Mirror Mirror: Worlds, Life, Reviews, Cords, and Metrics
Plus: Peak Product Reviews, Mirrorworlds, Mirror Life, Metric Rebellions, Core Cutting, and more in Roundup #39
The 39th issue of The New New plays in the world of mirrors.
We start with a knock on product reviews and close with its antithesis: a focused recommendation.
In between, we scan through massive concepts, like mirrorworlds and mirror life.
There is big thinking around a rising metrics rebellion.
As always, there is a roundup full of intrigue.
And, as a special add, a brand mashup netted us a limited edition, sold-out… diaper.
Roll on in!
Peak Product Reviews
Becoming a satisficer and breaking from the exhausting quest for five-star everything
“It’s like I need to have a five-star experience all the time, even when it comes to canned beans,” said Barry Schwartz, author of The Paradox of Choice.
It’s like every decision, no matter how small, now requires hours of research—endless scrolling and cross-referencing conflicting opinions, all in the pursuit of the elusive “perfect” option.
Instead of simplifying our lives, making purchases — from goods to experiences — has become an overwhelming process, where the abundance of options creates more stress than satisfaction.
Schwartz offers a refreshing counterpoint: “Being a satisficer is all about looking for ‘good enough’ rather than ‘the best.’ People often feel they’re doing something wrong when they settle. But settling is not a neutral decision. Sometimes you just have to decide that you’re going to get a toaster that’s ‘good enough’ and move on with your life.”
This mindset of finding “good enough” deeply resonates. After dropping the last issue of The New New, Five Favorite Things for 2025, the feedback was remarkable—not just for the specific recommendations but also for the clarity they provided. Many of you skipped the reviews entirely, trusting the curation and moving straight to discovery.
In this issue (below and here), another recommendation awaits: a guide to cutting the television cord and making your viewing experience free. It’s a focused recommendation for a more elegant solution without endless reviews or comparisons. (It’s the write-up that I wanted before I did hours and hours of research.)
So, what’s next?
The opportunity lies in reimagining how we seek and share recommendations.
The future of recommendations lies not in endless star ratings or algorithmic guesswork but in trusted voices. Imagine a platform where Wirecutter meets your social graph. A space where YouTubers, influencers, and everyday users intersect with your tastes, values, and lifestyle. A place with people who actually use the thing they are recommending for the long haul—not just the quick receive-and-review state we all have to sort through today.
It’s a future where reviews aren’t noise but recommendations—guiding us toward satisficing in the best possible way.
Because, more often than not, done is beautiful.
Scan AheadInsightful scoops of perception, irreverent ideas, emerging narratives—these are the snippets that have stuck with me.
The Mirrorworld
Simulated societies are redefining how we shape reality.
The idea of the Mirrorworld—a digital simulation of our physical reality—is gaining momentum. These virtual environments are revolutionizing social simulations, offering new ways to explore human behavior, test policy ideas, and innovate systems on a planetary scale.
highlights how projects like Smallville simulate community interactions, creating a space to experiment with societal models and stress-test ideas. Meanwhile, the promise of planetary-scale simulations hints at a future where we can simulate and optimize responses to global challenges like climate change or pandemics.As the Mirrorworld grows, it is becoming a vital tool for imagining, experimenting with, and ultimately building the future.
Mirror Life
The risks and rewards of a second tree of life.
Mirror life—a hypothetical form of life built on right-handed amino acids rather than the left-handed ones in all known Earthly life—has emerged as a fascinating and alarming concept. While initially thought to be biologically inert and harmless, recent research suggests that these organisms could thrive in natural environments, evade immune systems, and disrupt ecosystems.
This “second tree of life” raises profound existential risks. Mirror bacteria, for example, might survive on available nutrients, bypass metabolic defenses, and create widespread ecological havoc, potentially leading to lethal infections across species.
A growing coalition of scientists is calling for a cautious approach, urging that mirror organisms not be created without rigorous safety testing. As we probe deeper into the frontiers of synthetic biology, the challenge will be balancing the pursuit of knowledge with the imperative to protect our shared biosphere.
The Metrics Rebellion
Rethinking how we measure success.
In an era driven by data, metrics have become the default way to measure progress. Yet, as the Wildfire Labs piece points out, this obsession with measurement is facing a growing backlash.
Enter the Anti-Metric Action Plan, a call to recognize the unintended consequences of an overreliance on metrics—like incentivizing short-term thinking, stifling creativity, and reducing people and ideas to numbers.
The Minimal Metrics Model offers an alternative: focusing on a few key measurements that truly matter while leaving room for nuance and qualitative understanding. It’s a framework designed to prioritize outcomes over outputs and foster environments where innovation and long-term thinking can thrive.
This rebellion against the tyranny of numbers is more than just a critique—it’s a fascinating pathway to redefine what success looks like in a metrics-driven world.
The RoundupMix it Up
Fish Milk,
turning fish into “milk” through hydrolysis—and claiming it will become a $4.5B industry
Fox Nuts,
emerging as a superfood with anti-aging properties and anti-inflammatory properties (and many laughs due to their fun name)
Electric Lollipops,
capable of simulating nine distinct flavors, including everyday tastes like sugar and salt, plus more complex options such as green tea and passion fruit
Power It Up
Grid-scale Fusion Power Plant,
this world’s first will be built near Richmond, Virginia, as it aims to produce continuous, clean, virtually limitless energy by the early 2030s
Solar Painted Cars,
part of Mercedes-Benz’s “car of the future” vision, could completely eliminate plug-in charging for the average EV owner
Dissolvable Electronics,
made out of paper and includes a simple return system that makes responsible disposal easy and intuitive
Keep an Eye On It
Vaccines via Mosquitos,
researchers have shown it’s possible to hijack these pests and distribute vaccines via mosquito bite (and, also feels like the plot of a future James Bond movie)
Greenhindering,
glorifying and normalizing unsustainable behaviors or practices, whether intentional or unintentional, by agents of socialization, which make those behaviors and practices much more difficult to eliminate
Otonomus,
the “first true AI-powered hotel in the world” is coming to Vegas
Pit Diaper
Because this happened.
