5SR - April 17, 2024
Hitha on the WNBA, a housing development hat trick, and gentle days
A quick refresher - I’m Hitha Palepu, the founder of #5SmartReads. If you’d like to connect with me elsewhere, I’m most active on Instagram and write a weekly newsletter about smart, random things (check out the most recent issue).
Caitlin Clark’s staggeringly low starting salary, briefly explained (Vox)
Between re-reading Caitlin Clark’s contract numbers over and over (convinced I was missing something) and resisting throwing my phone when I read “well, she’ll make it all in endorsements” in the comments…I was a bit ragey after the high of the WNBA draft.
And then I got to researching, because that’s what I do. And while the numbers make sense (the NBA existing longer, overall revenue between the leagues, length of seasons, team sponsorships, etc), I’m still perturbed because it omits a significant amount of context. The NBA benefitted from significant investment over the past 50 years to now be generating $10B annually. And just 40 years ago, NBA viewership was low (attendances of 10,000 and even the playoffs were tape-delayed (no major media rights then).
Earlier this year, I heard Crystal Dunn and Sue Bird both say the same thing - show up if you claim to be a sports fan. Buy WNBA and NWSL tickets. Purchase the merch. Watch the games on TV. Be the investment that these leagues, teams, and players deserve.
If you find it hard to meditate, try activations. I’m constantly playing Superhuman’s audio activations throughout the day - for seated practices, for quick walks, in the background when I’m working or getting ready for the day. Use code hitha to activate a 60 day trial (you just need to sign up for an account directly, not via a third party login).
*none of the items shared in these sections are sponsored in any way - they’re simply some of the tools/practices that help me start my day better.
Humira biosimilar scripts take off (Axios)
Biosimilar development and commercialization has lagged in the United States, for a number of factors. The biosimilar regulatory pathway was established by the FDA only 12 years ago, and these products have an extremely high barrier to entry compared to generics of small molecule products.
But that looks to be changing, with the growth of Humira biosimilars in just one week (going from 5% to 36%). And there was a single factor that impacted these sales, with CVS Health dropping coverage for the brand Humira.
If you’re wondering why CVS Health would issue that rule, it’s because their own biosimilar group, Cordavis, is co-branding Hyrimoz (a Humira biosimilar developed by Sandoz). And while patients will benefit from having a lower cost Humira, CVS is likely making more through this change.
How to Make Tuesdays Suck a Tiny Bit Less (SELF)
Wednesdays are my gremlin days of the week - so much so that I’ve rebranded them as Gentle Wednesdays and have a few traditions (coffee from our local coffee shop, therapy, pizza for dinner) to make the day a bit more easeful and reset for the rest of the week.
All of these are excellent stress management tips (especially scrolling less), but I’ve found that designating one day in the week to be kinder with yourself really does help. When you prioritize it for one day, it’ll flow into other days. I’ve started practicing yoga in a neighborhood studio on Tuesday mornings, I treat the kids (and myself!) to ice cream from the Mister Softee truck on Fridays after school.
‘A roof over our people’s heads’: the Indigenous US tribe building hempcrete homes (The Guardian)
Did you know that there’s an affordable, sustainable building material that’s resistent to mold, pests, and fire - and offers strong temperature regulation?
That’s what the Lower Sioux Indian Community is building with hempcrete, a hemp-based building material that they are vertically integrating in the tribal nation (from the farming and production of hempcrete to building the homes in the nation). In doing so, they’re creating jobs, building necessary housing, and more importantly staying true to their commitment to sovereignty.
This is such a hopeful story.
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