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Alexander Verbeek

@alexverbeek.bsky.social

8.5K followers 1.3K following 560 posts

theplanet.substack.com

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Alexander Verbeek @alexverbeek.bsky.social · Nov 14

If you have any reach on Bluesky, please consider reposting so I can find old and new friends (and then I’ll follow you back 😊).

I'm Alexander Verbeek and publish about the climate crisis, environment, the beauty of nature, science, walking, sustainability, wildlife, photography, water, and energy.

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Alexander Verbeek @alexverbeek.bsky.social · 23h

Trump just made Columbus—a man jailed for brutality—an "American hero." The pattern is clear and worrying.

Plus: hidden American history going back 23,000 years, addicted dogs, and the secret touch of piano masters.

Trump’s “American Hero,” Columbus, Was Jailed for Cruelty: Why This Pattern Matters

Plus: 23,000 years of hidden American history, Dogs’ gambling addiction, and the science of piano mastery

open.substack.com

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Alexander Verbeek @alexverbeek.bsky.social · 1d

Why some dreams take longer than a lifetime.

Why Some Dreams Take Longer Than a Lifetime

My father knew I’d outgrow my treehouse fantasy

medium.com

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Alexander Verbeek @alexverbeek.bsky.social · 1d

🎻 Einstein's violin hidden from Nazis for 70 years just sold for over $1 million.

🖼️ A Dutch retiree's attic discovery exposed Nazi-looted art in Argentina.

🦁 And desert lions are now hunting seals on Namibian beaches.

And seven more good news stories in today’s Daybreak Notes & Beans:

What Turned Up This Week: Einstein’s $1 Million Lost Violin, Nazi-Looted Art in Argentina, and Desert Lions Hunting on Namibian Beaches

Plus: Giant tortoise conservation wins, spider vision explained, and New York artists defying censorship

open.substack.com

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Alexander Verbeek @alexverbeek.bsky.social · 2d

While Americans doom-scroll through news of ICE raids and political chaos, I spent Sunday morning in Oslo watching families enjoy autumn light. This is what democracy used to promise. A reflection on distance and gratitude.

A Perfect Sunday Morning, Ocean-Distant from American Cruelty and Chaos

Reflections on autumn light, beauty, and what Sunday morning should mean

medium.com

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Alexander Verbeek @alexverbeek.bsky.social · 2d

The 2025 Nobel Peace Prize winner dedicated her award to both the Venezuelan people and Donald Trump. She supports the U.S. naval buildup while advocating democracy. The controversy reveals how complex fighting dictatorship can be.

The Controversy Around María Corina Machado’s Nobel Peace Prize

A deeper look at the Venezuelan opposition leader who praised both her people and Donald Trump

theplanet.substack.com

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Alexander Verbeek @alexverbeek.bsky.social · 3d

On the day democracy won the Nobel Prize, here's what else went right in the world:

What Else Went Right on the Day Democracy Won the Nobel Peace Prize

Plus: Ten stories of discovery, courage, and joy from Roman tombstones to starling ballets

open.substack.com

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Alexander Verbeek @alexverbeek.bsky.social · 4d

Autocorrect just changed 'meeting' to 'meting' again. Your phone has settings to stop this nonsense. Turn it off, teach it your words, or switch to Gboard for better corrections. Plus: fix Substack typos in 5 minutes.

The Autocorrect Settings That Stop Your Phone From ‘Fixing’ Words You Typed Correctly

Plus: Gboard keyboard app that fixes most autocorrect problems, and how to edit Substack comments before anyone sees your typos

substack.com

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Alexander Verbeek @alexverbeek.bsky.social · 4d

Trump lobbied worldwide to win the Nobel Peace Prize.

This morning, the Committee gave it to someone whose life's work stands against everything he represents.

The Nobel Committee’s Brilliant Answer to Donald Trump

María Corina Machado’s Nobel Prize sends a clear message about democracy under siege

medium.com

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Alexander Verbeek @alexverbeek.bsky.social · 4d

Trump lobbied worldwide to win the Nobel Peace Prize. This morning, the Committee gave it to someone whose life's work stands against everything he represents.

The Nobel Committee’s Brilliant Answer to Donald Trump

María Corina Machado’s Nobel Prize sends a clear message about democracy under siege

open.substack.com

5 7 31

Alexander Verbeek @alexverbeek.bsky.social · 5d

While Oslo speculates on tomorrow’s Peace Prize winner (spoiler: not Trump), discover good news:
🏅 this week’s Nobel laureates
🐁 mice performing first aid techniques
🩴 and medieval sandals preserved in vulture nests for 600 years.

And the Nobel Goes (not) to...

