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 at glasswings.com.au. Subscribe at https://glasswings.com.au/subscribe.html

Letters from an American: July 22, 2026

Sat, 25 Jul 2026 07:10:46 +1000

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

https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/p/july-22-2026

"“The Republican Party’s new favorite talking point is calling Democrats
communists,” Representative Jim McGovern (D-MA) said yesterday on the floor of
the U.S. House of Representatives.

How drug companies are playing hardball with Australia’s PBS

Sat, 25 Jul 2026 07:09:20 +1000

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

<https://theconversation.com/how-drug-companies-are-playing-hardball-with-australias-pbs-287161>

"Australia is coming under increasing pressure from international drug
companies demanding higher prices for their drugs.

Bringing Forgotten Music Back to Life with Optical Music Recognition

Sat, 25 Jul 2026 07:07:42 +1000

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

<https://blog.archive.org/2026/07/22/bringing-forgotten-music-back-to-life-with-optical-music-recognition/>

"Just as printed letters can be scanned and converted into digital text,
emerging technology can transform sheet music into sound.

The Old Internet is Still Here

Sat, 25 Jul 2026 07:06:31 +1000

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

https://tylergaw.com/blog/the-old-internet-is-still-here/

"There’s a frequent lament of missing the “old” Internet. It’s different for
every person that thinks it, but it’s usually a feeling of loss for things like
personal websites, blogs, RSS feeds, quirky sites for special interests and

The antifa terrorism threat the Trump administration describes does not exist

Sat, 25 Jul 2026 07:02:49 +1000

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

<https://theconversation.com/the-antifa-terrorism-threat-the-trump-administration-describes-does-not-exist-287748>

"The State Department on July 16, 2026, hosted what officials billed as a
ministerial on the resurgence of left-wing political terrorism.

More than half of Earth’s migratory bird species are declining – here’s how we can still save them

Sat, 25 Jul 2026 07:01:50 +1000

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

<https://theconversation.com/more-than-half-of-earths-migratory-bird-species-are-declining-heres-how-we-can-still-save-them-287947>

"Every year, billions of migratory birds connect the world’s continents, oceans
and ecosystems as they undertake epic journeys between their foraging habitats
and their breeding grounds.

A Decade Under The Influence Of The Algorithm

Fri, 24 Jul 2026 23:25:36 +1000

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

https://www.garbageday.email/p/you-get-what-you-pay-for

"Comedy musician Kyle Gordon has done it again. He followed up his massive 2023
viral song “Planet Of The Bass” with another huge social hit, “Mr. Jambo,” a
Paul Simon Graceland parody that he flew to South Africa to film a video for.

NZ parties want to make rooftop solar more affordable. We found cost isn’t everything

Fri, 24 Jul 2026 23:24:09 +1000

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

<https://theconversation.com/nz-parties-want-to-make-rooftop-solar-more-affordable-we-found-cost-isnt-everything-286534>

"Rooftop solar has emerged as one of the more unexpected policy contests of New
Zealand’s election campaign.

10 of Japan's most cleverly designed homes

Fri, 24 Jul 2026 23:23:13 +1000

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

<https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20260721-10-of-japans-most-cleverly-designed-homes>

“The most inventive homes in Japan are modest in scale, but ambitious in what
they aim to do. Architects there are offering "the most precise and inventive
thinking about living now," according to François-Luc Giraldeau, editor of the

The U.S. Alone Votes Against A Road Safety Declaration

Fri, 24 Jul 2026 23:21:47 +1000

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

<https://www.forbes.com/sites/christinero/2026/07/21/the-us-alone-votes-against-a-road-safety-declaration/>

"Many experts feel that reducing the number of people killed in traffic should
be uncontroversial. Indeed, yesterday the United Nations’ General Assembly
passed a near-unanimous declaration of this, following a two-day meeting on