Glass Wings Blog: January 2022
Happy New Year 2022!
Sat, 1 Jan 2022 11:50:47 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
Thank you everyone who reads and contributes to our blog/mailing list! Wishing
you all the best for 2022.
Reminder for those subscribed via email: You can also view the blog at
https://glasswings.com.au/blog/ which includes a subject index of all posts, an
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21 Things That Made the World a Better Place in 2021
Sun, 2 Jan 2022 05:18:17 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
https://www.wired.com/story/2021-positive-news/
"The pandemic didn’t miraculously disappear. When the clock struck midnight and
marked the beginning of 2021, Covid-19 didn’t melt away like a fairytale
princess’s party dress, alas, and we were all forced to stare down another year
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Five Journalists and Pop Star Denise Ho Arrested in Hong Kong for Sedition
Sun, 2 Jan 2022 05:19:42 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
https://news.yahoo.com/five-journalists-pop-star-denise-030114912.html
"National Security Police in Hong Kong on Wednesday arrested seven people
associated with Chinese-language online media company Stand News. They include
pop star-turned-pro-democracy activist Denise Ho.
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I’m a climate scientist. "Don’t Look Up" captures the madness I see every day
Sun, 2 Jan 2022 05:21:16 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/dec/29/climate-scientist-dont-look-up-madness>
"The movie
Don’t Look Up is satire. But speaking as a climate scientist doing
everything I can to wake people up and avoid planetary destruction, it’s also
the most accurate film about society’s terrifying non-response to climate
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‘The Fuse Has Been Blown,’ and the Doomsday Glacier Is Coming for Us All
Sun, 2 Jan 2022 05:22:39 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-features/doomsday-glacier-thwaites-antarctica-climate-crisis-1273841/>
"One thing that’s hard to grasp about the climate crisis is that big changes
can happen fast. In 2019, I was aboard the
Nathaniel B. Palmer, a
308-foot-long scientific research vessel, cruising in front of the Thwaites
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AI’s influence on human decision-making: new CSIRO research
Mon, 3 Jan 2022 08:53:52 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.csiro.au/en/news/news-releases/2021/ais-influence-on-human-decision-making-new-csiro-research>
"CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency, has released a new study
demonstrating that artificial intelligence (AI) can be used to influence human
decision-making by exploiting vulnerabilities in an individual’s habits and
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‘An American Tradition’: Lessons from a year covering conspiracy theories
Mon, 3 Jan 2022 08:55:11 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2021/12/29/american-conspiracy-theories-essay/>
"I have spent this year thinking and writing about the draw to conspiracy
theories, the perverse comfort they provide and the damage they can cause.
Today in the United States, we are living in an era of segregated belief, of
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The Copyright Industry Wants Everything Filtered As It Is Uploaded; Here's Why That Will Be A Disaster
Mon, 3 Jan 2022 08:56:20 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20211227/15395648187/copyright-industry-wants-everything-filtered-as-it-is-uploaded-heres-why-that-will-be-disaster.shtml>
"The history of copyright can be seen as one of increasing control by companies
over what ordinary people can do with material created by others. For the
online world, the endgame is where copyright holders get to check and approve
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Before-and-After Photos Reveal the Destruction of Ancient Forests
Mon, 3 Jan 2022 08:57:58 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://petapixel.com/2021/12/29/before-and-after-photos-reveal-the-destruction-of-ancient-forests/>
"Canadian conservation photographer TJ Watt has been using his camera to
protect endangered old-growth trees from logging. His powerful before-and-after
photos aim to show the devastation of ancient forests that is left in the wake
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Keeping up with Commodore
Tue, 4 Jan 2022 05:03:34 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JI3te8MLNHs
"Sooo... here's an old earworm, that I just couldn't resist working on. Many of
you remember the classic "Are you keeping up with the Commodore" commercial,
and I had several requests over the last year if I could do a number on this. I
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World’s vast networks of underground fungi to be mapped for first time
Tue, 4 Jan 2022 05:05:23 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2021/nov/30/worlds-vast-networks-of-underground-fungi-to-be-mapped-for-first-time>
"Vast networks of underground fungi – the “circulatory system of the planet” –
are to be mapped for the first time, in an attempt to protect them from damage
and improve their ability to absorb and store carbon dioxide.
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The week in wildlife – in pictures 2021-12-31
Tue, 4 Jan 2022 05:06:49 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/gallery/2021/dec/31/the-week-in-wildlife-in-pictures>
"The best of this week’s wildlife pictures, including a sleeping bear, a baby
orangutan and an albino jaguarundi"
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That’s a wrap: French plastic packaging ban for fruit and veg begins
Tue, 4 Jan 2022 05:07:57 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/dec/31/thats-a-wrap-french-plastic-packaging-ban-for-fruit-and-veg-begins>
"A law banning plastic packaging for large numbers of fruits and vegetables
comes into force in France on New Year’s Day, to end what the government has
called the “aberration” of overwrapped carrots, apples and bananas, as
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Humankind: A Hopeful History by Rutger Bregman review – a tribute to our better nature
Wed, 5 Jan 2022 06:05:16 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2020/may/12/humankind-a-hopeful-history-by-rutger-bregman-review>
"The Dutch historian’s overview of debate around humanity’s core instincts has
blind spots, but its optimism is invigorating"
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Wampanoag, who helped Pilgrims survive, win rights to tribal lands
Wed, 5 Jan 2022 06:06:09 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.washingtonpost.com/history/2021/12/31/wampanoag-tribe-interior-department-reservation-land/>
"Four hundred years after the Mashpee Wampanoag in Plymouth, Mass., helped the
Pilgrims from the Mayflower survive, they have been fighting to get their
ancestral homeland back. Last week, they won a major victory in a ruling from
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The UK city taking a stand on palm oil in the fight against deforestation
Wed, 5 Jan 2022 06:07:17 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/jan/01/chester-new-approach-palm-oil-problem-aoe>
"From mince pies and biscuits to lipstick and soap, palm oil grown on
deforested land in south-east Asia will have been hard to avoid this Christmas.
The vegetable oil is found in almost half of all packaged products in UK
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The American polity is cracked, and might collapse. Canada must prepare
Thu, 6 Jan 2022 05:42:54 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/article-the-american-polity-is-cracked-and-might-collapse-canada-must-prepare/>
"By 2025, American democracy could collapse, causing extreme domestic political
instability, including widespread civil violence. By 2030, if not sooner, the
country could be governed by a right-wing dictatorship.
