Glass Wings Blog: October 2023

Yemen: UN removes 1m barrels of oil from ageing tanker to avert environmental catastrophe

Sun, 1 Oct 2023 12:09:48 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/aug/12/yemen-un-removes-1m-barrels-of-oil-from-ageing-tanker-to-avert-environmental-catastrophe>

"The transfer of more than 1 million barrels of oil from an ageing tanker
moored off the coast of war-torn Yemen has been completed, avoiding an
environmental disaster, the UN has said.

(More...)

Ukraine claims it damaged prized Russian jets using 'cardboard' drones from Australia in a daring raid

Sun, 1 Oct 2023 12:11:09 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.businessinsider.com/ukraine-says-struck-5-russian-jets-drones-made-cardboard-2023-8>

'Ukraine claimed that an attack that damaged five fighter planes at a Russian
airfield was carried out using "cardboard" drones from Australia.

(More...)

Word games, wit and the pleasure of annoying people: a daughter’s memoir sheds new light on the notoriously private John Clarke

Sun, 1 Oct 2023 12:13:22 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/word-games-wit-and-the-pleasure-of-annoying-people-a-daughters-memoir-sheds-new-light-on-the-notoriously-private-john-clarke-211682>

"Review: Would that be funny? Growing up with John Clarke – Lorin Clarke
(Text)

(More...)

Monkees’ Micky Dolenz, The Final Daydream Believer

Sun, 1 Oct 2023 12:15:15 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.forbes.com/sites/jimclash/2023/08/29/monkees-micky-dolenz-the-final-daydream-believer/>

"Some things can’t be explained. Take The Monkees. In the mid-sixties, a
comedic television show parodying a struggling rock band living on a California
beach unexpectedly caught fire on NBC, the host network.

(More...)

We studied more than 1,500 coastal ecosystems - they will drown if we let the world warm above 2℃

Sun, 1 Oct 2023 12:16:24 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/we-studied-more-than-1-500-coastal-ecosystems-they-will-drown-if-we-let-the-world-warm-above-2-211431>

"Much of the world’s natural coastline is protected by living habitats, most
notably mangroves in warmer waters and tidal marshes closer to the poles. These
ecosystems support fisheries and wildlife, absorb the impact of crashing waves

(More...)

Adam Bandt urges Australians to ‘embrace’ civil disobedience and join climate protests

Sun, 1 Oct 2023 12:17:27 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/aug/30/adam-bandt-urges-australians-to-embrace-civil-disobedience-and-join-climate-protests>

"The Australian Greens leader, Adam Bandt, has called on people to join
disruptive climate protests to pressure the Albanese government to stop opening
new fossil fuel mines, saying he plans to help blockade the country’s largest

(More...)

We won’t always have to use animals for medical research. Here’s what we can do instead

Sun, 1 Oct 2023 19:55:21 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/we-wont-always-have-to-use-animals-for-medical-research-heres-what-we-can-do-instead-212182>

"Animals have been used for medical research for thousands of years, dating
back to ancient Greece where the first dissections were performed.

(More...)

EU imports of Russian liquified gas leap by 40% since Ukraine invasion

Sun, 1 Oct 2023 19:56:26 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.theguardian.com/business/2023/aug/30/eu-imports-of-russian-liquified-gas-leap-by-40-since-ukraine-invasion>

"EU imports of Russian liquified natural gas (LNG) have increased by 40% since
the invasion of Ukraine despite efforts to cut down supplies.

(More...)

Too many young people who’ve been in detention die prematurely. They deserve better

Sun, 1 Oct 2023 19:57:08 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/too-many-young-people-whove-been-in-detention-die-prematurely-they-deserve-better-211046>

"Young people in contact with the criminal justice system – be it under
community-based orders or in youth detention – are among the most marginalised
in our society. And the health and health-care disadvantage faced by these

(More...)

Gabon military officers declare coup after Ali Bongo wins disputed election

Sun, 1 Oct 2023 19:59:03 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/aug/30/gabon-coup-military-takeover-gabonese-election-disputed>

"Military officers in Gabon say they have taken power and put the president,
Ali Bongo Ondimba, under house arrest, as the country becomes the latest in
Africa to suffer an attempted coup, only weeks after mutinous troops seized

(More...)

One Type of Misinformation Is Commonly Overlooked as Benign. Here's Why It Isn't.

Sun, 1 Oct 2023 20:01:22 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.sciencealert.com/one-type-of-misinformation-is-commonly-overlooked-as-benign-heres-why-it-isnt>

"When the city of London faced the bubonic plague in 1665, many people
desperately sought a way to protect themselves and their loved ones from
getting sick.

(More...)

US military plans to unleash thousands of autonomous war robots over next two years

Sun, 1 Oct 2023 20:02:17 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/us-military-plans-to-unleash-thousands-of-autonomous-war-robots-over-next-two-years-212444>

"The United States military plans to start using thousands of autonomous
weapons systems in the next two years in a bid to counter China’s growing
power, US Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks announced in a speech on

(More...)

How gene mapping almost all remaining kākāpō will help NZ’s rare night parrot survive

Mon, 2 Oct 2023 04:00:17 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/how-gene-mapping-almost-all-remaining-kakapo-will-help-nzs-rare-night-parrot-survive-212451>

"The genetic mapping of almost the entire kākāpō population has shed new light
on specific traits that will help conservation biologists in their efforts to
save the critically endangered flightless night parrots.

(More...)

Americans are spotting more sharks in the water. Here’s why that’s a good thing

Mon, 2 Oct 2023 04:01:25 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://edition.cnn.com/2023/07/29/us/sharks-us-beaches-more-conservation-safety/>

"It’s that time of year again: the thick of summer when sharks have caught
America’s attention.

(More...)

‘Eco-friendly’ straws contain potentially toxic chemicals – posing a threat to people and wildlife

Mon, 2 Oct 2023 04:02:14 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/eco-friendly-straws-contain-potentially-toxic-chemicals-posing-a-threat-to-people-and-wildlife-212472>

"Drinking straws that are made from materials like paper and bamboo are often
promoted as more eco-friendly than their plastic counterparts. However, a new
study has found that these supposedly sustainable straws contain potentially

(More...)

Record-breaking number of sea turtle nests found on Jupiter-area beaches, researchers say

Mon, 2 Oct 2023 04:03:21 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.palmbeachpost.com/story/news/local/2023/07/30/sea-turtle-nests-record-breaking-number-found-on-jupiter-area-beaches/70494804007/>

"JUNO BEACH — Researchers have found a record number of sea turtle nests in
northern Palm Beach County, according to the Loggerhead Marinelife Center in
Juno Beach.

