Sideswipe: 19 November: The first mouse

Fifty-one years ago, a US patent was issued for the first computer mouse, invented by Douglas Engelbart.

The Dad Thriller

You know about Dad Jokes and the Dad Bod, now there's The Dad Thriller, a particular type of Hollywood movie from the 90s. Max Read explains they are "marketed mainly to men and presented sincerely if not always accurately as intelligent and sophisticated entertainment. The Dad Thriller draws on courtroom dramas, spy movies, the conspiracy thrillers of the 1970s, and the action blockbusters of the 1980s. The vibe is 'action movie you might be able to convince your wife to see because it's sort of about politics, science, and/or legal stuff'. Dad Thrillers share certain thematic and narrative concerns. They are generally stories of men, often with families, professional degrees, and successful careers, who find themselves unexpectedly battling bureaucracy, conspiracy, irrational violence, imminent natural disaster, or some combination of the above as they confront an existential threat to their family, their country, or their planet's safety. While Deep Impact is a Dad Thriller, Armageddon likely isn't."

Fridge design flaw

Daytime music preferences

Scientists at Aarhus University in Denmark looked at Spotify to see what people listen to throughout the day. They found that the type of music preferred varies over a 24-hour cycle, and certain types of music tend to please people in different blocks of the day. They found that slower songs are preferred in the morning, faster tunes in the afternoon, and dance music in the evening. So, what song has the features that would make it popular in all parts of the day? Every Breath You Take, by the Police. The 1983 hit is not extreme in any of the audio features studied, and many consider it bland, but it works in any part of the day. The original paper did not mention lyrics or a song's subject matter.

Did you know?

1. Millennial dads are spending three times as much times with their kids than their fathers spent with them. Back in 1982, 43 per cent of fathers admitted they'd never changed a nappy. Today, that number is down to about 3 per cent.

2. A 75-year Harvard study found close relationships are the key to a person's success. Having someone to lean on keeps brain function high and reduces emotional, and physical, pain. People who feel lonely are more likely to experience health declines earlier in life.