RSS

Glass Wings Blog

The Glass Wings mailing list and blog is for general idle chit-chat about things we find interesting, especially humor, animation or other subjects relevant to the Glass Wings web site.

2025 AI Australia big change children China climate coronavirus electric energy first future heat help new people power research Russia science US war world year

The social media ban is just the start of Australia’s forthcoming restrictions – and teens have legitimate concerns

Fri, 12 Dec 2025 19:48:16 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/the-social-media-ban-is-just-the-start-of-australias-forthcoming-restrictions-and-teens-have-legitimate-concerns-271754>

"There has been massive global interest in the new social media legislation
introduced in Australia aimed at protecting children from the dangers of
doom‑scrolling and mental‑health risks potentially posed by these platforms

(More...)

Politicians bank on people not caring about democracy – but research shows we do

Fri, 12 Dec 2025 19:47:20 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/politicians-bank-on-people-not-caring-about-democracy-but-research-shows-we-do-271106>

"Across the world, democracies are grappling with a widening gap between
citizens and those who govern. Australia is no exception.

(More...)

Is It Too Late?

Fri, 12 Dec 2025 19:46:09 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
https://sherrilyn.substack.com/p/is-it-too-late

Today we are facing the greatest hostility to the Fourteenth Amendment since
the post-Reconstruction period. Indeed, we are now in a period of full-blown
hostility to the project of multiracial democracy.

(More...)

‘The whole thing disgusts me’: Australians ditch US travel as new rules require social media to be declared

Fri, 12 Dec 2025 19:42:43 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
<https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/dec/11/australia-us-tourism-new-visa-rules-social-media-history>

"Australians are abandoning travel to the US, and boycotting World Cup matches
there next year, as the Trump administration flags new rules that will soon
require visitors to hand over their social media history when applying to enter

(More...)

If social media for kids is so bad, should we be allowed to post kids’ photos online?

Fri, 12 Dec 2025 19:41:17 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/if-social-media-for-kids-is-so-bad-should-we-be-allowed-to-post-kids-photos-online-271387>

"As Australia’s ban on under-16-year-olds having certain social media accounts
kicks in this week, debate on whether it’s a good idea or even legal rages on –
both at home and overseas.

(More...)

Millions of hectares are still being cut down every year. How can we protect global forests?

Fri, 12 Dec 2025 19:40:27 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/millions-of-hectares-are-still-being-cut-down-every-year-how-can-we-protect-global-forests-271305>

"Ahead of the United Nations climate summit in Belém last month, Brazil’s
President Lula da Silva urged world leaders to agree to roadmaps away from
fossil fuels and deforestation and pledge the resources to meet these goals.

(More...)

Maara Moana: The First Ocean Garden

Fri, 12 Dec 2025 11:55:33 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
<https://oceanographicmagazine.com/features/maara-moana-the-first-ocean-garden/>

"We’d been driving for days, gradually migrating northward across the rustic
island. Passing through farmland, small towns, and mountain landscapes, this
place felt familiar yet entirely new at the same time. At every stop, we tried

(More...)

How the Next Big Thing in Carbon Removal Sank Without a Trace

Fri, 12 Dec 2025 11:54:36 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
https://archive.md/fhe6C

"The town hall in Akranes, on the west coast of Iceland, filled quickly as
locals streamed in to the residents’ meeting. The mood was happy, positive,
relaxed. In between speeches, a woman sang folk songs while her family played

(More...)

SARS-CoV-2 Leaves a Lasting Mark on the Immune System

Fri, 12 Dec 2025 11:51:53 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
<https://johnsnowproject.org/primers/sars-cov-2-leaves-a-lasting-mark-on-the-immune-system/>

"A new study in the International Journal of Infectious Diseases should end
any lingering idea that SARS-CoV-2 is ‘just another cold virus.’ It shows that
a single, relatively short Omicron wave left a long, measurable scar on the

(More...)

Tiny Island, Big Dreams

Fri, 12 Dec 2025 11:50:12 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
<https://reasonstobecheerful.world/tiny-island-big-dreams-culebra-puerto-rico-fishing-cooperative/>

"At the end of a short road that spreads out into a paved spit of working
waterfront on the tiny island of Culebra sits a small building with
hurricane-proof windows, a sunflower yellow trim and two rows of solar panels

(More...)

Home E-Mail Sponsors Index Search About Us