(More...)

A Tale Of Two Tweets

Mon, 2 Oct 2023 04:04:46 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
https://www.garbageday.email/p/the-new-economics-of-twitter-outrage

"On the off-chance you haven’t heard the term “the main character of Twitter,”
it’s a simple way of describing the experience of posting something — or being
posted about — on Twitter and having that snowball into a trending topic. The

(More...)

Kenyan fishers put new twists on an age-old marine conservation system

Mon, 2 Oct 2023 04:06:22 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://news.mongabay.com/2023/08/kenyan-fishers-put-new-twists-on-an-age-old-marine-conservation-system/>

"KWALE and KILIFI COUNTIES, Kenya — One June afternoon at the Mwanamia fish
landing site on Kenya’s north coast, Garama Karisa was busy mending his gear
for an afternoon fishing expedition. He expertly weaved his threaded needle,

(More...)

Beyond the Yuck Factor: Cities Turn to ‘Extreme’ Water Recycling

Mon, 2 Oct 2023 12:01:29 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://e360.yale.edu/features/on-site-distributed-premise-graywater-blackwater-recycling>

"In downtown San Francisco, in a cavernous garage that was once a Honda
dealership, a gleaming white-and-blue appliance about the size of a commercial
refrigerator is being prepared for transport to a hotel in Los Angeles.

(More...)

Fewer of us are cycling – here’s how we can reverse the decline

Mon, 2 Oct 2023 12:06:39 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/fewer-of-us-are-cycling-heres-how-we-can-reverse-the-decline-212260>

"Rates of cycling are falling in Australia, a national report released today
shows. More people started riding bikes early in the pandemic, but that hasn’t
lasted. The percentages of people who cycle are lower now than in 2011.

(More...)

Scientists demand end to dingo baiting after research reveals most are genetically pure

Mon, 2 Oct 2023 12:07:39 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/sep/01/scientists-demand-end-to-dingo-baiting-after-research-reveals-most-are-genetically-pure>

"Scientists are calling on governments to end baiting programs targeting
dingoes in national parks, to ditch the “inappropriate and misleading” term
“wild dog”, and to proactively engage with Indigenous Australians regarding

(More...)

Labor’s new Murray-Darling Basin Plan deal entrenches water injustice for First Nations

Mon, 2 Oct 2023 12:08:32 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/labors-new-murray-darling-basin-plan-deal-entrenches-water-injustice-for-first-nations-212261>

"The federal government has struck a new deal with most of the states in the
nation’s largest river system. The agreement, announced last week, extends the
$13 billion 2012 Murray-Darling Basin Plan to rebalance water allocated to the

(More...)

Climate Change is a Bigger Existential Threat Than AI

Mon, 2 Oct 2023 12:09:44 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:https://aninjusticemag.com/climate-change-is-a-bigger-existential-threat-than-ai-ea1f175aa9b0>

"It's been the year of fretting about AI. While there are many ethical
considerations with AI, the issue of labor being one of the primary ones (see
The Work of Art in the Age of AI), what AI evangelists talk about is often

(More...)

Unsexy but vital: why warnings over grid reliability are really about building more transmission lines

Mon, 2 Oct 2023 12:10:42 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/unsexy-but-vital-why-warnings-over-grid-reliability-are-really-about-building-more-transmission-lines-212603>

"“To ensure Australian consumers continue to have access to reliable
electricity supplies, it’s critical that planned investments in transmission,
generation and storage projects are urgently delivered.”

(More...)

An Audacious Plan to Halt the Internet’s Enshittification and Throw It Into Reverse

Mon, 2 Oct 2023 20:17:59 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:https://doctorow.medium.com/an-audacious-plan-to-halt-the-internets-enshittification-and-throw-it-into-reverse-3cc01e7e4604>

"I have a confession to make: I am old. I turned 52 last month, the full deck
of cards. I have two artificial hips. I have cataracts in both eyes. I’m old as
dirt.

(More...)

How Much Will New Fossil Fuel Projects Harm Polar Bears? We Can Now Calculate It

Mon, 2 Oct 2023 20:19:13 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.sciencealert.com/how-much-will-new-fossil-fuel-projects-harm-polar-bears-we-can-now-calculate-it>

'Polar bears have long symbolized the dangers posed by climate change, as
rising temperatures melt away the Arctic sea ice they depend upon for survival.

(More...)

Hospitals are killing patients because they don't feel like doing infection control

Mon, 2 Oct 2023 20:23:27 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
https://www.thegauntlet.news/p/hospitals-are-killing-patients-because

"People who have gone “back to normal” (ignore the existence of COVID-19) often
justify their decision by pointing to their own health status as “not high
risk”. Implicit in this statement is the existence of a high-risk group of

(More...)

Single-use take-away cups of paper are as toxic to aquatic midge larvae as plastic cups

Mon, 2 Oct 2023 20:24:42 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0269749123008382

"Single-use plastics and food packaging are the most common items polluting the
environment, commonly identified in surveys and litter monitoring campaigns.
There are pushes to ban these products from production and use in different

(More...)

Flood protection based on historical records is flawed – we need a risk model fit for climate change

Mon, 2 Oct 2023 20:25:45 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/flood-protection-based-on-historical-records-is-flawed-we-need-a-risk-model-fit-for-climate-change-212454>

"Despite countries pouring billions of dollars into “protecting” communities,
flood-related disasters are becoming more frequent and are projected to become
even more severe as the climate crisis worsens.

(More...)

Australia needs a ‘knowledge economy’ fuelled by scientists and arts graduates: here’s why

Mon, 2 Oct 2023 20:26:49 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/australia-needs-a-knowledge-economy-fuelled-by-scientists-and-arts-graduates-heres-why-212366>

"The federal government has been asking for “bold ideas” to “reimagine” the
future of Australian higher education for decades to come.

(More...)

Is fashion’s problem overproduction or overconsumption?

Tue, 3 Oct 2023 03:23:14 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:https://medium.com/@bdajess/is-fashions-problem-overproduction-or-overconsumption-398810a29dc0>

"It’s likely that those with an interest in sustainable fashion are tired of
hearing that they should be reducing their shopping habits even further.

(More...)

Under-counting, a gendered industry, and precarious work: the challenges facing Creative Australia in supporting visual artists

Tue, 3 Oct 2023 03:24:08 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/under-counting-a-gendered-industry-and-precarious-work-the-challenges-facing-creative-australia-in-supporting-visual-artists-208021>

"When Arts Minister Tony Burke launched the bill introducing Creative
Australia, the new organisation at the heart of the Revive Cultural Policy, he
did so with a bold statement:

(More...)

