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.

I don't think ICE is the Gestapo

Wed, 21 Jan 2026 19:34:37 +1100

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

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BYOeamkqHtc

"A lot of people have been comparing ICE to the Gestapo. But while that's not a
bad comparison, I think there's a better one — and it's actually a bit
scarier."

'The finest in the world': Why the US is buying icebreakers from Finland

Wed, 21 Jan 2026 19:33:30 +1100

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

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0q48d71ke8o

“As President Donald Trump continues to insist that the US needs to own
Greenland, his wider focus on the Arctic region has seen Washington order new
icebreakers.

Why the Trump administration’s demand for a list of Jews at Penn is so dangerous

Wed, 21 Jan 2026 19:30:47 +1100

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

<https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/jan/20/trump-list-jews-u-penn-dangerous>

"This month, a judge ordered the University of Pennsylvania to justify its
refusal to collect and disclose the names and personal contact information of
Jewish faculty, staff and students to the federal government. Late last year,

Deep sea mining is the next geopolitical frontline – and the Pacific is in the crosshairs

Wed, 21 Jan 2026 19:29:39 +1100

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

<https://theconversation.com/deep-sea-mining-is-the-next-geopolitical-frontline-and-the-pacific-is-in-the-crosshairs-273223>

"When the United States recently escalated its confrontation with Venezuela –
carrying out strikes in Caracas and capturing President Nicolás Maduro – the
moves were framed as political intervention.

Threat Model - Cybersecurity: January 20, 2026

Wed, 21 Jan 2026 19:28:46 +1100

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

https://www.patreon.com/posts/cybersecurity-20-148665290

"This week: the Supreme Court hacker may not be the brightest among us,
divisive French “patriot” social media accounts go out with Iran’s internet,
German gov’t moves to expand hacking powers to deal with America’s increasing

The world is in water bankruptcy, UN scientists report – here’s what that means

Wed, 21 Jan 2026 19:27:48 +1100

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

<https://theconversation.com/the-world-is-in-water-bankruptcy-un-scientists-report-heres-what-that-means-273213>

"The world is now using so much fresh water amid the consequences of climate
change that it has entered an era of water bankruptcy, with many regions no
longer able to bounce back from frequent water shortages.

Even in extreme cold, EVs outperform diesel AND save drivers money

Wed, 21 Jan 2026 12:01:40 +1100

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

<https://electrek.co/2026/01/19/even-in-extreme-cold-evs-outperform-diesel-and-save-drivers-money/>

"Fleet managers don’t get paid to argue on Facebook. They get paid to look at
the numbers, and make decisions in the best financial interests of their
companies. According to studies that follow real-world fleets in the most

Research reveals a surprising line of defence against cyber attacks: accountants

Wed, 21 Jan 2026 11:55:26 +1100

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

<https://theconversation.com/research-reveals-a-surprising-line-of-defence-against-cyber-attacks-accountants-272428>

"When Optus, Medibank and non-bank lender Latitude Financial were hit by
separate cyber attacks in the past few years, millions of Australians felt the
fallout: stolen personal data, disrupted services and weeks of uncertainty.

‘We got lazy and complacent’: Swedish pensioners explain how abolishing the wealth tax changed their country

Wed, 21 Jan 2026 11:53:09 +1100

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

<https://theconversation.com/we-got-lazy-and-complacent-swedish-pensioners-explain-how-abolishing-the-wealth-tax-changed-their-country-272041>

"For much of the 20th century, Sweden enjoyed a justifiable reputation as one
of Europe’s most egalitarian countries. Yet over the past two decades, it has
transformed into what journalist and author Andreas Cervenka calls a “paradise

Hope for tigers grows as Thailand safeguards a key link in their habitat

Wed, 21 Jan 2026 11:51:24 +1100

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

<https://news.mongabay.com/2025/12/hope-for-tigers-grows-as-thailand-safeguards-a-key-link-in-their-habitat/>

"KANCHANABURI, Thailand — Following the path of the tiger isn’t easy. Yet the
three rangers, clad in camouflage, move lithely through the steep bamboo
thicket, tracking the muddy hoofprints of a sambar deer. Out of the snagging