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So you want to cat-proof a bettong: how living with predators could help native species survive
Thu, 6 Jan 2022 05:43:51 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://theconversation.com/so-you-want-to-cat-proof-a-bettong-how-living-with-predators-could-help-native-species-survive-170450>
"When we release a group of endangered animals into the wild, we always hope
they will survive. They usually don’t. We find bilby carcasses under bushes,
bettongs ripped apart by feral cats, and tufts of rock wallaby fur in fox
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National Gallery of Victoria displays 3D-printed artificial reefs, showcasing fusion of art and science
Thu, 6 Jan 2022 05:45:32 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-01-03/artificial-reefs-showcased-national-gallery-of-victoria/100736484>
"On a sleek, low plinth in the National Gallery of Victoria, Alex Goad's
artificial reef structure looks perfectly at home beside other modernist
installations.
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In Your Arms - Kina Grannis (Official Music Video) Stop Motion Animation
Fri, 7 Jan 2022 05:27:48 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IOu0DuxFAT0
Via Muse, who wrote "This stop motion animation video is made using jelly
beans…lots and lots of jelly beans! Watch the making of…holey moley what a lot
of work!"
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California’s Forever Fire
Fri, 7 Jan 2022 05:30:04 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
https://www.propublica.org/article/californias-forever-fire
"We’re living through a discontinuity. This is Steffen’s core point.
“Discontinuity is a moment where the experience and expertise you’ve built up
over time cease to work,” he said. “It is extremely stressful, emotionally, to
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Mr Bean in Cyberpunk 2077
Fri, 7 Jan 2022 05:31:06 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izWxL2mhPvQ
Someone put a lot of work into this!
Via Muse.
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Public Domain Day 2022
Sat, 8 Jan 2022 06:29:34 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
https://web.law.duke.edu/cspd/publicdomainday/2022/
"On January 1, 2022, copyrighted works from 1926 will enter the US public
domain, where they will be free for all to copy, share, and build upon. The
line-up this year is stunning. It includes books such as A. A. Milne’s
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Hitting the beach this summer? Here are some of our top animal picks to look out for
Sat, 8 Jan 2022 06:30:21 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://theconversation.com/hitting-the-beach-this-summer-here-are-some-of-our-top-animal-picks-to-look-out-for-171744>
"Australia has one of the longest coastlines in the world. And it’s packed with
life of all shapes and sizes – from lively dolphins leaping offshore, to tiny
crabs scurrying into their holes.
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‘A shambolic mess’: the only example Australia is giving the world now is how not to manage Covid
Sat, 8 Jan 2022 06:31:47 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
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How we drained California dry
Sun, 9 Jan 2022 06:20:00 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.technologyreview.com/2021/12/16/1041296/california-climate-change-water-drought/>
"The wind finally blew the other way last night and kicked out the smoke from
the burning Sierra. Down here in the flatland of California, we used to regard
the granite mountain as a place apart, our getaway. But the distance is no
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99 Good News Stories You Probably Didn’t Hear About in 2021
Sun, 9 Jan 2022 06:21:17 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
https://medium.com/future-crunch/99-goodnews-2021-2492e4fcacfb
"If you were asked to list the top global news stories of 2021, off the top of
your head, what would they be? Chances are you’d come up with some combination
of COVID-19, economic woes, political conflict, Afghanistan, natural disasters,
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The Year in Cheer 2021
Sun, 9 Jan 2022 06:22:04 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
https://reasonstobecheerful.world/the-year-in-cheer-2/
"When you think back on 2021, your mind may naturally drift to the difficult
parts: fires, floods, conflicts, variants. To focus on the negative is only
human. But if you’ve been taking your daily dose of RTBC, you know that there
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China's Regulatory War On Its Gaming Industry Racks Up 14k Casualties
Sun, 9 Jan 2022 06:23:29 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20220104/10222148229/chinas-regulatory-war-gaming-industry-racks-up-14k-casualties.shtml>
"It isn't news that China has begun a campaign against video games within its
borders. The battles in this war are being waged on a couple different fronts.
In 2021, Beijing set new rules for what youths can play when it comes to games,
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Eric Clapton Pretends To Regret The Decision To Sue Random German Woman Who Listed A Bootleg Of One Of His CDs On Ebay
Mon, 10 Jan 2022 05:43:21 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20211229/15264048198/eric-clapton-pretends-to-regret-decision-to-sue-random-german-woman-who-listed-bootleg-one-his-cds-ebay.shtml>
"There is no greater example of just how totally broken copyright is than the
story of Eric Clapton suing — and winning — a poor German woman for copyright
infringement after she listed (
but did not sell) a bootleg CD that her late
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Ministerial interference is an attack on academic freedom and Australia’s literary culture
Mon, 10 Jan 2022 05:45:32 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://theconversation.com/ministerial-interference-is-an-attack-on-academic-freedom-and-australias-literary-culture-174329>
"On Christmas Eve, many researchers across the country received the news that
their Australian Research Council (ARC) funding applications had failed. For
most of them, this was disappointing but not surprising: the success rate for
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Morrison’s political judgement goes missing on rapid antigen test debacle
Mon, 10 Jan 2022 05:46:21 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://theconversation.com/morrisons-political-judgement-goes-missing-on-rapid-antigen-test-debacle-174324>
"January 3 2022 was a day like most others in the roughly two years of the
COVID-19 pandemic preceding it – except it wasn’t.
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Could collaborative living provide an answer to the housing crisis and climate change? Some people think so
Mon, 10 Jan 2022 05:48:22 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-01-05/collaborative-housing-could-be-an-answer-to-the-housing-crisis/100629994>
"Donna Lavell is no stranger to sharing her home with people. In her 20s, she
lived in share houses in Sydney's inner suburbs; later, after buying a home in
Newcastle, she offered up her spare rooms to friends in need, housemates and
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It took a 15-year fight to be allowed to use an existing DRM exception: who still thinks copyright is fair?