EU blindsided by ‘spectacular’ solar rollout

Tue, 3 Oct 2023 03:25:52 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.politico.eu/article/solar-power-global-emissions-climate-crisis-eu-blindsided-by-spectacular-solar-rollout/>

"BRUSSELS — Explosive growth in solar power means most EU countries will hit
their 2030 renewable energy targets ahead of time, new data shows, fuelling
optimism on efforts to bring down global emissions.

(More...)

How the Inflation Reduction Act Has Reshaped the U.S.—and The World

Tue, 3 Oct 2023 03:27:11 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
https://time.com/6304143/inflation-reduction-act-us-global-impact/

"In late July, I visited a steel mill in Gallatin, Ky., operated by the company
Nucor. During my visit, I watched as the facility churned out massive rolls of
low-carbon steel destined for use in renewable infrastructure. Nucor’s stock

(More...)

The AI music company shitting up your streams

Tue, 3 Oct 2023 03:29:41 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
https://5mag.net/features/boomy-ai-music-company-shitmusic-streams/

"The fiasco around AI-generated music has embroiled Spotify — and a company
that claims to have produced more than 14% of all the recorded music in the
world is in the crossfire.

(More...)

Global air pollution is a major health risk

Tue, 3 Oct 2023 03:31:23 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
https://www.futurity.org/global-air-pollution-health-risk-2969072/

"If the world were to permanently reduce fine particulate pollution (PM2.5) to
meet the World Health Organization’s guideline, the average person would add
2.3 years to their life expectancy—or a combined 17.8 billion life-years saved

(More...)

18,065 km rail routes electrified in six years from 2014 to 2020

Tue, 3 Oct 2023 13:20:15 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.thestatesman.com/india/18065-km-rail-routes-electrified-in-six-years-from-2014-to-2020-1503178845.html>

"The Indian Railways has registered a 37 per cent increase in electrification
work during the period 2014-2020 as compared to 2009-2014. About 18,065 km rail
routes have been electrified during these six years.

(More...)

Solar Built on Trash Offers Solution to Renewable Energy’s Space Problem

Tue, 3 Oct 2023 13:21:05 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
https://archive.md/MkUOY

"On a vast expanse of land behind a commuter town just east of London, 108,000
newly installed solar panels glint in the sun, soaking up energy that will soon
be transported through cables to the UK capital.

(More...)

A quarter of Queensland’s energy now generated from renewables

Tue, 3 Oct 2023 13:22:14 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/aug/08/a-quarter-of-queenslands-energy-now-generated-from-renewables>

"A quarter of Queensland’s energy is now being generated by renewables and the
state is on track to hit 50% within seven years, the state’s energy minister
says.

(More...)

Latin America could become this century’s commodity superpower

Tue, 3 Oct 2023 13:23:41 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
https://archive.md/3yQmi

"THE GROUND approaching the salt flats in Chile’s Atacama desert is pockmarked
with white crystals. Underneath sit vast deposits of lithium salts, the ore for
the soft, light metal used to make high-capacity batteries. Pumps run by SQM, a

(More...)

World’s Largest Lithium Mine Is In Australia

Tue, 3 Oct 2023 13:25:08 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://cleantechnica.com/2023/08/09/worlds-largest-lithium-mine-is-in-australia/>

"The world’s largest hard-rock lithium mine is the Pilbara Minerals’
Pilgangoora Mine situated in Western Australia. Just a few years ago, people
were discussing the scarcity of lithium (you don’t see much around, if you

(More...)

The Short List Of Climate Actions That Will Work

Tue, 3 Oct 2023 13:28:40 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.forbes.com/sites/michaelbarnard/2023/08/11/the-short-list-of-climate-actions-that-will-work/>

"For climate action, there are solutions where money, time and resources should
be focused, and there are distractions that typically serve things other than
moving the needle on climate emissions. For several years, I’ve been iterating

(More...)

Everything is coming together for launch of NASA’s mission to a metal asteroid

Tue, 3 Oct 2023 19:43:36 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://arstechnica.com/space/2023/08/everything-is-coming-together-for-launch-of-nasas-mission-to-a-metal-asteroid/>

"TITUSVILLE, Florida—NASA's Psyche spacecraft is running a year behind schedule
before the beginning of its journey to explore a metal asteroid, but mission
managers said Friday the probe is essentially ready for launch in less than two

(More...)

How AI is helping airlines mitigate the climate impact of contrails

Tue, 3 Oct 2023 19:44:57 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
https://blog.google/technology/ai/ai-airlines-contrails-climate-change/

"Contrails — the thin, white lines you sometimes see behind airplanes — have a
surprisingly large impact on our climate. The 2022 IPCC report noted that
clouds created by contrails account for roughly 35% of aviation's global

(More...)

Rebuilding After the Replication Crisis

Tue, 3 Oct 2023 19:46:18 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://asteriskmag.com/issues/01/rebuilding-after-the-replication-crisis>

"An empty room with a large cardboard box in the center. A group of 102
undergrad students. They’re split into three groups, and asked to sit either in
the box, beside the box or in the room with the box removed. They complete a

(More...)

The Secret Life of the 500+ Cables That Run the Internet

Tue, 3 Oct 2023 19:47:48 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.cnet.com/home/internet/features/the-secret-life-of-the-500-cables-that-run-the-internet/>

"The concert is in London. You're watching it live from your home in Atlanta.
What makes that possible is a network of subsea cables draped across the cold,
dark contours of the ocean floor, transmitting sights and sounds at the speed

(More...)

Climate damage is worsening faster than expected, but there’s still reason for optimism – 4 essential reads on the IPCC report

Tue, 3 Oct 2023 19:48:59 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/climate-damage-is-worsening-faster-than-expected-but-theres-still-reason-for-optimism-4-essential-reads-on-the-ipcc-report-202116>

"Reading the latest international climate report can feel overwhelming. It
describes how rising temperatures caused by increasing greenhouse gas emissions
from human activities are having rapid, widespread effects on the weather,

(More...)

The Meat Lovers' Guide to Plant-Based Meat

Tue, 3 Oct 2023 19:50:00 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.consumerreports.org/health/meat-substitutes/the-meat-lovers-guide-to-plant-based-meat-a1041127424/>

"I’d been a vegetarian for a decade when the global pandemic hit in 2020 and,
for reasons I still can’t explain, suddenly found myself with a Popeyes chicken
sandwich in my hand. Now, as the pandemic panic recedes, I seem to be returning

(More...)

