Thu. 1/14 - How We Narrowly Avoided an Emoji Shortage

<p><strong><em>The workaround the Unicode Consortium used to make sure we still get new emojis in 2021, pandemic or not. Facial hair is biologically useless. So why do some humans have it? And the SpaceX Dragon cargo capsule returning this evening will be carrying on it a case of twelve unopened bottles of red wine. But why?</em></strong></p><p>Sponsors:</p><ul><li>Skillshare, Get a free trial of Premium Membership at <a href="http://skillshare.com/kottke" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">skillshare.com/kottke</a>&nbsp;</li><li>Fitbod, Get 25% off a membership when you sign up now through 2/28 at <a href="http://fitbod.me/kottke" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Fitbod.me/kottke</a></li></ul><p>Links:</p><ul><li><a href="https://jenniferdaniel.substack.com/p/the-emoji-that-nearly-werent" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The Emoji That Nearly Weren't</a> (Jennifer Daniel, Substack) via <a href="https://tinyletter.com/todayintabs" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Today In Tabs</a></li><li><a href="https://blog.emojipedia.org/emoji-zwj-sequences-three-letters-many-possibilities/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Emoji ZWJ Sequences: Three Letters, Many Possibilities</a> (Emojipedia)</li><li><a href="https://www.wired.com/story/facial-hair-is-biologically-useless-so-why-do-humans-have-it" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Facial Hair Is Biologically Useless. So Why Do Humans Have It?</a> (Wired)</li><li><a href="https://www.sciencealert.com/researchers-suggest-my-bushy-beard-evolved-so-you-can-safely-punch-me-in-the-head" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Wild Study Suggests Human Beards Evolved to Absorb Punches to The Head</a> (Science Alert)</li><li><a href="https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/phenomena/2014/06/10/our-skulls-didnt-evolve-to-be-punched/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Our Skulls Didn't Evolve to be Punched</a> (National Geographic)</li><li><a href="https://apnews.com/article/french-wine-vines-head-home-from-spac