Glass Wings Blog: January 2019
Travel Photographer of the Year Winners’ Galleries
Tue, 1 Jan 2019 22:57:08 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
https://www.tpoty.com/tpoty-winners-galleries/
"We hope you enjoy this magnificent display of the winning images from
the Travel Photographer of the Year awards."
(More...)
I Used to Write for Sports Illustrated. Now I Deliver Packages for Amazon.
Tue, 1 Jan 2019 22:58:12 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2018/12/what-its-like-to-deliver-packages-for-amazon/578986/>
"There’s a certain novelty, after decades at a legacy media company, in
playing for the team that’s winning big."
(More...)
Bryan Adams: Longer Copyright Term Enriches Intermediaries, Not Creators
Tue, 1 Jan 2019 23:00:02 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://torrentfreak.com/bryan-adams-longer-copyright-term-enriches-intermediaries-not-creators-181227/>
"Right now, Canadian copyright reverts to a creator’s heirs 25 years
after “death.” By changing the word “death” to “assignment”, creators
terminate a copyright assignment while they’re still alive.
(More...)
Millions Upon Millions Of 'Takedown' Notices To Google... For Links That Aren't Even In Google
Wed, 2 Jan 2019 23:43:07 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20181227/10311341298/millions-upon-millions-takedown-notices-to-google-links-that-arent-even-google.shtml>
Punchline: "Anyway, the next time you hear the likes of the RIAA or MPAA
claiming that the DMCA notice-and-takedown safe harbors aren't working
because of the number of takedowns, you can safely note that they are
(More...)
Trump's reality show and the process of 'making the court jester the king'
Wed, 2 Jan 2019 23:44:29 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/trumps-reality-show-and-the-process-making-the-court-jester-the-king/>
"The show’s creators sought a “heavyweight tycoon” for the feature role
and settled on Trump, which meant fooling the audience into taking Trump
seriously."
(More...)
A howling good time: Wolves celebrate Christmas with a bacon-draped tree at Wolf Park
Wed, 2 Jan 2019 23:45:39 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
(More...)
The 'Future Book' Is Here, but It's Not What We Expected
Thu, 3 Jan 2019 22:39:48 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.wired.com/story/future-book-is-here-but-not-what-we-expected/>
"Physical books today look like physical books of last century. And
digital books of today look, feel, and function almost identically to
digital books of 10 years ago, when the Kindle launched. The biggest
(More...)
Hand Crafted, Comfy Looking Seating Sculptures Depicting Endangered Species by Designer Porky Hefer
Thu, 3 Jan 2019 22:40:45 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://laughingsquid.com/porky-hefer-endangered-species-seating-sculptures/>
"South African designer Porky Hefer in collaboration with Schiff Fine
Art in New York and Southern Guild in Cape Town, created “Endangered” a
snuggly series of hand crafted, tactile seating sculptures that depict
(More...)
New Life for Old Classics, as Their Copyrights Run Out
Thu, 3 Jan 2019 22:42:10 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/29/books/copyright-extension-literature-public-domain.html>
"Now that the term extension has run out, the spigot has been turned
back on. Each January will bring a fresh crop of novels, plays, music
and movies into the public domain. Over the next few years, the impact
(More...)
The oral history of the Hampsterdance: The twisted true story of one of the world's first memes
Sun, 6 Jan 2019 02:30:40 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.cbc.ca/arts/the-oral-history-of-the-hampsterdance-the-twisted-true-story-of-one-of-the-world-s-first-memes-1.4958325>
"What you're about to read is an oral history of the Hampsterdance, as
told by some of the people whose lives were tangled up in its tale."
(More...)
I Was A Cable Guy. I Saw The Worst Of America.
Sun, 6 Jan 2019 02:32:26 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/cable-tech-dick-cheney-sex-dungeon_us_5c0ea571e4b06484c9fd4c21>
"A glimpse of the suburban grotesque, featuring Russian mobsters, Fox
News rage addicts, a caged man in a sex dungeon, and Dick Cheney."
(More...)
Anti-Piracy Companies Continually Report IMDb as a Pirate Site
Sun, 6 Jan 2019 02:33:34 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://torrentfreak.com/anti-piracy-companies-continually-report-imdb-as-a-pirate-site-181230/>
"For movie fans everywhere, IMDb is one of the world's best resources
for information. Sadly, however, many anti-piracy companies can't tell
the difference between IMDb and a pirate site. Ironically, their
(More...)