Fossil Fuel Subsidies Surged to Record $7 Trillion

Wed, 4 Oct 2023 04:31:24 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.imf.org/en/Blogs/Articles/2023/08/24/fossil-fuel-subsidies-surged-to-record-7-trillion>

"Fossil-fuel subsidies surged to a record $7 trillion last year as governments
supported consumers and businesses during the global spike in energy prices
caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the economic recovery from the

(More...)

QFS declares catastrophic fire danger for Queensland's Granite Belt, Darling Downs

Wed, 4 Oct 2023 04:33:02 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-09-03/qld-catastrophic-fire-danger-declared-granite-belt-darling-downs/102808452>

'Catastrophic fire danger has been declared for parts of Queensland, as the
country enters a warm, dry spring — the first since 2020.

(More...)

3 Enchanting Japanese Words That Will Brighten Your Day

Wed, 4 Oct 2023 04:33:55 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:https://medium.com/japonica-publication/3-enchanting-japanese-words-that-will-brighten-your-day-2397bb24fdaf>

"As a native Japanese speaker, I get annoyed when I come across English
articles that tout Japanese buzzwords like ikigai. They’re not commonly used
in our day-to-day conversations. Ikigai is more like a stock word thrown in job

(More...)

Mullet Champ USA: 2023 Kids Top 25

Wed, 4 Oct 2023 04:35:46 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.mulletchamp.com/all-digital-contests/2023-kids-digital-contest/kids-top-25/>

"Mullet Champs is all about celebrating the bold and outrageous hairstyle that
is the mullet. With our annual mullet champion contest, we travel across the
country searching for the wildest mullets out there. We hold live contests in

(More...)

Supervised AI isn’t

Wed, 4 Oct 2023 04:37:46 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:https://doctorow.medium.com/supervised-ai-isnt-1f20a68c1ea>

"It wasn’t just Ottawa: Microsoft Travel published a whole bushel of absurd
articles, including the notorious Ottawa guide recommending that tourists dine
at the Ottawa Food Bank (“go on an empty stomach”):

(More...)

Archaeology and genomics together with Indigenous knowledge revise the human-horse story in the American West

Wed, 4 Oct 2023 04:42:01 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/archaeology-and-genomics-together-with-indigenous-knowledge-revise-the-human-horse-story-in-the-american-west-202222>

"Few places in the world are more closely linked with horses in the popular
imagination than the Great Plains of North America. Romanticized stories of
cowboys and the Wild West figure prominently in popular culture, and domestic

(More...)

The End Will Come for the Cult of MAGA

Wed, 4 Oct 2023 12:30:09 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2023/08/trumpism-maga-cult-republican-voters-indoctrination/675173/>

"In October of last year, Donald Trump filed a defamation suit accusing CNN of
calling him a lot of bad names, the first on the lengthy list being “like a
cult leader.” One could assume that Trump would be flattered by that, because

(More...)

Tribe getting piece of Minnesota back more than a century after ancestors died there

Wed, 4 Oct 2023 12:31:23 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://apnews.com/article/minnesota-native-american-land-back-b09c0dc8dd6289a1545684e04599f94f>

"GRANITE FALLS, Minn. (AP) — Golden prairies and winding rivers of a Minnesota
state park also hold the secret burial sites of Dakota people who died as the
United States failed to fulfill treaties with Native Americans more than a

(More...)

Kenya Is Poised to Become the ‘Singapore of Africa’

Wed, 4 Oct 2023 12:32:56 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
https://archive.is/ssWrs

"Of all the countries in sub-Saharan Africa to be optimistic about, the most
promising is Kenya. Economic and political forces are converging to put the
continent’s seventh-largest nation in a relatively favorable position.

(More...)

UN Human Rights Committee rules in favour of First Nations people

Wed, 4 Oct 2023 12:33:54 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.lawyersweekly.com.au/biglaw/37937-un-human-rights-committee-rules-in-favour-of-first-nation-peoples>

"A First Nations group in Western Australia has secured a landmark victory in
the UN Human Rights Committee over a native title claim on land in the Pilbara
region.

(More...)

Voters are distressed by the 'moral blindness' of corporate Australia, says Roy Morgan

Wed, 4 Oct 2023 12:34:46 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-09-03/australians-distressed-by-moral-blindess-of-corporate-australia/102807234>

'Australians have never been more distrusting of corporate Australia.

That's what researchers at Roy Morgan have found.

(More...)

A Czech couple has created the world's first hand-stitched video game

Wed, 4 Oct 2023 12:37:25 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://news.expats.cz/czech-news/article/czech-couple-creates-world-s-first-embroidered-video-game>

"Czech couple Eva and Lukáš Navrátil have created what must be a first in the
world of video games, reports Aktuálně.cz. The couple's newest game, Scarlet
Deer Inn
, features characters that have been hand-illustrated not using paper

(More...)

African Climate Summit: An opportunity to decolonise Africa’s energy

Wed, 4 Oct 2023 20:24:52 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2023/9/3/african-climate-summit-an-opportunity-to-decolonise-africas-energy>

"African and international leaders will attend the African Climate Summit from
September 4 to 6 in Nairobi, Kenya. They will deliberate on Africa’s unified
position on the climate crisis ahead of COP28, the global climate talks, in

(More...)

How Jaya bought the ‘Australian dream’ for $30,000 in Japan

Wed, 4 Oct 2023 20:26:27 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.sbs.com.au/news/dateline/article/how-jaya-bought-the-australian-dream-for-30-000-in-japan/yalywsys5>

"When Jaya Thursfield faced the question of where to put down roots for his
young family, he was torn between his home country, Australia, and Japan, the
home country of his wife Chihiro.

(More...)

There’s a Battle Over Carbon Emerging from the War in Ukraine

Wed, 4 Oct 2023 20:33:21 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2023/09/03/ukraine-russia-invasion-carbon-footprint-00111652>

"Day after day, Lennard de Klerk’s home in Hungary’s sleepy countryside was
filling up with Ukrainian refugees, their haggard expressions putting a literal
face on the tragedy unraveling just a country away. It was March 2022, just a

(More...)

Japan ponders custody changes as Australia sends Hogwarts-style letters to abducted kids

Wed, 4 Oct 2023 20:35:10 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.smh.com.au/world/asia/japan-ponders-custody-changes-as-australia-sends-hogwarts-style-letters-to-abducted-kids-20230831-p5e115.html>

"Singapore: Japan’s justice ministry has proposed introducing joint parental
custody, in what would be the first step towards reforming the country’s
century-old system that has resulted in thousands of parents, including dozens

(More...)