Plus: Mice performing CPR, medieval sandals in vulture nests, and 8,000 teapots

daybreaknotesandbeans.substack.com

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Alexander Verbeek @alexverbeek.bsky.social · 6d

Your phone interrupts you constantly, but it doesn't have to because the focus mode can silence distractions automatically.
Set it up once in 10 minutes.
Read the guide:

The Focus Mode That Stops Your Phone From Interrupting You All Day

Set it up once in 10 minutes, then your phone automatically knows when to stay quiet. Plus: distraction-free Substack reading and a focus app that works

screenskills.substack.com

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Reposted by Alexander Verbeek

Alister Doyle @alisterdoyle.bsky.social · 7d

U.S. President Donald Trump won't win the Nobel Peace Prize he apparently craves this Friday - my article examining why one leading Norwegian historian puts his chances at "zero" news-decoder.com/promoting-pe... @newsdecoder.bsky.social @ninagraeger.bsky.social @nobelprize.bsky.social

Promoting peace through a prize

Each year a committee of Norwegians awards the Nobel Peace Prize to someone who has fought for peace. Is Donald Trump worthy?

news-decoder.com

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Alexander Verbeek @alexverbeek.bsky.social · 6d

Finally, Some Good Hurricane News for Americans (But Don’t Thank Trump’s FEMA Budget Cuts)

Plus: This year’s Physics Nobel Prize, Shackleton’s ship had fatal flaws, French Polynesia creates world’s largest marine park, and a moment of beauty

daybreaknotesandbeans.substack.com

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Alexander Verbeek @alexverbeek.bsky.social · 7d

Trump’s campaigning hard for the Nobel Peace Prize, claiming he’s solved wars the world didn’t know existed.

But here in Oslo, where I attended an expert briefing, the reality is very different. Who will actually win Friday?

Trump Wants the Nobel Prize. Here’s Who Will Actually Win It.

Expert insights from Oslo reveal the real contenders

theplanet.substack.com

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Alexander Verbeek @alexverbeek.bsky.social · 8d

Jane Goodall's last interview released: "Don't lose hope." Today's stories prove she was right.
Take a moment to listen to her words:
 daybreaknotesandbeans.substack.com/p/dont-lose-...

Don’t Lose Hope: Jane Goodall’s Last Interview and Today’s Stories of Progress That Prove Her Right

Plus: A Nobel Prize for genetic scissors, young climate activists triumph at the ICJ, a dinosaur caught mid-meal, and why women outlive men

daybreaknotesandbeans.substack.com

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Alexander Verbeek @alexverbeek.bsky.social · 8d

Search ‘invoice’ and get 300 emails. Search ‘from:patricia subject:invoice has:attachment after:2024/01/01’ and get exactly the one you need. Master email search plus Substack tips and an ethical phone question.

The Email Search That Finds Exactly What You Need in Seconds

Plus: AI-powered search queries, discovering your Substack community, and answering Suzanne’s phone question

screenskills.substack.com

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Alexander Verbeek @alexverbeek.bsky.social · 8d

From Frida Kahlo’s Family Home to Van Gogh’s Chair: When Art Objects Become Time Machines.

From Frida Kahlo’s Family Home to Van Gogh’s Chair: When Art Objects Become Time Machines

Plus: Revolutionary fertility science, fiber for stroke prevention, and the fork’s scandalous journey to your table

daybreaknotesandbeans.substack.com

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Alexander Verbeek @alexverbeek.bsky.social · 10d

In Paris, Céleste Boursier-Mougenot created "Clinamen" as an exploration of chance and sound. Your weekend inspiration in Daybreak Notes & Beans.

daybreaknotesandbeans.substack.com/p/when-trump...

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Alexander Verbeek @alexverbeek.bsky.social · 11d

Exhausted by Trump news? Daybreak Notes & Beans shares the amazing stuff you missed: 18th century gold found off Florida, Easter Island’s billion-dollar secret, a 345-year-old Stradivarius guitar, and why mamba bites are deadlier than we knew. ☕️ 🏝️ 😊

When Trump’s Chaos Gets Too Much, Here’s the Good News You Missed This Week

Plus: Maritime gold treasures, Easter Island’s billion-dollar secret, a Stradivarius guitar, and why mamba venom is deadlier than we thought

daybreaknotesandbeans.substack.com

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Alexander Verbeek @alexverbeek.bsky.social · 11d

Drowning in thousands of phone photos? Here’s the simple album system that actually works.
Plus: AI prompts to help organize your memories, Substack’s subscription levels explained, and Instagram’s new Maps privacy settings.

The Photo Organization System That Ends the Digital Mess Forever

Plus: AI prompts for your photos, following vs subscribing on Substack, and why you should check Instagram’s new Maps settings

screenskills.substack.com

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Alexander Verbeek @alexverbeek.bsky.social · 17d

The Dictator’s Playbook: How Minor Incidents Become Pretexts for Massive Crackdowns

Why history’s pattern of crisis exploitation should worry every democracy

theplanet.substack.com

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Alexander Verbeek @alexverbeek.bsky.social · 17d

📹 andrzejbargiel/IG

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Alexander Verbeek @alexverbeek.bsky.social · 17d

Need some good news? Ten amazing stories that prove humanity is still worth believing in: Andrzej Bargiel’s record-breaking Everest descent, hidden Picasso painting, rescued penguins, and more weekend inspiration

➡️ daybreaknotesandbeans.substack.com/p/ten-good-n...

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Alexander Verbeek @alexverbeek.bsky.social · 19d

Why 1% of People Never Have Sex:

Why 1% of People Never Have Sex

Plus: Where Americans are happiest, body chemistry hacks, and Emil the elk’s European tour

daybreaknotesandbeans.substack.com

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Alexander Verbeek @alexverbeek.bsky.social · 19d

This:

The Dictator’s Playbook: How Minor Incidents Become Pretexts for Massive Crackdowns

Why history’s pattern of crisis exploitation should worry every democracy

medium.com

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