What happened to the women who built the video game industry?
Sun, 6 Jan 2019 23:19:53 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://mic.com/articles/182786/women-in-video-games-history-roberta-williams-lori-cole-sierra-games>
"There were no rules. All that mattered was seeing what the newly
invented home computer could do."
(More...)
Hot tub hack reveals washed-up security protection
Sun, 6 Jan 2019 23:20:48 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-46674706
"Thousands of hot tubs can be hacked and controlled remotely because of
a hole in their online security, BBC Click has revealed."
(More...)
This Woman Only Discovered She Was Intersex After Watching A Viral Video About It
Sun, 6 Jan 2019 23:22:25 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.buzzfeed.com/patrickstrudwick/this-woman-only-discovered-she-was-intersex-after-watching>
"“My life could have been 100% different if one person would have told
me the truth,” Irene Kuzemko told BuzzFeed News.
(More...)
Doomsday Prep for the Super-Rich
Mon, 7 Jan 2019 23:04:57 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2017/01/30/doomsday-prep-for-the-super-rich>
"Some of the wealthiest people in America—in Silicon Valley, New York,
and beyond—are getting ready for the crackup of civilization."
(More...)
The study on collapse they thought you should not read – yet
Mon, 7 Jan 2019 23:06:14 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://jembendell.wordpress.com/2018/07/26/the-study-on-collapse-they-thought-you-should-not-read-yet/>
"I have met many more people who believe an imminent societal collapse
invites personal and collective transformation with universal love at
the core, than I have met people who become grim survivalists.
(More...)
Sunday Sweets Goes Wild!
Mon, 7 Jan 2019 23:07:52 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
http://www.cakewrecks.com/home/2018/12/30/sunday-sweets-goes-wild.html
"We usually have pretty sedate New Year's Eves,
but this year I've invited a bunch of
(More...)
This Radical Plan to Fund the Green New Deal Just Might Work
Tue, 8 Jan 2019 23:03:36 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.yesmagazine.org/new-economy/this-radical-plan-to-fund-the-green-new-deal-just-might-work-20181226>
"A network of public banks could underwrite the new New Deal in the same
way President Franklin Roosevelt financed the original."
(More...)
Announcing The Public Domain Game Jam: Gaming Like It's 1923
Tue, 8 Jan 2019 23:06:13 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20181230/22225341310/announcing-public-domain-game-jam-gaming-like-1923.shtml>
"If the idea of a game jam is new to you, it's pretty simple: it's just
a month-long contest for you to create games: these can be video games,
board games, card games, RPGs, interactive fiction, etc. The one key
(More...)
Brazil Is About To Show The World How A Modern Democracy Collapses
Tue, 8 Jan 2019 23:07:58 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.huffingtonpost.com.au/entry/brazil-jair-bolsonaro-democracy-threat_us_5c2a30c5e4b08aaf7a929cbb>
"This is not exclusively a Brazilian phenomenon. Countries around the
world, from Hungary to Turkey to the Philippines, have turned to noisy
leaders who promise instant renewals and silver-bullet solutions under
(More...)
Cafe opens in Tokyo staffed by robots controlled by paralyzed people
Wed, 9 Jan 2019 23:57:18 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://soranews24.com/2018/11/29/cafe-opens-in-tokyo-staffed-by-robots-controlled-by-paralyzed-people/>
This is awesome. Punchline: "In an age where people complain that
robots are taking all the jobs, it’s nice to see an instance of robots
giving people jobs for a change, especially in such a meaningful way."
(More...)
What the Believers Are Denying
Wed, 9 Jan 2019 23:58:22 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2019/01/what-deniers-climate-change-and-racism-share/579190/>
"And in their ridiculous answers to ridiculous questions, denialists
evince more than disbelief. They explain their disbelief using examples
in their direct line of sight. They do not trust the far-flung
(More...)
The case for “conditional optimism” on climate change
Thu, 10 Jan 2019 00:01:33 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.vox.com/energy-and-environment/2018/12/28/18156094/conditional-optimism-climate-change>
"People can face even overwhelming odds with good spirits if they feel
part of a community dedicated to a common purpose. What’s terrible is
not facing great threat and long odds — what’s terrible is facing them
(More...)