Somehow, I love everything about this, and yet… I don’t know how I feel about it.
This brand mashup stunt brought together Liquid Death and Depend. The result? The Pit Diaper.
As described, it was “designed to absorb ‘recycled’ Liquid Death water (translation: urine) during concerts, [it] promises to keep fans dry and comfortable with leak-proof technology and odor-neutralizing materials. They also come with adjustable waist and hip sizes.”
As you can see in the photo, it came with rock-and-roll details like black pleather, metal studs, and chains.
And, even though it cost $75, it sold out within 24 hours of its release.
Cord Cutting
Here’s how television is (finally) free at my house.
This segment is most applicable to the The New New’s US readers who, like me, were hanging onto their cable television subscriptions for who-knows-why reasons.
As someone who:
used to be on the board of the organization that bestows Emmy awards
has worked in all aspects of media, from magazines to advertising to live events
loves all sorts of technology, especially the audio-visual varieties
loves to be hands-on with the bleeding edge of change
… I was very hesitant about cutting the television cable cord.
Over the years, I did some “hacks” to save money and keep things modern. For example, I avoided paying Verizon a ridiculous monthly fee for cable boxes in my house by using Tivos throughout. (Tivos in the 2000s and 2010s are still one of my favorite brand experiences of all time.)
I have now gone deeper. I am now saving $120/month and not paying a thing for any television — live or streaming.
It took a lot of research and reading way too many product reviews. There were purchases and returns. Trials and cancellations. In the end, this is how I pulled it together.
Local Television — Throughout the House and on Every Device
Living in the Boston area, we receive 66 channels from 23 over-the-air stations, including seven NEXTGEN TV stations. (I am not sure why they spell it in all caps, but they do. Also, NEXTGEN TV broadcast technology was new to me. If it is new to you, it’s worth learning about.)
To get these stations on both televisions and every device in the house, I made these purchases:
Tablo Over-the-Air (OTA) DVR: this device has an elegant app for smart TVs and mobile devices. Plus, now that Scripps owns it, it has zero monthly fees and is (relatively) cheap to purchase ($99 list price).
Channel Master Indoor Antenna: it goes flat against the wall and can be painted. Overall, it passed the Wife’s Aesthetics Approval Test.
Channel Master TV Antenna Distribution Amplifier: This box ensures that the signal from the upstairs antenna reaches the basement TV. It also filters out mobile and other wireless interference.
As a bonus, when you hook this up with a Roku TV, you get hundreds of FAST TV stations. (Yes, another TV technology in all caps. This one is an acronym, though.) These are all free as well.
One of my new favorite features of FAST TV is local television news broadcasts from across the US. During the LA fires, we watched the local LA news stations—ABC, CBS, Fox, and NBC. All live. All free. (My wife grew up in LA; her parents are still there, so having the local angle was incredibly valuable.)
Streaming Platforms — Also Free
This is one that most people already do now, so I will keep this one brief. If you don’t mind ads, you can get (nearly all) major streaming platforms for free. Here is how we do it.
Netflix (ad-supported plan), via T‑Mobile Go5G Plus plan (which we got via Costco, which is also a very highly recommended way to get T‑Mobile service)
Disney+ and Hulu (no ads), also via T‑Mobile service
Max (ad-supported plan), via Verizon FIOS (home internet)
Paramount+ (no ads), via Walmart+ (which is free via American Express)
Amazon Prime Video, via Amazon Prime (so, not really free, but feels free)
There are a few other services we are considering paying for (e.g., Peacock, NFL+), but are holding out for now.
—
Okay, yes, I know I was late to the Cord Cutting world. For many of you, this is more of an Old New segment of this newsletter. Whew, it feels great to be saving this much money while adding so much more elegance and options—a rarity nowadays.
Refining Taste
It’s time for a throwback to Issue 30, where The New New explored some defining ideas, including one shaping conversations across culture and creativity: taste—what it means, how it’s formed, and why it is the talent of tomorrow.
In a world flooded with “creativity,” taste will become the ultimate differentiator.
More than ever, the ability to navigate the vast ocean of possibilities and make discerning choices will make ideas and people stand out. We’re moving into a future where the top talent to find and hone—the top skill to develop—is taste.
This past issue also included some other still-referenced favorites, including a roundup that showed us how to:
Eat It: Genomic Nutrition, Beef-infused Rice, and Human-Edible Robots
Shift It: Shape-shifting Plastic and Spiral Diopter Lenses
Enjoy It: Solarpunk, Stinge Watching, and Text-to-Video Games
Do It (Maybe): New English Accent, Professional Bridesmaids, and Looksmaxxing
Tap back into Issue 30 to see what all of that means.
The New New’s mission is to fuel foresight. Every issue delivers a curated view into the discoveries, launches, trends, and movements shaping tomorrow—all explored through broad landscapes, from labs and studios to businesses and culture.
Each month(ish), this is pulled together by me, Brent Turner, and published on LinkedIn, Substack, and my site.
Okay, I’m off to watch some (free) tv.
- B
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