Tue, 11 Jan 2022 04:32:24 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://walledculture.org/it-took-a-15-year-fight-to-be-allowed-to-use-an-existing-drm-exception-who-still-thinks-copyright-is-fair/>
"In his Walled Culture interview, Cory Doctorow explains cogently why Digital
Rights Management (DRM) is such a disaster. It’s also pointless: DRM can always
be broken, and once there is one unprotected copy out on the Internet, the
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Republicans Promised to Banish Jan. 6 Insurrectionists. A Year Later, They’ve Purged Jan. 6 Critics
Tue, 11 Jan 2022 04:34:42 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/jan6-insurrectionists-trump-accountability-cheney-1278644/>
"A year ago, top Republicans were clear-eyed — and forceful — in their
repudiations of president Trump, blaming him directly for the Jan 6
insurrection at the Capitol and blasting his false claims that he was robbed of
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Chinese Government Dragnet Now Folding In American Social Media Platforms To Silence Dissent
Tue, 11 Jan 2022 04:35:44 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20220101/15561148214/chinese-government-dragnet-now-folding-american-social-media-platforms-to-silence-dissent.shtml>
"The Chinese government's surveillance of undesirables isn't limited to its
borders. It has been working with tech companies to produce an
outsider-oriented surveillance platform to keep tabs on visiting students and
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From COVID control to chaos – what now for Australia? Two pathways lie before us
Tue, 11 Jan 2022 04:36:46 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://theconversation.com/from-covid-control-to-chaos-what-now-for-australia-two-pathways-lie-before-us-174325>
"Australia has swung from one extreme in pandemic control to the other – having
great control of COVID, to now having the world’s highest rise in daily cases.
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It's Great That Winnie The Pooh Is In The Public Domain; But He Should Have Been Free In 1982 (Or Earlier)
Wed, 12 Jan 2022 04:16:47 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20220103/12164148225/great-that-winnie-pooh-is-public-domain-he-should-have-been-free-1982-earlier.shtml>
"It's been four years now since the US
finally started allowing old works to
enter the public domain after decades in which cultural landlords continually
moved to actively remove works from the public domain. Every year since the US
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These Comics Capture Society's Ridiculously Unfair Expectations Of Women
Wed, 12 Jan 2022 04:17:55 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/comics-women-lainey-molnar_l_61d48fb2e4b0bcd219582df4>
"Lainey Molnar is a 32-year-old single woman who’s child-free by choice.
Needless to say, she’s no stranger to the judgment faced by women who don’t
conform to society’s expectations.
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Insurrection, One Year On
Wed, 12 Jan 2022 04:19:40 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
https://www.stonekettle.com/2022/01/insurrection-one-year-on.html
"How the hell did we get here?
It's been a year since January 6th, 2021.
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Why Aren’t Writers Paid Better?
Wed, 12 Jan 2022 04:21:27 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
https://katherinephelps.com/2022/01/why-arent-writers-paid-better/
Muse wrote: "
This was a question put to people in an online writers group I am
subscribed to. Below is my answer.
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Votes for children! Why we should lower the voting age to six
Thu, 13 Jan 2022 06:19:50 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/nov/16/reconstruction-after-covid-votes-for-children-age-six-david-runciman>
"There is no good reason to exclude children from the right to vote. Indeed, I
believe there is a strong case for lowering the voting age to six, effectively
extending the franchise to any child in full-time education. When I have made
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‘Don’t Look Up’: Hollywood’s primer on climate denial illustrates 5 myths that fuel rejection of science
Thu, 13 Jan 2022 06:21:00 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://theconversation.com/dont-look-up-hollywoods-primer-on-climate-denial-illustrates-5-myths-that-fuel-rejection-of-science-174266>
"Every disaster movie seems to open with a scientist being ignored. “Don’t Look
Up” is no exception – in fact, people ignoring or flat out denying scientific
evidence is the point.
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Don’t look Up! has a surprising amount to tell us about economics, much of it useful
Thu, 13 Jan 2022 06:22:05 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://theconversation.com/dont-look-up-has-a-surprising-amount-to-tell-us-about-economics-much-of-it-useful-174399>
"In the new Netflix sensation
Don’t Look Up, two astronomers, played by
Jennifer Lawrence and Leonardo Di Caprio, discover a massive comet heading
towards Earth, and desperately try to warn the US president, played by Meryl
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Global wishes for 2022: a gift box for everyone, greater girl power, vertical gardens
Thu, 13 Jan 2022 06:23:12 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
(More...)
State capture report chronicles extent of corruption in South Africa. But will action follow?
Fri, 14 Jan 2022 05:52:25 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://theconversation.com/state-capture-report-chronicles-extent-of-corruption-in-south-africa-but-will-action-follow-174441>
"No self-respecting theatre critic would dream of reviewing a three-Act play
during the interval at the end of the first Act. But that is what one is
compelled to do after South Africa’s State Capture Commission released Part 1
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The Paris Agreement is working as intended, but we’ve still got a long way to go
Fri, 14 Jan 2022 05:54:05 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://theconversation.com/the-paris-agreement-is-working-as-intended-but-weve-still-got-a-long-way-to-go-173478>
"Well, this is beginning to feel old: 2021 was another year of climate
catastrophes — just like the one before it.
(More...)
Climate change can't be stopped if we destroy these parts of the world
Fri, 14 Jan 2022 05:55:59 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.tag24.com/science/environment/climate-change-cant-be-stopped-if-we-destroy-these-parts-of-the-world-2276793>
"New York, New York - A study published in the
Nature Sustainability journal
reveals the most important places in the world worth protecting, because
protecting their stored CO2 is yet another piece to the puzzle of stopping
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Charlie's Diary: Oh, 2022!
Fri, 14 Jan 2022 05:59:13 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
http://www.antipope.org/charlie/blog-static/2022/01/oh-2022.html
"Back in December of 2016 I took a look at what the next year held in store for
us. It spanned three blog posts and ended happily in a nuclear barbecue to put
us all out of our misery: start here,
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Young Student Secretly Photographs People with Hidden Spy Cam in the 1890s
Sat, 15 Jan 2022 06:34:48 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
https://mymodernmet.com/carl-stormer-hidden-camera-photography/
"These days, when it's so easy to sneak a hidden photo with your phone, we can
forget just how unusual candid photography was during the 19th century. With
technological limitation, our first photographs are mainly seated posed images
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Could microclots help explain the mystery of long Covid?
Sat, 15 Jan 2022 06:37:12 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/jan/05/long-covid-research-microclots>
"One of the biggest failures during the Covid-19 pandemic is our slow response
in diagnosing and treating long Covid. As many as 100 million people worldwide
already suffer from long Covid. That staggering number will eventually be much
(More...)