The language of capitalism isn’t just annoying, it’s dangerous
Thu, 10 Jan 2019 23:03:46 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://theoutline.com/post/6739/keywords-book-review-language-of-capitalism>
"A new book argues that words like “innovation” are doing more than
telling you who to avoid at parties."
(More...)
An Elephant’s Personhood on Trial
Thu, 10 Jan 2019 23:04:38 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2018/12/happy-elephant-personhood/578818/>
"In considering Happy’s circumstances and what might be done to improve
them, should something more than animal-welfare laws and zoo
regulations—which the Bronx Zoo has not violated, but arguably are
(More...)
Zimbabwean Students Win for Their Performance of a Brilliantly Choreographed Marimba Dance Routine
Thu, 10 Jan 2019 23:05:31 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://laughingsquid.com/brilliantly-choreographed-marimba-dance-routine/>
"During the National Institute of Allied Arts, Zimbabwe‘s 2017 “Vocal
and Instrumental Eisteddfod”, a group of student from Hillcrest College
performed a brilliantly choreographed marimba routine that combined the
(More...)
'Momentum is growing': reasons to be hopeful about the environment in 2019
Fri, 11 Jan 2019 22:42:06 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/jan/02/climate-change-environment-2019-future-reasons-hope>
"As we reflect on a year of extreme weather and ominous climate talks,
Guardian environment writer Fiona Harvey explains why 2019 could see
some much-needed breakthroughs"
(More...)
How The Lord of the Rings Changed Publishing Forever
Fri, 11 Jan 2019 22:44:06 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.tor.com/2019/01/03/a-new-age-the-lord-of-the-rings-by-j-r-r-tolkien/>
"Sometimes, the right book comes along with the right message at the
right time and ends up not only a literary classic, but a cultural
phenomenon that ushers in a new age…"
(More...)
Copyright, Culture, Sharing, Remix... And A Congresswoman Dancing As A College Student
Fri, 11 Jan 2019 22:46:14 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20190104/12443041332/copyright-culture-sharing-remix-congresswoman-dancing-as-college-student.shtml>
"Indeed, this whole story is a lesson in the power of culture and
communities to actually rise above the ridiculousness of today's
copyright laws (mostly) to actually showcase their communities and
(More...)
Australia takes from the poor to give to the rich
Sun, 13 Jan 2019 00:05:12 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.smh.com.au/national/australia-takes-from-the-poor-to-give-to-the-rich-20180404-p4z7sn.html>
"Research commissioned by Anglicare Australia shows that each year, a
staggering $68 billion is spent keeping the wealthiest households
wealthy. That is greater than the cost of Newstart, disability support,
(More...)
Americans Don’t Understand How Bad Climate Change Is Or What They Can Do About It
Sun, 13 Jan 2019 00:06:01 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/americans-climate-change-science_us_5c1a9692e4b03f9bd52cc8c3>
“As a climate scientist, I am often asked to talk about hope.
Particularly in the current political climate, audiences want to be told
that everything will be all right in the end,” she said. “I have no hope
(More...)
きゃりーぱみゅぱみゅ - 音ノ国 , KYARY PAMYU PAMYU - OTO NO KUNI
Sun, 13 Jan 2019 00:07:39 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-OhDQfzNstg
Another mind-blowing music video from
Kyary Pamyu Pamyu
(More...)
Why Wall Street Isn’t Useful for the Real Economy
Sun, 13 Jan 2019 22:22:41 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
https://evonomics.com/corporate-law-wall-street-useful-lynn-stout/
"It’s time to challenge the idea that Wall Street trading helps allocate
society’s resources more efficiently"
(More...)
Katharine Hayhoe: 'A thermometer is not liberal or conservative'
Sun, 13 Jan 2019 22:23:30 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2019/jan/06/katharine-hayhoe-interview-climate-change-scientist-crisis-hope>
"The award-winning atmospheric scientist on the urgency of the climate
crisis and why people are her biggest hope"
(More...)
Sunday Sweets Makes Sure You Eat Your Greens
Sun, 13 Jan 2019 22:24:22 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
(More...)
This woman offered to be the ‘mom’ at any gay wedding. Her post went viral.
Mon, 14 Jan 2019 22:55:16 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/2019/01/04/this-woman-offered-be-mom-any-gay-wedding-her-post-went-viral/>
"After Sara Cunningham’s youngest child told her in 2011 he was gay, it
took years for the Oklahoma City secretary and mother of two to accept
it. Eventually, she began to stand up against her conservative Baptist
(More...)
