Glass Wings Blog

The Glass Wings mailing list and blog is for general idle chit-chat about things we find interesting, especially humor, animation or other subjects relevant to the Glass Wings web site at glasswings.com.au. Subscribe at https://glasswings.com.au/subscribe.html

This is how to defeat Vladimir Putin

Tue, 26 May 2026 02:50:30 +1000

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

<https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/may/23/defeat-vladimir-putin-russia-ukraine-nato-eu>

"No dictator lasts for ever. One day Vladimir Putin will be gone. Recent
reports suggest growing weakness in the Russian economy, discontent in society
and a waning of confidence inside his regime – but it would be foolish to

Comedian Alasdair Beckett-King was a die-hard adventure gamer until he discovered Morrowind: 'The first time I loaded it up, I walked straight into a little pond and was killed by a fish'

Tue, 26 May 2026 02:48:28 +1000

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

<https://www.pcgamer.com/gaming-industry/comedian-alasdair-beckett-king-was-a-die-hard-adventure-gamer-until-he-discovered-morrowind-the-first-time-i-loaded-it-up-i-walked-straight-into-a-little-pond-and-was-killed-by-a-fish/>

"Alasdair Beckett-King first encountered games through playing Dizzy on a ZX
Spectrum bought by his parents. "We got a second-hand Spectrum with a black and
white monitor. I don't even know if kids know that was a thing. So I played

Former prosecutor calls for EU statute blocking US sanctions on ICC members

Tue, 26 May 2026 02:46:36 +1000

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

<https://www.theguardian.com/law/2026/may/24/former-international-criminal-court-prosecutor-calls-for-eu-statute-blocking-us-sanctions-on-icc-members>

"A former prosecutor at the international criminal court has called for an
EU-wide statute blocking what she describes as “thuggish” and “bullying” US
sanctions imposed on members of the court that are designed to send the court

Single mums are seeking each other out and turning to shared housing

Tue, 26 May 2026 02:44:22 +1000

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

<https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-05-24/single-mothers-housing-affordability-shared-housing/106703756>

“For 18 months after her break-up, single mother Hayley Grimmond was finding it
impossible to find a secure, long-term rental for her and her young daughter,
Blair.

Miners are burning a lot more diesel than four years ago, just for same amounts of now hard-to-get coal

Tue, 26 May 2026 02:43:16 +1000

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

<https://reneweconomy.com.au/miners-are-burning-a-lot-more-diesel-than-four-years-ago-just-for-same-amounts-of-now-hard-to-get-coal/>

"Australia’s mining industry is using a quarter more diesel than it did four
years ago just to achieve the same output, despite fuel shortages crippling the
nation.

Czech president urges Nato to ‘show its teeth’ over Russia’s provocations

Tue, 26 May 2026 02:42:23 +1000

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

<https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/may/22/czech-president-petr-pavel-nato-show-teeth-russia-provocations>

"The Czech president, Petr Pavel, has urged Nato to “show its teeth” in
response to Russia’s repeated testing of the alliance’s resolve on its eastern
flank, suggesting a range of options including switching off its internet,

Sydney Harbour expected to have its first electric ferry within two years

Mon, 25 May 2026 19:34:39 +1000

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

<https://thedriven.io/2026/05/19/sydney-harbour-expected-to-have-its-first-electric-ferry-within-two-years/>

"Sydney Harbour is expected to have its first electric ferry before the end of
the decade after the New South Wales government signed contracts with Tasmanian
shipyard Richardson Devine Marine.

From Fiji to French Polynesia, how Pacific islands are uniquely vulnerable to the oil crisis

Mon, 25 May 2026 19:33:57 +1000

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

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/may/22/pacific-islands-oil-crisis

"When 53-year-old Agbar Mohammad pulled into a petrol station in Fiji in May,
he was expecting a queue. Instead, it was almost empty. “I could only see one
or two cars at the service station, which was very unusual,” Mohammad says.

Construction starts on Sydney’s first purpose-built electric bus depot

Mon, 25 May 2026 19:33:23 +1000

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

<https://thedriven.io/2026/05/19/construction-starts-on-sydneys-first-purpose-built-electric-bus-depot/>

"Construction has officially begun on Sydney’s first purpose-built electric bus
depot, which will be capable of charging 150 battery electric buses.

Ebola: US ban on travellers from DRC, Uganda or South Sudan ‘not the solution’

Mon, 25 May 2026 19:31:40 +1000

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

<https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2026/may/21/ebola-us-ban-travellers-drc-uganda-south-sudan>

"A US travel ban for people coming from the Democratic Republic of the Congo,
Uganda or South Sudan in response to the Ebola outbreak could make the
situation worse, critics have said.