Why Melbourne’s Biggest Street Was Wiped Off the Map
Sat, 15 Jan 2022 06:38:27 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3DgZbEPFF6w
"One of Melbourne’s biggest and most important streets - Swanston Street -
doesn’t appear on maps. Why is this, and why should it change?"
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In Kazakhstan, Russia follows a playbook it developed in Ukraine
Sat, 15 Jan 2022 06:39:24 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://theconversation.com/in-kazakhstan-russia-follows-a-playbook-it-developed-in-ukraine-174505>
"Add Kazakhstan to the list of former Soviet republics whose independence is
now being threatened by Russia. Russian leader Vladimir Putin is using a
similar playbook in Kazakhstan to one that he has used over almost a decade to
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LibreArts: Looking back at 2021, looking forward at 2022
Sat, 15 Jan 2022 06:41:56 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
https://librearts.org/2022/01/2021-recap-2022-preview/
"Let’s have a closer look at main events of 2021 and what’s coming for us in
2022. Obligatory disclaimer: I only talk about projects that I track more or
less closely. There are many more great projects out there, and I’d love to
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Magic Goes Wrong
Sun, 16 Jan 2022 05:38:32 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
Muse wrote: "Oh! This looks like fun! Penn & Teller worked with the team who
created
The Play That Goes Wrong to create
Magic Goes Wrong."
<
https://www.comedy.co.uk/live/features/penn-and-teller-discuss-magic-goes-wrong/>
(More...)
Animals Laugh Too: UCLA Study Finds Laughter in 65 Species, from Rats to Cows
Sun, 16 Jan 2022 05:40:12 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.openculture.com/2022/01/animals-laugh-too-ucla-study-finds-laughter-in-65-species-from-rats-to-cows.html>
"Every pet owner knows that animals love to play, but laughter seems reserved
for humans, a few apes, and maybe a few birds good at mimicking humans and
apes. As it turns out, according to a new article published in the journal
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Scientists call for a moratorium on climate change research until governments take real action
Sun, 16 Jan 2022 05:40:56 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://theconversation.com/scientists-call-for-a-moratorium-on-climate-change-research-until-governments-take-real-action-172690>
"Decades of scientific evidence demonstrate unequivocally that human activities
jeopardise life on Earth. Dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate
system compounds many other drivers of global change.
(More...)
ARC grants: if Australia wants to tackle the biggest issues, politicians need to stop meddling with basic research
Sun, 16 Jan 2022 05:41:38 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://theconversation.com/arc-grants-if-australia-wants-to-tackle-the-biggest-issues-politicians-need-to-stop-meddling-with-basic-research-174607>
"In countries like Denmark and Germany, gifts are given on Christmas Eve,
rather than Christmas morning. Likewise, on Christmas Eve 2021, 587 groups of
researchers at universities around Australia received a festive gift from the
(More...)
A New Marine Protected Area to Protect Biodiversity and Coral Habitat Around Saint Martin’s Island in Bangladesh
Sun, 16 Jan 2022 05:43:02 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://newsroom.wcs.org/News-Releases/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/17095/A-New-Marine-Protected-Area-to-Protect-Biodiversity-and-Coral-Habitat-Around-Saint-Martins-Island-in-Bangladesh.aspx>
"The Government of Bangladesh has declared a new marine protected area (MPA)
spanning 1,743 square kilometers (672 square miles) around Saint Martin’s
Island, a region which represents 1.5 percent of Bangladesh’s exclusive
(More...)
Domestic Workers in Lebanon Are Making a Dramatic Escape
Mon, 17 Jan 2022 05:41:47 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://reasonstobecheerful.world/ethiopian-domestic-workers-lebanon-escape/>
"Migrant workers are excluded from the Lebanese labor law. They can’t find a
new job without their current employer’s consent, and “face highly exploitative
working conditions, akin to modern-day slavery,” according to the ILO. In
(More...)
Australia commits to $3.5 billion tank purchase from the US
Mon, 17 Jan 2022 05:44:09 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/australia-commits-to-3-5-billion-tank-purchase-from-the-us-20220109-p59mub.html>
"Australia has locked in its purchase of more than 120 tanks and other armoured
vehicles from the United States, at a cost of $3.5 billion, as part of a major
upgrade of the army’s fleet.
(More...)
Healthy humans drive the economy: we’re now witnessing one of the worst public policy failures in Australia’s history
Mon, 17 Jan 2022 05:45:33 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
(More...)
How Australia’s handling of Djokovic exposed its flawed immigration system to the world
Mon, 17 Jan 2022 05:47:10 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
(More...)
Magawa, the landmine-sniffing hero rat, dies aged eight
Mon, 17 Jan 2022 05:49:48 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-59951255
"Magawa, the famous mine-clearing rat who was awarded a gold medal for his
heroism, has died at the age of eight.
(More...)
Artificial Intelligence Can Now Craft Original Jokes—And That’s No Laughing Matter
Tue, 18 Jan 2022 06:10:10 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
https://time.com/6132544/artificial-intelligence-humor/
"Don’t you hate it,” says Jon the Robot, gesturing with tiny articulated arms
at an expectant crowd, “when you’re trying to solve inverse kinematics
equations to pick up a cup and then you get ‘Error 453, no solution found’?”
(More...)
Why not a four-day workweek?
Tue, 18 Jan 2022 06:12:19 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.computerworld.com/article/3646592/why-not-a-four-day-work-week.html>
"Today, many of us think of the five-day workweek as being the way things have
always been done. It’s not. It only became a standard in the United States when
the labor unions got the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) passed in 1938. Before
(More...)
My wife had long Covid and killed herself. We must help others who are suffering
Tue, 18 Jan 2022 06:13:55 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/jan/12/long-covid-wife-suicide-give-others-hope>
"My wife, Heidi, took her own life after a 13-month battle with long Covid that
started as a mostly asymptomatic coronavirus infection. Long Covid took her
from one of the healthiest, most vibrant people I’ve ever known to a person so
(More...)
Caravan Palace - Lone Digger (Live)
Tue, 18 Jan 2022 06:14:43 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mlxn5YCMRVo
"Recorded in Dec 2021 @ Stereolux in Nantes, France"
(More...)
