Read Reggie Ugwu on how podcasts made him feel less isolated, Zachary Wolfe on discovering an opera community online, Dwight Garner on finding the time for reading. Earlier in the week, I told you about an apparently phantom-sent bag of birdseed I received in the mail. Those mailings may have been part of a “brushing scam,” in which online merchants send out unordered merchandise in order to goose sales. Could this be the reason one reader received two high-tech umbrellas she didn’t order? So here I am, no rain and two fabulous umbrellas I didn’t order.” If you’ve received mystery packages (that aren’t gifts from generous siblings!

Source: New York Times December 11, 2020 21:22 UTC