Lego minifigs are getting angrier over time

And it’s intentional:

‘Denise Lauritsen, a spokesperson for Lego, says that the “broad variety of minifigure emotions is to help encourage different kinds of role play; adventure, exploration, friendship, action, nurture, storytelling, mission, conflict play and so on…”’

If you’re an American male seven feet tall or taller, you have a 17% chance of playing in the NBA

If you’re “only” 6’8”? 0.07%

When you read fiction that makes you read between the lines to decipher the characters’ feelings, you get better at knowing people’s feelings in real life

‘In one study, kindergarten children heard stories such as Rosie’s Walk, in which a hen walks through a barnyard, appearing to be blithely unaware that she is being followed by a fox. A second group of children heard the same stories, but with mental states clearly identified. “Rosie heard the loud BUMP but did she figure out that the hungry fox was behind her? No, she didn’t turn around. She doesn’t know that he’s behind her.” The first group, forced to read between the lines, later performed better than the second group on a test that required them to infer the beliefs of others.’

See also: Read some fiction. It’s good for you

Should we teach skills to prevent loneliness in school?

My middle school-age daughter has to take a class once a week that is essentially “social education.” She does not love it. But her teachers might be on to something:

“…according to a recent report by the healthcare company Cigna, nearly half of adults in the U.S. reported sometimes or always feeling alone. Marriage rates and religious-participation rates are also dropping, which are both risk factors for social isolation and loneliness. And the prevalence of loneliness seems to be especially acute among young adults: One study last year found that Americans between the ages of 21 and 30 reported feeling lonely for twice as many days as adults between ages 50 and 70, despite having larger social networks. The health consequences of loneliness can be severe: Studies suggest chronic loneliness is linked to a variety of health issues, like decreased immunity to viral infections, poor sleep, and cardiovascular issues like hypertension.”

See also: Good neighboring is good medicine