They live for a century and clean our rivers - but freshwater mussels are dying in droves
Wed, 19 Jan 2022 05:46:54 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://theconversation.com/they-live-for-a-century-and-clean-our-rivers-but-freshwater-mussels-are-dying-in-droves-164567>
"Freshwater mussels are dying suddenly and in the thousands, with each mass
death event bringing these endangered molluscs closer to extinction.
Tragically, these events rarely get noticed.
(More...)
‘Disappointment and disbelief’ after Morrison government vetoes research into student climate activism
Wed, 19 Jan 2022 05:48:14 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://theconversation.com/disappointment-and-disbelief-after-morrison-government-vetoes-research-into-student-climate-activism-174699>
"Between 2019 and early 2021, we developed a research proposal asking for
funding from the Australian Research Council (ARC). The project was to
investigate the mass student climate action movement and its relationship to
(More...)
A short history of the Aboriginal Tent Embassy – an indelible reminder of unceded sovereignty
Wed, 19 Jan 2022 05:48:55 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://theconversation.com/a-short-history-of-the-aboriginal-tent-embassy-an-indelible-reminder-of-unceded-sovereignty-174693>
"Often people think about the Aboriginal Tent Embassy as something historic,
dating back to the 1970s. But it should also be thought of as a site of the
longest protest for Indigenous land rights, sovereignty and self-determination
(More...)
Australia matches its hottest day on record as Western Australia town hits 50.7C
Wed, 19 Jan 2022 05:50:36 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/jan/13/hottest-day-on-record-in-parts-of-western-australia-as-temperature-reaches-50c>
"Australia has matched its hottest ever reliably recorded temperature, with
Onslow airport near the remote West Australian town of Onslow registering 50.7C
(123.3F)
(More...)
How one NASA image tells dozens of stories
Thu, 20 Jan 2022 06:04:03 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYGd-llxHJE
"In 2016, NASA used the Suomi NPP weather satellite to create a high resolution
image of the earth at night. It can help us better understand the current
developments and conflicts underway.
(More...)
Another Benefit To EVs: No Dead Weights Added To The Car
Thu, 20 Jan 2022 06:05:46 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://cleantechnica.com/2022/01/13/another-benefit-to-evs-no-dead-weights-added-to-the-car/>
"It doesn’t matter how long you’re into cars, there’s always something new to
learn. Recently, I learned why some cars seem to have what appears to be
worthless dead weight built in. It turns out that that sometimes, there’s good
(More...)
Southern Africa’s Namaqualand daisies are flowering earlier: why it’s a red flag
Thu, 20 Jan 2022 06:07:12 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://theconversation.com/southern-africas-namaqualand-daisies-are-flowering-earlier-why-its-a-red-flag-174724>
"In late August each year, the normally barren landscape of the Namaqualand,
along the western boundary of South Africa, is transformed into a vista of
brightly coloured daisies as far as the eye can see. The flowering of the
(More...)
Fire management in Australia has reached a crossroads and ‘business as usual’ won’t cut it
Thu, 20 Jan 2022 06:08:03 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://theconversation.com/fire-management-in-australia-has-reached-a-crossroads-and-business-as-usual-wont-cut-it-174696>
"The current wet conditions delivered by La Niña may have caused widespread
flooding, but they’ve also provided a reprieve from the threat of bushfires in
southeastern Australia. This is an ideal time to consider how we prepare for
(More...)
Tabletop Simulator’s Steam Reviews Descend Into Culture War Nightmare Factory
Fri, 21 Jan 2022 06:00:43 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.kotaku.com.au/2022/01/tabletop-simulators-steam-reviews-descend-into-culture-war-nightmare-factory/>
"It feels like familiar territory. A community moderator for the video game
Tabletop Simulator handed out temporary and permanent bans for talking about
queerness in the game’s global text chat and Discord. This upset a portion of
(More...)
Stray Cats Save Osaka Restaurant from Going Out of Business During Pandemic
Fri, 21 Jan 2022 06:02:46 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
https://www.spoon-tamago.com/2022/01/13/diorama-restaurant-stray-cats/
"Railway model enthusiast Naoki Teraoka has operated miniature model-themed
ramen restaurants and eateries in Japan since 2005. His latest was the Diorama
Restaurant in Osaka, which he opened in 2018. But when the global pandemic
(More...)
Why the volcanic eruption in Tonga was so violent, and what to expect next
Fri, 21 Jan 2022 06:04:32 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://theconversation.com/why-the-volcanic-eruption-in-tonga-was-so-violent-and-what-to-expect-next-175035>
"The Kingdom of Tonga doesn’t often attract global attention, but a violent
eruption of an underwater volcano on January 15 has spread shock waves, quite
literally, around half the world.
(More...)
Will climate change spell the end of coastal living as we know it?
Fri, 21 Jan 2022 06:05:31 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-01-17/will-climate-change-put-an-end-to-coastal-living/100504100>
"When Chris Rogers returned to the NSW Central Coast after a stint living
overseas, he was eager to embrace the quintessential Australian lifestyle — a
home where his kids could swim in the ocean whenever they liked and he could
(More...)
Andrew Odlyzko: Recent Papers on Technology and Financial Manias
Sat, 22 Jan 2022 05:41:10 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
http://www.dtc.umn.edu/~odlyzko/doc/bubbles.html
"Enclosed is a notice of my latest paper on technology and financial manias. As
there is currently much concern about the possible instability of the financial
system that might lead to a crash, given elevated valuations, unprecedented
(More...)
This WA town just topped 50℃ – a dangerous temperature many Australians will have to get used to
Sat, 22 Jan 2022 05:42:00 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
(More...)
Look around you. The way we live explains why we are increasingly polarized
Sat, 22 Jan 2022 05:43:08 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.theguardian.com/global/2022/jan/16/look-around-you-why-increasingly-polarized>
"The border’s like our back door,” a concrete salesman named Chris told me in
January 2017. “You leave it open, and anyone can walk right in.” It was the day
of Trump’s presidential inauguration, and we were chatting on the exhibition
(More...)
‘Our community is small, but our spirit is strong’: how art forms the heart of Cobargo’s Black Summer fires recovery
Sat, 22 Jan 2022 05:44:36 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://theconversation.com/our-community-is-small-but-our-spirit-is-strong-how-art-forms-the-heart-of-cobargos-black-summer-fires-recovery-173649>
"On December 31 2019, the catastrophic fires burning across southeastern
Australia reached the small South Coast NSW town of Cobargo in the form of the
Badja Forest Road Fire.
