Interesting links for Feb 16 2026

Note: This is the second post in a regular series of things I’m reading, watching, or learning about over the last week or two. I’ll share a link that has caught my attention, and sometimes also put my thoughts there.  

• VIDEO: Filmmaker Bryan Reisberg takes shelter dogs on adventures around New York in the hopes they’ll find their new owner and forever home. ❤️
  

• ARTICLE: YCombinator has published their latest ‘Request for Startups’ post. YCombinator (or YC) is a startup accelerator, so they provide some initial funding to your company and, probably more importantly in YC’s case, provide access to a large network of other founders, advisors, and other experts. Some notable companies to come out of YC include Airbnb, OpenAI, Dropbox, Instacart, Doordash, and Reddit. This post is interesting as it offers insight into gaps their partners see and thus would likely be more inclined to fund. Even if you aren’t thinking of launching a startup and pitching to YC, the article is a window into possible future trends.
  

• VIDEOS: I came across a channel on YouTube in the last month or two called City Planner Plays. He’s a city planner by day who records himself playing city planning games. But hear me out: he’s interesting to listen to, has well-edited videos, and does a good job of sharing his thought process as he plans out his cities. This is a playlist where he starts a new city in a game called Cities:Skylines II. You can watch him go from building the first neighborhoods all the way to a fully functioning city. Lately that series is what I put on when I’m having breakfast or lunch, or just needing a diversion.
  

• ESSAY: This Is How A Child Dies Of Measles. A difficult read for people with empathy. We’re moving backwards. (BTW this is exemplar, not a testimonial by the author)

• HIKING: Previously I wrote that I was looking at the Annapurna Circuit as a possible trek. Further research and self-reflection suggests I should probably try milder treks first, ones that aren’t on the other side of the planet. There are numerous hikes in the mountains of Western North Carolina where I can test my trail legs; Pisgah NF is of particular interest. Then, if I’m feeling confident, I might consider a hike to Machu Picchu. The Inca Trail is the most popular (and crowded) route, and there are several alternate trails. The Lares Trail looks interesting to me, as the route passes through more villages than the Inca, giving you a look into the locals and their traditions. We’ll see how training goes…