If you celebrate Christmas, I hope you have your shopping close to done. Otherwise, you might not get it in time and then everyone will hate you for ever and ever and ever.
If He Builds It, Tear It Down - by Hamilton Nolan: Ayup.
No, Progressives Don’t Want “Purity.” They Just Want Some Courage. | The New Republic: Conor Lamb, the center-ist center that ever did center will get my donations for whatever he runs for in PA not because I approve of his policies but because from day one, he’s fought Trump.
Rare set of varied factors triggered Black Death - Ars Technica: Science is cool and will conspire with volcanoes to give you the plague.
a sad song’s best for winter - by BDM - Notebook: The sentiment is spot on, even if the song they chose for illustrative purposes is … not the one I would have chosen.
Millions of children and teens lose access to accounts as Australia’s world-first social media ban begins | Social media ban | The Guardian: A very nuanced and thoughtful look a the social media band for kids in Australia.
At will? Whose will? - by Don Moynihan: Great explainer of why the Supreme Court’s imminent decision to allow Trump to fire civil servants is anti-democracy.
That Personalized Email About Loving and Marketing Your Book Is a Scam - Electric Literature: A new scam for authors to be aware of one. One day, I will be published enough for scam artists to try and steal from me ….
NHL’s most punchable face? From Cousins to Marchand to Makar, who players picked — and why - The Athletic: Yeah, this is about right.
Firewood Banks Aren’t Inspiring. They’re a Sign of Collapse. | The New Republic: The United States is a failed nation, part one billion.
The end of optimization - by Dave Karpf: Great look at why tech is actively hostile to its users.
‘For the Reinvention of Man’: How a Conservative Debating Society at Harvard Pushed Women From Its Ranks | News | The Harvard Crimson: It is bad that equality is not even given lip service by so many conservatives any more.
Power Dynamics, Bad Faith, And The War on Christmas: We don’t have to take bad faith seriously.
Billionaire AI Brain Rot - Will Lockett’s Newsletter: Not sure I agree, but its an interesting perspective.
Guidelines for Female Protagonists in Hallmark Christmas Movies: Remember, woman’s equality is anti-Santa, at least according to Hallmark.
A New Report Reveals the Real Reason Democrats Lost in 2024 | The New Republic: Voters do not think like consultants want them to think, so consultants cannot understand why campaigns failed.
Madison Square Garden’s 5-story entrance ramp is the steep price of admission for visiting athletes - The Athletic: The idea that MSG has an elevator for the home teams but make the away teams walk up a five-story ramp is just perfect sports pettiness.
Have the best possible week, everyone.
Hey, great read as always. I realy appreciate how you consistently weave together these complex threads of policy and societal impact. The points on democratic erosion, especially regarding civil servants, resonated with your recent analysis on safeguarding our institutions. Always such valuable insights.
Hello ! Good list of reads today, thanks . I read quite a few so far and I had never heard of the Breakers from the "A Sad Song..." but now I have heard them. I did like the Joni Mitchell. I really enjoyed the NHL Most Punchable and I'm glad not to be a hockey player. Good God, these guys are violent in thought AND action. I prefer to keep my teeth intact and my face not punched in. Jesus ! But I still love it . The article "IF He Builds it, Tear it Down" sentiments I can agree with. Trump is a pompous, corrupt grifter but to tear it down makes no sense. Refurbish it into something useful, use it and be happy as hell that Trump is gone. Happy Sunday !!!