(More...)
Russia and the West are at a stalemate over Ukraine. Is Putin’s endgame now war?
Sat, 22 Jan 2022 05:45:42 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://theconversation.com/russia-and-the-west-are-at-a-stalemate-over-ukraine-is-putins-endgame-now-war-174691>
"The flurry of diplomatic activity last week over Russia’s latest military
buildup near Ukraine ended, as expected, with no breakthrough agreement.
Russian President Vladimir Putin called it a “dead end”.
(More...)
How Russian is Ukraine? (Clue: not as much as Vladimir Putin insists)
Sun, 23 Jan 2022 05:54:30 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://theconversation.com/how-russian-is-ukraine-clue-not-as-much-as-vladimir-putin-insists-173758>
"A political pamphlet published in 1762 described a conversation between “Great
Russia” and “Little Russia”. In the exchange, the latter refused to be simply
reduced to part of Great Russia and put forward its own unique history and
(More...)
Remembering Martin Luther King Jr.: 5 things I’ve learned curating the MLK Collection at Morehouse College
Sun, 23 Jan 2022 05:55:15 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://theconversation.com/remembering-martin-luther-king-jr-5-things-ive-learned-curating-the-mlk-collection-at-morehouse-college-174839>
"For the past 11 years, civil rights historian Vicki Crawford has worked as the
director of the Morehouse College Martin Luther King Jr. Collection, where she
oversees the archive consisting of iconic sermons, speeches, writings and other
(More...)
Economics ripe for a post-pandemic shake up as COVID kills old assumptions
Sun, 23 Jan 2022 05:56:01 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
(More...)
The Tonga volcanic eruption has revealed the vulnerabilities in our global telecommunication system
Sun, 23 Jan 2022 05:56:55 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://theconversation.com/the-tonga-volcanic-eruption-has-revealed-the-vulnerabilities-in-our-global-telecommunication-system-175048>
"In the wake of a violent volcanic eruption in Tonga, much of the communication
with residents on the islands remains at a standstill. In our modern,
highly-connected world, more than 95% of global data transfer occurs along
(More...)
Seeing 1,000 glorious fin whales back from near extinction is a rare glimmer of hope
Sun, 23 Jan 2022 05:57:58 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/jan/17/glorious-fin-whales-extinction-hope-antarctic-peninsular>
"Good news doesn’t get any more in-your-face than this. One thousand fin
whales, one of the world’s biggest animals, were seen last week swimming in the
same seas in which they were driven to near-extinction last century due to
(More...)
Who are the ‘Original Sovereigns’ who were camped out at Old Parliament House and what are their aims?
Mon, 24 Jan 2022 05:02:56 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://theconversation.com/who-are-the-original-sovereigns-who-were-camped-out-at-old-parliament-house-and-what-are-their-aims-174694>
"The politics swirling around Canberra’s Aboriginal Tent Embassy – set up on
the lawns opposite Old Parliament House 50 years ago – have always been
complex.
(More...)
How Norway Popularized an Ultra-Sustainable Heating Method
Mon, 24 Jan 2022 05:04:59 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://reasonstobecheerful.world/heat-pumps-norway-efficiency-emissions/>
"While heat pumps are yet to become widespread globally, Hagemoen says they
offer several benefits compared with traditional heating. Low maintenance and
cheap to run, they work as both a heating and cooling system, and have a very
(More...)
Sportswashing: how mining and energy companies sponsor your favourite sports to help clean up their image
Mon, 24 Jan 2022 05:05:47 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://theconversation.com/sportswashing-how-mining-and-energy-companies-sponsor-your-favourite-sports-to-help-clean-up-their-image-173589>
"Fossil fuel and carbon-intensive industries have an image problem. As
awareness of their environmental impact grows, energy and mining companies in
particular are desperate to maintain control over spiralling levels of public
(More...)
Greece to step up Parthenon marbles pressure amid signs tide is turning
Mon, 24 Jan 2022 05:06:56 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2022/jan/18/parthenon-sculptures-greece-pressure-british-museum>
"Greece has vowed to intensify its campaign for the reunification of the
Parthenon sculptures amid “optimistic” signs that British public opinion has
shifted markedly in favour of returning the prized “Elgin” marbles to Athens.
(More...)
The Medieval Queens Whose Daring, Murderous Reigns Were Quickly Forgotten
Mon, 24 Jan 2022 05:08:28 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/medieval-queens-daring-reigns-quickly-forgotten-180979246/>
"The ghosts of these two Frankish queens are everywhere. During their
lifetimes, they grabbed power and hung on to it; they convinced warriors,
landowners and farmers to support them, and enemies to back down. But as with
(More...)
Greenland permanently bans all oil and gas exploration
Tue, 25 Jan 2022 05:55:08 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.optimistdaily.com/2021/12/greenland-permanently-bans-all-oil-and-gas-exploration/>
"In exciting news for the planet and environmentalists, Greenland has announced
it is permanently halting all new oil and gas exploration in the country.
(More...)
Want Drastic Climate Action? Maybe It’s Time to Sue the Government
Tue, 25 Jan 2022 05:56:04 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://reasonstobecheerful.world/want-drastic-climate-action-maybe-its-time-to-sue-the-government/>
"In the fall of 2020, Rosmarie Wydler-Wälti boarded a white Greenpeace boat,
the Beluga, in Basel, Switzerland, and rode it down the Rhine River to the
European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, France. The 71-year-old educator
(More...)
With This Company’s Support, Women Are Escaping Their Abusers
Tue, 25 Jan 2022 05:57:03 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://reasonstobecheerful.world/magalu-brazil-domestic-violence-help-employees/>
"After nearly 10 years of harassment, threats and beatings from her husband —
including a blow to the head while she was holding their then one-year-old
daughter — Adriana (not her real name) finally mustered up the courage to take
(More...)
Daniel Radcliffe to star in Weird Al Yankovic biopic
Tue, 25 Jan 2022 06:00:29 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.theguardian.com/film/2022/jan/18/daniel-radcliffe-to-star-in-weird-al-yankovic-biopic>
"If you thought future generations would remember Daniel Radcliffe for Harry
Potter, then think again. According to “Weird Al” Yankovic, a forthcoming
biopic starring Radcliffe as the cult hero behind comical spoof versions of
(More...)