Oil Fail
Mon, 14 Jan 2019 22:56:05 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
https://www.tbray.org/ongoing/When/201x/2019/01/06/Oil-Fail
"Today I learned things that I think every environmentalist and
investment manager should know: A coherent argument that we are
more or less at Peak Oil. Not the Nineties version, which worried that
(More...)
Japanese monks hit Twitter to protest driving ticket in the most brilliant way
Mon, 14 Jan 2019 22:58:18 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.digitaltrends.com/social-media/japanese-monks-hit-twitter-to-protest-driving-ticket-hilarity-ensues/>
"When cops in Japan told a monk he shouldn’t drive a car wearing his
traditional garb because his robe may affect his ability to handle the
vehicle, an offbeat response by fellow monks went viral on social media."
(More...)
Arundhati Roy on Fiction in the Face of Rising Fascism
Tue, 15 Jan 2019 23:30:23 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://truthout.org/video/arundhati-roy-on-fiction-in-the-face-of-rising-fascism/>
"The thing is, people spend so much time mocking Trump or waiting for
him to be impeached. And the danger with that kind of obsession with a
single person is that you don’t see the system that produced him."
(More...)
Giant singers from neighboring oceans share song parts over time
Tue, 15 Jan 2019 23:31:06 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2019-01/wcs-gsf010819.php
"Singing humpback whales from different ocean basins seem to be picking
up musical ideas from afar, and incorporating these new phrases and
themes into the latest song, according to a newly published study in
(More...)
Simple FOSS versus Complex Enterprise Software
Tue, 15 Jan 2019 23:31:57 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
http://levlafayette.com/node/583
'As is often the case real IT operators in large organisations find
themselves having to deal with "enterprise" software which has been
imposed upon them. The decision to implement such software is usually
(More...)
The First Time My White Husband Witnessed Someone Discriminate Against Me for the Color of My Skin
Wed, 16 Jan 2019 23:47:57 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.glamour.com/story/amber-ruffin-on-being-in-an-interacial-relationship>
"As a black woman in America, Amber Ruffin, who is a writer and
performer on Late Night with Seth Meyers, is used to dealing with her
share of bias. Her husband Jan wasn’t. Jan is white—and Dutch. They
(More...)
Open world paint 'em up Eastshade arrives February 13th
Wed, 16 Jan 2019 23:49:28 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2019/01/08/open-world-art-adventure-eastshade-soon/>
"
Eastshade seems a much calmer take on open world fantasy adventures
than most. It may have crafting and construction, but there’s no swords
or bows or guns, just painting. Set up your easel, take in the scenes of
(More...)
Thousands of stars turning into crystals
Wed, 16 Jan 2019 23:50:24 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2019-01/uow-tos010819.php
"The first direct evidence of white dwarf stars solidifying into
crystals has been discovered by astronomers at the University of
Warwick, and our skies are filled with them"
(More...)
Client Liaison - World Of Our Love
Thu, 17 Jan 2019 22:32:35 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
(More...)
The Mysterious Life (and Death) of Africa’s Oldest Trees
Thu, 17 Jan 2019 22:33:50 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.topic.com/the-mysterious-life-and-death-of-africa-s-oldest-trees>
"“Anybody who thinks about the speed at which the climate is changing
most species will have problems going forward, and baobabs will be no
exception,” said David Baum."
(More...)
clear channel uses digital billboards to help the homeless find shelter in sweden
Thu, 17 Jan 2019 22:34:47 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.designboom.com/technology/clear-channel-ooh-campaign-helps-homeless-sweden-01-08-2019/>
"clear channel sweden has partnered with the local government to launch
the ‘out of home’ (OOH) campaign in an effort to direct stockholm’s
homeless population towards shelter during the cold winter months. the
(More...)
Twilight of the Racist Uncles
Fri, 18 Jan 2019 22:26:38 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
https://thebaffler.com/latest/twilight-of-the-racist-uncles-burmila
"Younger users aren’t ditching Facebook because of Alex Jones; they are
leaving because listening to all of America’s uncles at once is our
literal nightmare. It is unpleasant enough to deal with our own aging
(More...)
