Good evening. Companies have technology’d so hard that analog is once again the go-to option. AI is helping candidates game the job search/hiring process so much that in-person interviews are coming back into style, according to a recent Wall Street Journal report.

• Google, Cisco, and McKinsey have all recently brought back in-person interviews for candidates.
• Mike Kyle, managing director of technology recruitment at Coda Search/Staffing in Dallas, told the WSJ that the share of the company’s employer-clients requesting in-person interviews has risen to 30% this year from 5% in 2024.

These required face-to-face meets are most prevalent in technical roles, e.g., software-engineering and programming jobs, which typically involve coding challenges that can be gamed off-screen, per the WSJ.

It seems employers may be getting a Cluely.

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Each of the following events happened on August 14. Your challenge is to put them in the order in which they occurred by year, earliest to latest. Answers at the bottom!

• A) King of Pop Michael Jackson purchases the publishing rights to the vast majority of the Beatles’ catalog for $47 million—reportedly after being advised by Beatles’ frontman Paul McCartney to invest in music rights (whom MJ ended up outbidding in the deal).
• B) President Franklin D. Roosevelt signs the Social Security Act, establishing a permanent national old-age pension system through employer and employee contributions.
• C) The Cologne Cathedral is completed in Cologne, Germany—600+ years after construction originally began. At 515 ft., the cathedral is the tallest twin-spired church in the world, and the second tallest church in Europe. It’s also Germany’s most-visited landmark.
• D) News of Japan's unconditional surrender to the Allies is made public, signifying the end of WWII. Japan formally surrenders in writing two weeks later.

Hint: Don’t surrender before reading this hint—then count to three.

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The first clue of today’s sequence is: “Ford’s flagship SUV in the 70’s that’s since made a resurgence (think: OJ)”...

Mini

Feeling lucky? Today’s mini crossword is the ultimate test of fortune and favor. So if you want to roll the dice…

• Play today’s puzzle here.

Sudoku

The feeling of completing today’s sudoku puzzle has been compared to when the blackjack dealer turns over a queen on top of their 10 and seven. It’s that satisfying.

• Play today's puzzle here.

Click to play any (or all) of the three GOATWars’ challenges below, then pick the GOAT through a series of head-to-head matchups. This data-driven process was developed to create definitive best-of-all-time lists using a more objective approach than random bloggers just publishing controversial opinions for clicks.

• 🤼 THE GREATEST WRESTLING SUPERSTARS OF ALL TIME
• 📺 THE GREATEST JENNA ORTEGA PERFORMANCES OF ALL TIME
• 🎶 THE GREATEST ONE-HIT WONDERS OF ALL TIME

🥔 THE GREATEST CHIP BRANDS OF ALL TIME

1. Doritos
2. Lay's
3. Ruffles

Explore the full list.

🎥 THE GREATEST ROBERT DE NIRO PERFORMANCES OF ALL TIME

1. James Conway (Goodfellas)
2. Vito Corleone (The Godfather Part II)
3. Travis Bickle (Taxi Driver)

Explore the full list.

🏈 THE GREATEST NFL RUNNING BACKS OF ALL TIME

1. Barry Sanders
2. Walter Payton
3. Jim Brown

Explore the full list.

Note: Results are as of the published time; these lists are dynamic and may change.

C, B, D, A

• C) 1880: The Cologne Cathedral is completed in Cologne, Germany—600+ years after construction originally began. At 515 ft., the cathedral is the tallest twin-spired church in the world, and the second tallest church in Europe. It’s also Germany’s most-visited landmark.
• B) 1935: President Franklin D. Roosevelt signs the Social Security Act, establishing a permanent national old-age pension system through employer and employee contributions.
• D) 1945: News of Japan's unconditional surrender to the Allies is made public, signifying the end of WWII. Japan formally surrenders in writing two weeks later.
• A) 1985: King of Pop Michael Jackson purchases the publishing rights to the vast majority of the Beatles’ catalog for $47 million—reportedly after being advised by Beatles’ frontman Paul McCartney to invest in music rights (whom MJ ended up outbidding in the deal).