A B.C. study gave 50 homeless people $7,500 each. Here's what they spent it on.

Wed, 4 Oct 2023 20:37:19 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://bc.ctvnews.ca/a-b-c-study-gave-50-homeless-people-7-500-each-here-s-what-they-spent-it-on-1.6540030>

'A new B.C.-based study undercuts the persistent stereotype that homeless
people can't be trusted with cash, according to the lead researcher who says it
also highlights a different way to respond to the crisis.

(More...)

Long COVID symptoms can improve, but their resolution is slow and imperfect

Wed, 4 Oct 2023 20:37:55 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/long-covid-symptoms-can-improve-but-their-resolution-is-slow-and-imperfect-212015>

"Around 5–10% of people who get infected with SARS-CoV-2 will experience
symptoms that persist way beyond the initial acute period, a clinical syndrome
we are learning more about, known widely as long COVID.

(More...)

‘You are left flailing to try and look after yourself’: the music industry still constrains mothers’ careers

Thu, 5 Oct 2023 03:25:34 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/you-are-left-flailing-to-try-and-look-after-yourself-the-music-industry-still-constrains-mothers-careers-210978>

"Women participate in Australia’s music industries – as musicians and workers –
at rates well below men. On average, women receive less airplay on Australian
radio, less pay and less representation on music boards, awards and line-ups

(More...)

US clean energy drive fuels shortage of engineers in Australia

Thu, 5 Oct 2023 03:26:51 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/sep/04/us-clean-energy-drive-fuels-shortage-of-engineers-in-australia>

"Australia’s rush to build renewable energy fast enough to replace ageing
coal-fired power stations is being fettered by the US’s own clean energy push
that is luring key talent, particularly engineers, industry officials say.

(More...)

Coup in Gabon: Ali Bongo the eighth west African leader to be ousted by military in two years

Thu, 5 Oct 2023 03:28:14 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/coup-in-gabon-ali-bongo-the-eighth-west-african-leader-to-be-ousted-by-military-in-two-years-212730>

"Gabon’s prime minister, Ali Bongo, has become the latest in a string of
African leaders to be ousted by a military coup in recent years. Bongo, who had
just won a third term in power, was ousted by a junta of senior officers who

(More...)

UN highlights ‘psychological harm’ to UK man jailed since 2012 for phone theft

Thu, 5 Oct 2023 03:29:48 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.theguardian.com/law/2023/sep/03/un-highlights-psychological-harm-to-uk-man-jailed-since-2012-for-phone-theft>

"A UN torture expert has called the case of a man driven to psychosis after
being jailed in the UK for more than a decade for stealing a mobile phone
“emblematic of the psychological harm” caused by indeterminate sentences.

(More...)

Unveiling the enigmatic world of moths: from ancient pollinators to whistling wonders

Thu, 5 Oct 2023 03:30:38 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/unveiling-the-enigmatic-world-of-moths-from-ancient-pollinators-to-whistling-wonders-209590>

"When you think of moths, do you see holes in your clothes, pests in the
pantry, or pesky insects drawn to night lights spoiling your social BBQ? Or
worse, do you have an irrational fear of moths? (That’s called mottephobia).

(More...)

The Maldives As Microcosm Of Climate Collapse

Thu, 5 Oct 2023 03:32:01 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
https://archive.md/iXQcv

"When you fly into the Maldives you feel like the Mafia. “Nice place, shame if
something happened to it.” And you’re the thing that’s happening to it.

(More...)

The humble spotted gum is a world class urban tree. Here’s why

Thu, 5 Oct 2023 12:32:14 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/the-humble-spotted-gum-is-a-world-class-urban-tree-heres-why-212540>

"Most of us find it very difficult to identify different species of eucalypt.
You often hear people say they all look the same.

(More...)

‘I almost lost my will to live’: preference for sons is leaving young women in China exploited and abused

Thu, 5 Oct 2023 12:37:14 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/i-almost-lost-my-will-to-live-preference-for-sons-is-leaving-young-women-in-china-exploited-and-abused-209065>

"China has a gender crisis. The country has a huge surplus of men – around 722
million compared to 690 million women in 2022. This is largely because of
sex-selective abortions linked to China’s one-child policy, which ended in

(More...)

Mauritius is first in Africa to adopt WHO full-scale tobacco control measures

Thu, 5 Oct 2023 12:38:23 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.afro.who.int/countries/mauritius/news/mauritius-first-africa-adopt-who-full-scale-tobacco-control-measures>

"Port Louis/Brazzaville – Mauritius has become the first African country to
fully implement the entire World Health Organization’s (WHO) package of tobacco
control measures aimed at reducing tobacco use and reducing related deaths.

(More...)

Johannesburg fire disaster: why eradicating hijacked buildings is not the answer

Thu, 5 Oct 2023 12:39:26 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/johannesburg-fire-disaster-why-eradicating-hijacked-buildings-is-not-the-answer-212732>

"The fire that killed at least 76 people in a five storey building in
Johannesburg on 31 August is not an isolated incident, and has elicited the
usual unhelpful response from some city officials and politicians.

(More...)

Mexico announces 13 new protected areas, with more to come

Thu, 5 Oct 2023 12:40:41 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://news.mongabay.com/2023/08/mexico-announces-13-new-protected-areas-with-more-to-come/>

"MEXICO CITY — Officials this week announced the creation of 13 new protected
areas across six states in Mexico, putting the country’s list of total
federally protected areas at 200.

(More...)

Tory MP’s historic family links to slavery raise questions about Britain’s position on reparations

Thu, 5 Oct 2023 19:24:46 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/tory-mps-historic-family-links-to-slavery-raise-questions-about-britains-position-on-reparations-212469>

"“Reparations have been paid for other wrongs and obviously far more quickly,
far more speedily than reparations for what I consider the greatest atrocity
and crime in the history of mankind: transatlantic chattel slavery.” So noted

(More...)

A List Of Household Items Republicans Lost Their Minds Over For No Reason

Thu, 5 Oct 2023 19:27:44 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/a-list-of-household-items-republicans-lost-their-minds-over-for-no-reason>

"Although it’s not a new trend, 2023 thus far has undoubtedly been a prolific
one for GOP fear mongering fake controversies into existence.

(More...)

This course examines the dark realities behind your favorite children’s stories

Thu, 5 Oct 2023 19:28:58 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/this-course-examines-the-dark-realities-behind-your-favorite-childrens-stories-210329>

"We examine books from different periods in time. The texts range from the
bawdy Latin plays written for medieval schoolboys to contemporary works like
Jacqueline Woodson’s “Brown Girl Dreaming,” an autobiography written as a

(More...)

