America's love for spicy food exploded in the 1990s, with super-hot peppers like the Red Savina habanero leading the way. via Saveur

Jason Kottke recommends checking out Tom Whitwell's annual list of 52 interesting facts he learned in 2022, covering topics from airport bathroom demographics to the impact of sports on asylum applications.

Tyler Cowen's assorted links for December 3, 2022, range from overconfidence and AI to the best movies of all time and the economic downturn in Ghana. via Marginal REVOLUTION.

Jason Kottke shares a media diet documenting the movies, shows, books, and podcasts he consumed during a seven-month sabbatical. via kottke.org

Venkatesh Rao's essay argues that AI has advanced to the point of matching the writing ability of mediocre humans, kicking off a series exploring the concept of "mediocre computing." via Ribbonfarm Studio

Atlas Obscura shared a 2022 gift guide with quirky and unique home gifts for every aesthetic.

Black Friday sales are starting early at retailers like Mr. Porter, Todd Snyder, and No Man Walks Alone. via Die, Workwear!

Bill Gates reviews his favorite tennis book, "The Inner Game of Tennis," sharing its key concept that the sport involves an "outer" and "inner" game, impacting his approach to work and life. via Gates Notes.

Bill Gates reminisces about bonding with Paul Allen over Robert Heinlein's science fiction novels and shares why he considers "Stranger in a Strange Land" his favorite. via Gates Notes

Bill Gates shares five of his favorite books from a variety of genres including science fiction, memoir, biography, self-help, and science writing. via Gates Notes.

You can celebrate the 10th anniversary of "What If?" with a special edition coming November 2024 and available for preorder now. via XKCD

Cute and useful gift ideas that are upgrades to common household items are the topic of this Ask MetaFilter post, highlighted as a Best Of. via MetaFilter