A robot is killing weeds by zapping them with electricity
Wed, 26 Jan 2022 05:04:16 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
https://edition.cnn.com/2021/06/09/tech/robot-zaps-weeds-spc-intl/
"London (CNN Business)On a field in England, three robots have been given a
mission: to find and zap weeds with electricity before planting seeds in the
cleared soil.
(More...)
Leaf oysters: the unsung heroes of estuaries are disappearing, and we know almost nothing about them
Wed, 26 Jan 2022 05:05:17 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://theconversation.com/leaf-oysters-the-unsung-heroes-of-estuaries-are-disappearing-and-we-know-almost-nothing-about-them-164330>
"Camouflaged by a layer of silty mud, most people probably wouldn’t notice the
large flat oysters lurking beneath shallow water in Australia’s coastal
estuaries. These are remarkable “leaf oysters”, and they can form reefs,
(More...)
What a disaster: federal government slashes COVID payment when people need it most
Wed, 26 Jan 2022 05:06:29 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://theconversation.com/what-a-disaster-federal-government-slashes-covid-payment-when-people-need-it-most-175146>
"With Australia’s official COVID-19 infection numbers topping 100,000 a day,
the federal government has slashed its last remaining pandemic support payment.
(More...)
Totally Bogus DMCA Takedowns From Giant Publishers Completely Nuke Book Review Blog Off The Internet
Wed, 26 Jan 2022 05:08:00 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20220119/22530648321/totally-bogus-dmca-takedowns-giant-publishers-completely-nuke-book-review-blog-off-internet.shtml>
"Just as we're in the midst of a Greenhouse series all about SOPA, copyright
industry lobbyists, and former copyright industry lawyers now running the
Copyright Office are conspiring to make copyright law worse and to favor
(More...)
2021 was one of the hottest years on record – and it could also be the coldest we’ll ever see again
Wed, 26 Jan 2022 05:08:44 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://theconversation.com/2021-was-one-of-the-hottest-years-on-record-and-it-could-also-be-the-coldest-well-ever-see-again-175238>
"Well, it’s official: 2021 was one of the planet’s seven hottest years since
records began, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) declared this week.
The year was about 1.11℃ above pre-industrial levels – the seventh year in a
(More...)
Russia-Ukraine tensions: power posturing or trouble on the home front for Putin?
Thu, 27 Jan 2022 06:16:12 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://theconversation.com/russia-ukraine-tensions-power-posturing-or-trouble-on-the-home-front-for-putin-175211>
"There is a pressing need to understand what’s behind Moscow’s growing threat
to use military force against Ukraine. The real motivation for Russia’s
aggression will largely determine the west’s room for manoeuvre. Despite
(More...)
CORBEVAX, a new patent-free COVID-19 vaccine, could be a pandemic game changer globally
Thu, 27 Jan 2022 06:16:50 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
(More...)
Dinosaur food and Hiroshima bomb survivors: maidenhair trees are ‘living fossils’ and your new favourite plant
Thu, 27 Jan 2022 06:17:41 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://theconversation.com/dinosaur-food-and-hiroshima-bomb-survivors-maidenhair-trees-are-living-fossils-and-your-new-favourite-plant-164630>
"Most of us are captivated by the thought of a “living fossil”, which is any
organism that appeared millions of years ago in the fossil record and survives
today, relatively unchanged.
(More...)
Copyright means you can’t tweak how a Web page appears on your screen, according to media giant
Thu, 27 Jan 2022 06:18:55 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://walledculture.org/copyright-means-you-cant-tweak-how-a-web-page-appears-on-your-screen-according-to-media-giant/>
"Advertising is one of the commonest ways of financing Web sites and services.
There’s nothing wrong with that, at least in principle. But the fact that,
according to one estimate, 42% of Internet users worldwide employ an ad blocker
(More...)
Neal Stephenson Thinks Greed Might Be the Thing That Saves Us
Fri, 28 Jan 2022 05:30:21 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2022/01/10/magazine/neal-stephenson-interview.html>
"It’s easy, especially now, to imagine a bleak and withered future, and that’s
largely what our storytellers are doing. Whether it’s in novels, TV shows,
films or video games, speculative imaginings of the world we’re heading toward
(More...)
GPS
Fri, 28 Jan 2022 05:31:13 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
https://ciechanow.ski/gps/
"Global Positioning System is, without a doubt, one of the most useful
inventions of the late 20th century. It made it significantly easier for ships,
airplanes, cars, and hikers to figure out where they are with high degree of
(More...)
PIPNIC
Fri, 28 Jan 2022 05:32:04 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0p1fRThlLGw
"Pip Ketchip and Nic Musterd enjoy a meal on a blanket near grass."
Via Muse, who wrote "Oh dear…that’s intense and in a video!"
(More...)
'Whelan the Wrecker is here': The demolition firm that transformed Melbourne over a century
Fri, 28 Jan 2022 05:32:56 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-01-23/whelan-the-wrecker-the-demolition-firm-transformed-melbourne/100342416>
"Jim Whelan was once described as "the most destructive man in Melbourne".
Over almost a century, the demolition firm he set up in the 1880s pulled down
(More...)
Rhino horn consumers reveal why a legal trade alone won’t save rhinos
Sat, 29 Jan 2022 06:01:06 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://theconversation.com/rhino-horn-consumers-reveal-why-a-legal-trade-alone-wont-save-rhinos-173507>
"Only by interviewing actual consumers of this product can we generate insights
into motivations for purchase and rhino horn preferences. However, because
rhino horn is so expensive, rhino horn consumers are mostly senior and very
(More...)
How this little marsupial’s poo nurtures urban gardens and bushland (and how you can help protect them)
Sat, 29 Jan 2022 06:02:14 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://theconversation.com/how-this-little-marsupials-poo-nurtures-urban-gardens-and-bushland-and-how-you-can-help-protect-them-175064>
"Wildlife encounters can be few and far between in cities but, if you’re lucky,
you might catch sight of a small Aussie marsupial in Perth that’s helping keep
urban bushland healthy.
(More...)
NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope has reached its destination, 1.5 million km from Earth. Here’s what happens next
Sat, 29 Jan 2022 06:02:51 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://theconversation.com/nasas-james-webb-space-telescope-has-reached-its-destination-1-5-million-km-from-earth-heres-what-happens-next-175327>
"Since its launch on Christmas day, astronomers have eagerly followed the
complex deployment and unfurling of NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope – the
largest to ever take to the skies.