How undercover sting outwitted pangolin traffickers

Thu, 5 Oct 2023 19:30:03 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-66375281

'The leaders of a global wildlife trafficking gang have been convicted after a
four-year investigation and a trial in Nigeria.

(More...)

Fighting the Forces of Evil at the Dungeons & Dragons-Themed Picket Line in Hollywood

Thu, 5 Oct 2023 19:32:58 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://gizmodo.com/dnd-themed-picket-wga-sag-amptp-brennan-lee-mulligan-1850798483>

"When Jon Strahd, the evil CEO of Ravenloft Studios, was defeated, the crowd at
Universal Studios gave a huge roar. A group of 500 adventurers had shown up to
picket at “the worst [Hollywood] location,” and about 100 were now engaged in a

(More...)

First Nations-led child protection, independent police oversight amongst Yoorrook recommendations

Fri, 6 Oct 2023 04:27:15 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://nit.com.au/04-09-2023/7505/first-nations-controlled-child-protection-system-independent-police-oversight-amongst-recommendations-in-yoorrook-interim-report>

"The Yoorrook Justice Commission is calling on the Victorian State government
to create an independent watchdog to tackle police complaints, stop detaining
children under the age of 16 and to implement a First Nations-controlled child

(More...)

Marine heatwaves don’t just hit coral reefs. They can cause chaos on the seafloor

Fri, 6 Oct 2023 04:27:50 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/marine-heatwaves-dont-just-hit-coral-reefs-they-can-cause-chaos-on-the-seafloor-211902>

"Most of us know what a heatwave feels like on land – sweltering heat for days.
But oceans get heatwaves too. When water temperature goes over a seasonal
threshold for five days or more, that’s a marine heatwave. They do their worst

(More...)

Invasive species lead driver of biodiversity loss in Australia – and feral cats have biggest impact, report finds

Fri, 6 Oct 2023 04:28:56 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/sep/04/invasive-species-no-1-driver-of-biodiversity-loss-in-australia-and-feral-cats-have-biggest-impact-report-finds>

"Advocates are calling for an urgent and coordinated national response to the
threat of invasive species after the co-authors of a major international report
identified it as the leading driver of biodiversity loss in Australia.

(More...)

How hate speech during the Voice campaign can harm personal wellbeing, as well as democracy

Fri, 6 Oct 2023 04:29:41 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/how-hate-speech-during-the-voice-campaign-can-harm-personal-wellbeing-as-well-as-democracy-211730>

"Last week, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced Australia will vote in
the Voice referendum on October 14.

(More...)

Invasive species cost humans $423bn each year and threaten world’s diversity

Fri, 6 Oct 2023 04:30:39 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/sep/04/invasive-species-cost-humans-423bn-each-year-and-threaten-worlds-diversity-aoe>

"Invasive species are costing the world at least $423bn every year and have
become a leading threat to the diversity of life on Earth, according to a UN
assessment.

(More...)

Feeling lonely? Too many of us are. Here’s what our supermarkets can do to help

Fri, 6 Oct 2023 04:31:23 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/feeling-lonely-too-many-of-us-are-heres-what-our-supermarkets-can-do-to-help-211126>

"Even before COVID-19, social isolation and loneliness were all too common
across the community. Living among millions of other people is no comfort for
people in cities, where the pace of life is often hectic, and technology and

(More...)

What the TRUCK?! Electric Vehicles Are Getting Bigger and Bigger!

Fri, 6 Oct 2023 14:45:08 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6TxMeHRq1mk

"Pick up any device and it will be jam packed with critical minerals from
lithium, copper, aluminium, nickel, carbon and graphite to cobalt and
manganese. However, as the core ingredients for electric vehicles, their mining

(More...)

Competition to name Australia’s lunar rover

Fri, 6 Oct 2023 14:46:06 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.industry.gov.au/news/competition-to-name-australias-lunar-rover>

"The Australian Space Agency, in partnership with NASA, is working with
Australia’s space industry to design and build an Australian-made rover. It’s
part of the Trailblazer program under the Moon to Mars initiative.

(More...)

The BBC’s Marianna Spring: ‘The more violent the rhetoric, the more important it is I expose it’

Fri, 6 Oct 2023 14:47:53 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.theguardian.com/society/2023/sep/04/bbc-marianna-spring-violent-rhetoric-conspiracyland>

"On my way into Broadcasting House, the BBC’s London HQ, I saw some graffiti on
the building – “BBC Covid Liars”. I had just finished Marianna Spring’s most
recent podcast, Marianna in Conspiracyland, and there was something neat and

(More...)

AI systems have learned how to deceive humans. What does that mean for our future?

Fri, 6 Oct 2023 14:48:56 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/ai-systems-have-learned-how-to-deceive-humans-what-does-that-mean-for-our-future-212197>

"Artificial intelligence pioneer Geoffrey Hinton made headlines earlier this
year when he raised concerns about the capabilities of AI systems. Speaking to
CNN journalist Jake Tapper, Hinton said:

(More...)

Big Tech Can’t Stop Telling On Itself

Fri, 6 Oct 2023 14:50:05 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:https://doctorow.medium.com/big-tech-cant-stop-telling-on-itself-f7f0eb6d215a>

"In July, the Federal Trade Commission announced a complaint against Amazon
over the ways the company has tricked customers into subscribing to its paid
Prime service. The Commission argues that Amazon discovered that its customers

(More...)

The true damage of invasive alien species was just revealed in a landmark report. Here’s how we must act

Fri, 6 Oct 2023 14:50:46 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/the-true-damage-of-invasive-alien-species-was-just-revealed-in-a-landmark-report-heres-how-we-must-act-211893>

"Invasive alien species are driving biodiversity loss and extinctions in every
country, all over the world.

(More...)

From debt to diversity: A journey of rewilding, carbon capture and hope

Fri, 6 Oct 2023 20:00:08 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://news.mongabay.com/2023/08/from-debt-to-diversity-a-journey-of-rewilding-carbon-capture-and-hope/>

"It’s the sort of June day that British summers should be made of, but rarely
are. Pink flower-flecked brambles proliferate in knurled mounds, scattered
across 3,500 sun-soaked acres of West Sussex scrubland audibly humming with

(More...)