How a Phone Glitch Sparked a Teenage Riot
Fri, 18 Jan 2019 22:28:04 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://medium.com/s/love-hate/how-a-phone-glitch-sparked-a-teenage-riot-eb785c39bd01>
"When kids turned a state-owned telecom system into a proto-Internet,
police cracked down with brutal force"
(More...)
The Book No One Read
Fri, 18 Jan 2019 22:30:27 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
https://medium.com/@NautilusMag/the-book-no-one-read-da967b030c4a
"Lem was a polymath, a voracious reader who devoured not only the
classic literary canon, but also a plethora of research journals,
scientific periodicals, and popular books by leading researchers. His
(More...)
The Teens Will Save Us
Sat, 19 Jan 2019 18:51:32 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
https://medium.com/@dinachka82/the-teens-will-save-us-af5448b4ddfd
"Every year, before I teach 1984 to my seniors, I run a simulation.
Under the guise of “the common good,” I turn my classroom into a
totalitarian regime; I become a dictator."
(More...)
Insect collapse: ‘We are destroying our life support systems’
Sat, 19 Jan 2019 18:52:40 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/jan/15/insect-collapse-we-are-destroying-our-life-support-systems>
"Scientist Brad Lister returned to Puerto Rican rainforest after 35
years to find 98% of ground insects had vanished"
(More...)
Immediate fossil fuel phaseout could arrest climate change – study
Sat, 19 Jan 2019 18:53:48 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
(More...)
How Millennials Became The Burnout Generation
Sun, 20 Jan 2019 23:51:57 +1300
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/annehelenpetersen/millennials-burnout-generation-debt-work>
"But individual action isn’t enough. Personal choices alone won’t keep the
planet from dying, or get Facebook to quit violating our privacy. To do that,
you need paradigm-shifting change. Which helps explain why so many millennials
(More...)
The Fall of Google+
Sun, 20 Jan 2019 23:56:00 +1300
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
https://www.the-vital-edge.com/fall-of-google-plus/
"The main lesson of Google+ is that it’s time to stop trusting our creations
and our relationships to companies like Google, Facebook, and Twitter, in the
hopes that they will do the right thing with them. They will do the right thing
(More...)
A Tour of the World’s Largest Collection of Synthesizers
Sun, 20 Jan 2019 23:58:29 +1300
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
https://laughingsquid.com/worlds-largest-collection-of-synthesizers/
"In a video report for Le Temps, musician Pierre Audétat visited the Swiss
Museum for Electronic Music (SMEM) in Fribourg, Switzerland, which houses the
world’s largest collection of synthesizers. Collection coordinator Vincent
(More...)
Be safe on the internet.
Tue, 22 Jan 2019 00:09:10 +1300
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
https://securitycheckli.st/
"An open source checklist of resources designed to improve your online privacy
and security. Check things off to keep track as you go."
(More...)
Annella - Love Music
Tue, 22 Jan 2019 00:12:15 +1300
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vw-EvcLai-k
"❤ Share this track with your friends to support both my channel and Annella
❤ Share the love. Share the awesome music."
(More...)
Engineers of the Soul: Ideology in Xi Jinping's China by John Garnaut
Tue, 22 Jan 2019 00:15:36 +1300
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
https://nb.sinocism.com/p/engineers-of-the-soul-ideology-in
"Regular Sinocism readers are no doubt familiar with John Garnaut, one of the
top journalists covering China before he joined the Australian government,
first as a speech writer for Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and then as a
(More...)
New Zealand bans all new offshore oil exploration as part of 'carbon-neutral future'
Wed, 23 Jan 2019 00:30:20 +1300
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/apr/12/new-zealand-bans-all-new-offshore-oil-exploration-as-part-of-carbon-neutral-future>
"The New Zealand government will grant no new offshore oil exploration permits
in a move that is being hailed by conservation and environmental groups as a
historic victory in the battle against climate change."
(More...)
1000 People of Dance
Wed, 23 Jan 2019 00:32:28 +1300
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nOEmeyBie6g
"Spent the last year and a half of my life traveling the world and making this
dance video, hopefully this will make a few people smile."
(More...)
The 25 Greatest Science Fiction Tropes, Ranked
Wed, 23 Jan 2019 00:35:05 +1300
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/blog/sci-fi-fantasy/the-25-greatest-science-fiction-tropes-ranked/>
"Here, we present our definitive ranking of 25 all-time great science fiction
tropes. Some of these ideas are just so fun, we’re happy to see them pop up
again and again. Others complex enough that writers are still discovering new
(More...)