(More...)
60% of Australians want to keep Australia Day on January 26, but those under 35 disagree
Sat, 29 Jan 2022 06:03:50 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://theconversation.com/60-of-australians-want-to-keep-australia-day-on-january-26-but-those-under-35-disagree-175503>
"The issue of when or whether to celebrate Australia Day seems to have become
stuck in a loop of fierce debate without resolution.
(More...)
Palm Oil Is the Worst. Could This Replace It?
Sun, 30 Jan 2022 06:03:03 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://reasonstobecheerful.world/palm-oil-deforestation-orangutan-yeast-oil/>
"The beignets, eclairs and tartelettes at Ludovic Gerboin’s bakery in the small
village of Moosinning, Germany, glow in vibrant shades of red, blue, green and
purple. “In school, we learned that these are taboo colors for baked goods,”
(More...)
Back from the Brink
Sun, 30 Jan 2022 06:04:19 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
https://reasonstobecheerful.world/back-from-the-brink/
"It’s noon, and Paimolo Bwalya stops under a mopane tree to lower his heavy
firearm and telemetry equipment. He and his colleague have been walking since
daybreak in the sweltering Zambian bush, full of dangerous animals, trying to
(More...)
Google Drive flags nearly empty files for 'copyright infringement'
Sun, 30 Jan 2022 06:06:04 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/google-drive-flags-nearly-empty-files-for-copyright-infringement/>
"Users were left startled as Google Drive's automated detection systems flagged
a nearly empty file for copyright infringement.
(More...)
A Bug in Early Creative Commons Licenses Has Enabled a New Breed of Superpredator
Sun, 30 Jan 2022 06:07:24 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://doctorow.medium.com/a-bug-in-early-creative-commons-licenses-has-enabled-a-new-breed-of-superpredator-5f6360713299>
"Here’s a supreme irony: the Creative Commons licenses were invented to enable
a culture of legally safe sharing, spurred by the legal terror campaign waged
by the entertainment industry, led by a literal criminal predator who is now in
(More...)
Shell carbon-capture facility found to be generating more emissions than it prevents
Sun, 30 Jan 2022 06:08:26 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
https://www.dezeen.com/2022/01/25/shell-quest-ccs-global-witness-news/
"A prototype carbon capture and storage facility by Shell, which was designed
to eliminate emissions from hydrogen production, actually has the same yearly
carbon footprint as 1.2 million cars, according to a report by Global Witness.
(More...)
Australia and Norway were once tied in global anti-corruption rankings. Now, we’re heading in opposite directions
Mon, 31 Jan 2022 05:09:22 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://theconversation.com/australia-and-norway-were-once-tied-in-global-anti-corruption-rankings-now-were-heading-in-opposite-directions-174966>
"In a worrying sign, Australia has plummeted in Transparency International’s
latest Corruption Perceptions Index – the world’s most widely cited ranking of
how clean or corrupt every country’s public sector is believed to be.
(More...)
Plastic-Free Shopping Is Going Mainstream
Mon, 31 Jan 2022 05:10:30 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://reasonstobecheerful.world/plastic-free-shopping-zero-waste-kroger/>
"Two years ago, efforts to kick the country’s plastic addiction were on fire.
Municipalities around the country were implementing plastic bag taxes, while
mainstream shoppers embraced reusable grocery bags and flocked to the bulk
(More...)
We asked hundreds of Aussies whether they’d eat insects, and most said yes – so what’s holding people back?
Mon, 31 Jan 2022 05:11:26 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://theconversation.com/we-asked-hundreds-of-aussies-whether-theyd-eat-insects-and-most-said-yes-so-whats-holding-people-back-173595>
"Insects are sustainable, nutritious and delicious. They’re eaten by more than
two billion people worldwide, mostly in the tropics, and have been a staple in
Indigenous Australians’ diets for tens of thousands of years.
(More...)
Some endangered species can no longer survive in the wild. So should we alter their genes?
Mon, 31 Jan 2022 05:12:07 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://theconversation.com/some-endangered-species-can-no-longer-survive-in-the-wild-so-should-we-alter-their-genes-175226>
"Around the world, populations of many beloved species are declining at
increasing rates. According to one grim projection, as many as 40% of the
world’s species may be extinct by 2050. Alarmingly, many of these declines are
(More...)
‘He’s a villain’: Joe Manchin attracts global anger over climate crisis
Mon, 31 Jan 2022 05:13:27 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/jan/26/joe-manchin-climate-crisis-global-villain>
"Within the brutal machinations of US politics, Joe Manchin has been elevated
to a status of supreme decision-maker, the man who could make or break Joe
Biden’s presidency.
(More...)
When SimCity got serious: the story of Maxis Business Simulations and SimRefinery
Tue, 1 Feb 2022 05:09:17 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
https://obscuritory.com/sim/when-simcity-got-serious/
"
SimCity wasn’t meant to be taken seriously.
The game was inspired by research on real-world urban planning concepts and
(More...)
Novak Djokovic was detained for five days – refugees in the same hotel have been there for years
Tue, 1 Feb 2022 05:10:04 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://theconversation.com/novak-djokovic-was-detained-for-five-days-refugees-in-the-same-hotel-have-been-there-for-years-175112>
"When Novak Djokovic arrived at a Melbourne airport to compete in the 2022
Australian Open, his next stop was not the tennis court but rather the Park
hotel, a hotel-turned-immigration detention centre. The Australian government’s
(More...)
‘An important victory’: Native American tribes reclaim a redwood forest
Tue, 1 Feb 2022 05:11:25 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.fontoura.com/english/2022/01/25/an-important-victory-native-american-tribes-reclaim-a-redwood-forest/>
"Deep in the mountains of Mendocino County, nearly 200 acres of old-growth
redwoods, chronically threatened by logging, have long stood on a plot known as
Andersonia West, well beyond the reach and awareness of most Californians — at
(More...)
WHO chief backs Neil Young over Covid misinformation row with Spotify
Tue, 1 Feb 2022 05:13:00 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2022/jan/27/who-chief-backs-neil-young-over-covid-misinformation-row-with-spotify-joe-rogan>
"The World Health Organization chief has backed the veteran rock star Neil
Young in his dispute with the music streaming behemoth Spotify, thanking the
musician for “standing up against misinformation and inaccuracies” around Covid
(More...)
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