Health evidence against gas and oil is piling up, as governments turn a blind eye

Fri, 6 Oct 2023 20:00:51 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/health-evidence-against-gas-and-oil-is-piling-up-as-governments-turn-a-blind-eye-212459>

"We are seeing deadly heat and fires circle the world. The Intergovernmental
Panel on Climate Change warns we are fast running out of time to secure a
liveable and sustainable future. Without emergency action to stop mining and

(More...)

Niéde Guidon’s 50-year fight to protect Serra da Capivara, the Americas’ largest prehistoric site

Fri, 6 Oct 2023 20:02:02 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://news.mongabay.com/2023/08/niede-guidons-50-year-fight-to-protect-serra-da-capivara-the-americas-largest-prehistoric-site/>

"Niéde Guidon has long since stopped her walks through Serra da Capivara
National Park. Living as a recluse since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic,
the archaeologist, who retired from her position as president of the Museum of

(More...)

As NZ struggles to resolve its long-running housing crisis, investors should be taxed for keeping homes empty

Fri, 6 Oct 2023 20:02:40 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/as-nz-struggles-to-resolve-its-long-running-housing-crisis-investors-should-be-taxed-for-keeping-homes-empty-212356>

"The property market is New Zealand’s largest industry, adding NZ$41.2 billion
a year to gross domestic product. But there is a debate over how we tax houses
– particularly those sitting empty despite the ongoing housing crisis.

(More...)

In Time for Endangered Species Act’s Golden Anniversary, a Golden Flower is Recovered

Fri, 6 Oct 2023 20:03:57 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.fws.gov/press-release/2023-07/golden-paintbrush-delisted-endangered-species-act-due-recovery>

"LACEY, Wash. – As the Endangered Species Act turns fifty years old, it has
brought about a conservation success story in the Pacific Northwest. Prairies
in Washington and Oregon are once again colored with the bright flowers of

(More...)

The Struggle to Save Pacific Salmon

Fri, 6 Oct 2023 20:04:57 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://medium.com/usfws/the-struggle-to-save-pacific-salmon-15053fb2bbc8>

"Over the last 150 years, the effects of human activities such as agriculture,
mining, damming, logging, and overfishing have led to declines in Pacific
salmon species. For decades, efforts have been made to help salmon persist

(More...)

Citing Climate Impacts and Grizzly Bear Mortality, Judge Halts Yaak Logging Project

Sat, 7 Oct 2023 04:20:09 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://flatheadbeacon.com/2023/08/18/citing-climate-impacts-and-grizzly-bear-mortality-judge-halts-yaak-logging-project/>

"Pointing to evidence that land managers failed to adequately consider the
impacts of a 95,000-acre logging project both to global climate change and an
isolated population of grizzly bears in northwest Montana, a federal judge on

(More...)

Russia Is Commandeering the U.N. Cybercrime Treaty

Sat, 7 Oct 2023 04:21:37 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://foreignpolicy.com/2023/08/31/united-nations-russia-china-cybercrime-treaty/>

"Negotiations over a U.N. cybercrime treaty have evolved into a diplomatic
proxy war between democracies and their authoritarian rivals over competing
future visions of the internet, technology, and human rights in the digital

(More...)

How 5 Young Women in Montana Scored a Landmark Climate Victory

Sat, 7 Oct 2023 04:23:51 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.cosmopolitan.com/politics/a44851832/montana-youth-climate-ruling/>

"It’s almost too good to believe: In the existential battle against climate
change and fossil fuel interests, young people scored a massive win in Montana
this week. A judge ruled that the state violated their constitutional right to

(More...)

Ukraine war: two good reasons the world should worry about Russia’s arms purchases from North Korea

Sat, 7 Oct 2023 04:25:11 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/ukraine-war-two-good-reasons-the-world-should-worry-about-russias-arms-purchases-from-north-korea-212714>

"US national security council official John Kirby noted on August 30 that arms
transfer negotiations between North Korea and Russia are “actively advancing”
as the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, seeks to feed his war machine.

(More...)

Manchester Museum hands back 174 objects to Indigenous Australian islanders

Sat, 7 Oct 2023 04:26:09 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/sep/05/manchester-museum-hands-back-objects-to-indigenous-australian-anindilyakwa>

"A UK museum is returning more than 174 objects to an Indigenous Australian
community in what is a being hailed as a landmark example of cultural
repatriation.

(More...)

‘My home city was destroyed by war but I will not lose hope’ – how modern warfare turns neighbourhoods into battlefields

Sat, 7 Oct 2023 04:27:44 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/my-home-city-was-destroyed-by-war-but-i-will-not-lose-hope-how-modern-warfare-turns-neighbourhoods-into-battlefields-211627>

"It has been almost 12 years since I left my city. And I have never been able
to return. Homs, the place I was born and grew up, has been destroyed and I,
like many others, have been left in exile: left to remember how beautiful it

(More...)

Not burning, drowning: why outdoor festivals like Burning Man are reeling from extreme weather

Sat, 7 Oct 2023 11:57:41 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/not-burning-drowning-why-outdoor-festivals-like-burning-man-are-reeling-from-extreme-weather-212864>

"Climate activists lined the road to this year’s Burning Man festival in Nevada
to call out the “privileged mindset” of the Silicon Valley types who flock
there – and the waste involved in creating a temporary city in the desert.

(More...)

Voice referendum: Lies fuel racism ahead of Australia's Indigenous vote

Sat, 7 Oct 2023 11:58:47 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-66470376

'"People have been let off the leash," Thomas Mayo says quietly, swiping
through screenshots.

(More...)

Temu: China’s answer to Amazon is already Australia’s most popular free app. What makes it so addictive?

Sat, 7 Oct 2023 11:59:36 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/temu-chinas-answer-to-amazon-is-already-australias-most-popular-free-app-what-makes-it-so-addictive-212463>

"If you spend much time online you’ve probably seen one of Temu’s colourful ads
– punctuated by its catchy tagline: “shopping like a billionaire”.

(More...)

Tripling renewable power capacity by 2030 is vital to keep the 1.5°C goal within reach

Sat, 7 Oct 2023 12:01:40 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.iea.org/commentaries/tripling-renewable-power-capacity-by-2030-is-vital-to-keep-the-150c-goal-within-reach>

"Scenes from a world baking in record heat in recent weeks present a grim
reminder that limiting the rise in global temperatures to 1.5°C is crucial to
avert the worst effects of climate change. Meeting this target demands strong

(More...)

Cyberpunk adventure game Stray will be adapted as an animated movie

Sat, 7 Oct 2023 12:03:01 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.engadget.com/cyberpunk-adventure-game-stray-will-be-adapted-as-an-animated-movie-174606306.html>

"The critically-acclaimed cat-based adventure game Stray is getting an actual
animated movie. Even cooler? The title's original publisher Annapurna is making
the flick, after it scored a surprise hit on Netflix with its first animated

(More...)