The Economics of Soaking the Rich
Thu, 24 Jan 2019 01:01:38 +1300
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/05/opinion/alexandria-ocasio-cortez-tax-policy-dance.html>
"Diminishing marginal utility is the common-sense notion that an extra dollar
is worth a lot less in satisfaction to people with very high incomes than to
those with low incomes. Give a family with an annual income of $20,000 an extra
(More...)
The Gay Penguins of Australia
Thu, 24 Jan 2019 01:04:02 +1300
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/15/style/gay-penguins-australia.html>
"When Sphen and Magic became a couple, Australia had just gone through a bitter
battle about whether gay marriage should be legal. The human gay marriage
debate had brought out thorny personal and religious tensions. These two
(More...)
The Unbelievable Story Of The Plot Against George Soros
Thu, 24 Jan 2019 01:05:59 +1300
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.buzzfeednews.com/amphtml/hnsgrassegger/george-soros-conspiracy-finkelstein-birnbaum-orban-netanyahu>
"How two Jewish American political consultants helped create the world’s
largest anti-Semitic conspiracy theory."
(More...)
Greenland’s Melting Ice Nears a ‘Tipping Point,’ Scientists Say
Fri, 25 Jan 2019 00:13:21 +1300
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/21/climate/greenland-ice.html
"The study is the latest in a series of papers published this month suggesting
that scientific estimates of the effects of a warming planet have been, if
anything, too conservative. Just a week ago, a separate study of ice loss in
(More...)
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, video games, and the new online town square
Fri, 25 Jan 2019 00:15:58 +1300
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2019/01/alexandria-ocasio-cortez-video-games-and-the-new-online-town-square/>
"Seeing the stream develop over the weekend highlighted to me the unique ways
video games have always created convenient social spaces for people to gather
around."
(More...)
Australia's rich keep getting richer, with billionaires' wealth rising to $160b, says Oxfam
Fri, 25 Jan 2019 00:17:39 +1300
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-01-21/australias-rich-keep-getting-richer/10731700>
"Wealth is also becoming more concentrated — last year 26 people owned the same
as the 3.8 billion people who make up the poorest half of humanity, down from
43 people the year before."
(More...)
Comping White
Sun, 27 Jan 2019 04:44:07 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/comping-white/
"ON NOVEMBER 9, Publishers Weekly broke the news that the publishing
industry is overwhelmingly white — 86 percent white, to be exact."
(More...)
Keynote: Beyond README.md
Sun, 27 Jan 2019 04:45:50 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=492NBT-BCso
"What could happen if you transformed your documentation from a file, to
a product? In this talk,
Rory Aronson tells the story of how FarmBot
Inc is raising the bar of what it means to have great documentation, and
(More...)
The new elite’s phoney crusade to save the world – without changing anything
Sun, 27 Jan 2019 04:47:10 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.theguardian.com/news/2019/jan/22/the-new-elites-phoney-crusade-to-save-the-world-without-changing-anything>
"Today’s titans of tech and finance want to solve the world’s problems,
as long as the solutions never, ever threaten their own wealth and power."
(More...)
Something Is Broken in Our Science Fiction
Mon, 28 Jan 2019 01:08:52 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://slate.com/technology/2019/01/hopepunk-cyberpunk-solarpunk-science-fiction-broken.html>
"When it first emerged more than 30 years ago, cyberpunk was hailed as
the most exciting science fiction of the ’80s. The subgenre, developed
by a handful of younger writers, told stories of the near future,
(More...)
Linux.conf.au 2019: Using Open Hardware from my shirt to OS testing for Google's Fuchsia
Mon, 28 Jan 2019 01:10:05 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
http://marc.merlins.org/perso/arduino/post_2019-01-24_Linux_conf_au-2019_-Using-Open-Hardware-from-my-shirt-to-OS-testing-for-Google_s-Fuchsia.html>
"I've been going to linux.conf.au for 18 years now (since 2001), and
presented a fair amount of linux talks related there, but the big change
for me was the open hardware miniconf that started in 2010. Thanks to
(More...)
United Nations, World Economic Forum and partners unite to address e-waste
Mon, 28 Jan 2019 01:12:23 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2019-01/tca-unw012319.php
"Joint report: Technologies of the Fourth Industrial Revolution show
huge potential and could lead to "dematerialization", better product
tracking, take-back and recycling, and products sold as services"
(More...)
