunch of shrimp and grits, a club soda with lime, and a good book.

I savored every bite and sip. I relished the quiet. And I loved every moment, and pledged to do it more often at home.

We hear a lot about continuing to date your spouse after years of marriage and to make time for your friends, but I don’t want you to forget about making time for yourself to do something you actually want to do - and to do so out of the house.

For me, eating Taco Bell or Wawa in my parked car in Pennsylvania or treating to tapas at my neighborhood restaurant are experiences I relish every time I enjoy them. I plan to prioritize them more, and this article makes the case for why you should the same.

Cells, Not DNA, Are The Master Architects Of Life (Noēma)

Science curriculum needs a storytelling overhaul, particularly in primary education.

Imagine if a compelling story introduced students to the puzzles of DNA, the magic of physics, or the marvel that our cells are.

If you think storytelling and science are mutually exclusive, I encourage you to click through and read this piece. It begins with a patient’s search for a new kidney, and the heartbreak when her 3 sons aren’t a match. While most stories move on to seeking a donor kidney, this one deviates when a specialist at the hospital embarks on an investigation as to why her patient’s sons weren’t a match, and uncovering the discovery that she’s a chimera and has two unique DNA sequences - not just one.

It’s not science fiction - it’s very real, and an estimated 15% of human population are chimeras.

This is such a beautiful, informative article where the science and story are woven together to teach something new and highlight a new wave of research. It’s worthy of your time.