Sci-Fi & Fantasy Books with a Powerful Message of Social Justice
Mon, 28 Jan 2019 23:31:06 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/blog/sci-fi-fantasy/20-sci-fi-fantasy-books-message-social-justice/>
"From
The Time Machine to Kirk and Uhura‘s unprecedented kiss,
speculative fiction has long concerned itself with breaking barriers and
exploring issues of race, inequality, and injustice. The fantastical
(More...)
Trapped in a hoax: survivors of conspiracy theories speak out
Mon, 28 Jan 2019 23:34:28 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2019/jan/23/conspiracy-theories-internet-survivors-truth>
"What happens to those caught up in the toxic lies of conspiracy
theorists? The Guardian spoke to five victims whose lives were wrecked
by falsehoods"
(More...)
World's Biggest Brands Join Ambitious New Packaging Model
Mon, 28 Jan 2019 23:35:52 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.ecowatch.com/consumer-goods-packaging-sustainability-2627068258.html>
"Facing mounting public pressure to curb their environmental footprints,
some of the world's largest food, beverage and consumer goods companies
have partnered with recycling giant TerraCycle to launch an ambitious
(More...)
What White, Western Audiences Don't Understand About Marie Kondo's 'Tidying Up'
Wed, 30 Jan 2019 04:20:12 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.huffingtonpost.ca/entry/marie-kondo-white-western-audineces_us_5c47859be4b025aa26bde77c>
"My dad used to say, “The Japanese do everything backward.” Even when I
was little, the phrasing bugged me, though I couldn’t articulate why.
Now I know. It meant that the Japanese were the wrong ones, the “other.”
(More...)
LGBT Navajos Discover Unexpected Champions: Their Grandparents
Wed, 30 Jan 2019 04:21:36 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.npr.org/2019/01/26/687957536/lgbt-navajos-discover-unexpected-champions-their-grandparents>
❝ "When I came out to my family, my mother of course took it the
hardest. But my grandparents didn't," says Alray Nelson, a Navajo LGBT
rights activist.
(More...)
Auschwitz survivor marks 92nd birthday on Holocaust Remembrance Day
Wed, 30 Jan 2019 04:24:07 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
(More...)
WORLD ORDER "BIG BROTHER"
Wed, 30 Jan 2019 23:11:02 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
(More...)
Alliance Rising: The Hinder Stars I
Wed, 30 Jan 2019 23:12:23 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://books.google.com.au/books/about/Alliance_Rising.html?id=eMNUDwAAQBAJ>
"For years, the stations of the Hinder Stars, those old stations closest
to Sol, have lagged behind the great megastations of the Beyond, like
Pell and Cyteen. But new opportunities and fears arise when Alpha
(More...)
The Hidden Automation Agenda of the Davos Elite
Wed, 30 Jan 2019 23:13:11 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/25/technology/automation-davos-world-economic-forum.html>
"But in private settings, including meetings with the leaders of the
many consulting and technology firms whose pop-up storefronts line the
Davos Promenade, these executives tell a different story: They are
(More...)
Yarra goes 100% renewable
Fri, 1 Feb 2019 03:40:07 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.yarracity.vic.gov.au/news/2019/01/16/yarra-goes-100-percent-renewable>
"We are now sourcing 100% of our energy from a new wind farm in regional
Victoria. Since Tuesday 1 January our town halls, gyms, libraries,
childcare centres and street lights have been powered by renewable energy."
(More...)
'Team Human' Stresses That The Future Lies In Connection And Cooperation
Fri, 1 Feb 2019 03:42:28 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.npr.org/2019/01/28/689215618/team-human-stresses-that-the-future-lies-in-connection-and-cooperation>
"Rushkoff also began with high hopes that the information age would
unite human beings in new and more innovative ways. That's why
Team
Human's central theme is that, more than anything else, working
(More...)
How My High School Destroyed An Immigrant Kid's Life Because He Drew The School's Mascot
Fri, 1 Feb 2019 03:45:25 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20190121/12100941436/how-my-high-school-destroyed-immigrant-kids-life-because-he-drew-schools-mascot.shtml>
"Everything about the article is infuriating in so many ways, that it's
been difficult to figure out where to even start, but if we have to
start someplace, let's start with this: the rise of embedding police
(More...)
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