How to Build a Video Wall for VFX! (Everything you Need to Know)

Sat, 7 Oct 2023 12:04:32 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M5mXkYDTIJk

"Here Brandon talks through everything someone might need to know in order to
construct and build a Video Wall from Scratch. Pros and Cons of different
methods, Power Requirements, Panel Sizes, Trussing, Size, etc."

(More...)

Solar glass manufacturing breakthrough could slash costs, says ClearVue

Sat, 7 Oct 2023 19:45:27 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://reneweconomy.com.au/solar-glass-manufacturing-breakthrough-could-slash-costs-says-clearvue/>

"ASX-listed ClearVue Technologies has announced a manufacturing breakthrough
that could produce its new generation of solar glass 92 per cent faster than
previous methods and deliver “substantial” cost savings.

(More...)

Virtual reality is helping Olkola Traditional Owners get back on Country

Sat, 7 Oct 2023 19:46:31 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/virtual-reality-is-helping-olkola-traditional-owners-get-back-on-country-211501>

"The Olkola people from Queensland’s very remote Cape York Peninsula gained
their land back through a native title claim in 2014. Since then, they have
undertaken land management using traditional fire techniques, habitat

(More...)

China's shrewd grab for green energy recycling dominance

Sat, 7 Oct 2023 19:47:30 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.reuters.com/markets/commodities/chinas-shrewd-grab-green-energy-recycling-dominance-2023-08-18/>

"LITTLETON, Colorado, Aug 17 (Reuters) - China's plan to set up a recycling
system for obsolete wind turbines and solar panels is likely to be a lucrative
market in the country, which is well placed to become a global hub for the

(More...)

The illegal killing of 265 trees on Sydney’s North Shore is not just vandalism. It’s theft on a grand scale

Sat, 7 Oct 2023 19:48:06 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/the-illegal-killing-of-265-trees-on-sydneys-north-shore-is-not-just-vandalism-its-theft-on-a-grand-scale-212844>

"In most illegal tree removals, you might see perhaps a handful of trees
removed or poisoned. That’s why the recent felling and poisoning of 265 old
trees in Sydney’s Castle Cove has been so breathtaking and appalling.

(More...)

Renewable Energy Investment Hits Record-Breaking $358 Billion in 1H 2023

Sat, 7 Oct 2023 19:49:19 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://about.bnef.com/blog/renewable-energy-investment-hits-record-breaking-358-billion-in-1h-2023/>

"Global new investment in renewable energy skyrocketed to $358 billion in the
first six months of 2023, a 22% rise compared to the start of last year and an
all-time high for any six-month period. This is based on the latest investment

(More...)

Every country can make a difference – but carbon reductions need to be realistic and fair

Sat, 7 Oct 2023 19:53:59 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/every-country-can-make-a-difference-but-carbon-reductions-need-to-be-realistic-and-fair-212375>

"This weekend, the world’s major economies will convene in Delhi for the G20
summit. On the table will be the common goal of limiting global temperature
rise as climate chaos becomes ever more evident.

(More...)

Honest Government Ad | Canada 🇨🇦

Sun, 8 Oct 2023 04:42:41 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7s-BgfcFXw

"The Canadian Government has made a new tourism ad and it’s surprisingly honest
and informative!"

(More...)

The Decomposition of Rotten Tomatoes

Sun, 8 Oct 2023 04:44:40 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
https://www.vulture.com/article/rotten-tomatoes-movie-rating.html

"In 2018, a movie-publicity company called Bunker 15 took on a new project:
Ophelia, a feminist retelling of Hamlet starring Daisy Ridley. Critics who
had seen early screenings had published 13 reviews, seven of them negative,

(More...)

Yet Another Study Shows No Link At All Between Social Media And Teen Anxiety And Depression

Sun, 8 Oct 2023 04:49:08 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.techdirt.com/2023/09/05/yet-another-study-shows-no-link-at-all-between-social-media-and-teen-anxiety-and-depression/>

"I know that we’ve already pointed to a whole bunch of studies, using a variety
of different methods that all show no evidence of any link at all between
social media and teen depression, but it’s time to highlight another one.

(More...)

Biden administration cancels oil and gas leases in Arctic wildlife refuge

Sun, 8 Oct 2023 04:51:03 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/9/6/biden-administration-cancels-oil-and-gas-leases-in-arctic-wildlife-refuge>

"The administration of United States President Joe Biden has announced that it
will cancel a number of oil and gas leases in a federal wildlife refuge
previously issued under former President Donald Trump.

(More...)

Going for Gold—Creating iFixit’s Gold Standard of Repair

Sun, 8 Oct 2023 04:52:31 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
https://www.ifixit.com/News/80289/creating-ifixits-gold-standard

"Working at iFixit means repair is always on your mind. As Right-to-Repair
legislation passes and more manufacturers look to us for guidance, we find
ourselves having more and more late-night conversations about what

(More...)

Rockstar just proved how important piracy is for game preservation

Sun, 8 Oct 2023 04:54:42 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.dsogaming.com/news/rockstar-just-proved-how-important-piracy-is-for-game-preservation/>

"We’ve all seen developers and publishers criticizing PC gamers for pirating
their games. We’ve also seen a lot of publishers doing their best to fight
piracy by implementing draconian DRM protection systems in their games. But can

(More...)

On hot days, up to 87% of heat gain in our homes is through windows. On cold days, it’s 40% of heat loss. Here’s how we can fix that

Sun, 8 Oct 2023 12:13:45 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/on-hot-days-up-to-87-of-heat-gain-in-our-homes-is-through-windows-on-cold-days-its-40-of-heat-loss-heres-how-we-can-fix-that-212117>

"Climate change and energy costs mean we need to rethink how we design and
build our homes. The updated National Construction Code has lifted the required
energy performance of new housing from 6 stars to 7 stars (10 stars being the

(More...)

Russian strike on crowded Ukraine market leaves at least 17 dead

Sun, 8 Oct 2023 12:14:39 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/sep/06/russian-strike-on-crowded-ukraine-market-leaves-many-dead-blinken-visit>

"A Russian strike has hit a crowded market in the Ukrainian city of
Kostiantynivka, killing at least 17 people, as the US secretary of state,
Antony Blinken, was in Kyiv for an unannounced visit, his first for a year to

(More...)

Australia’s least wanted – 8 alien species and diseases we must keep out of our island home

Sun, 8 Oct 2023 12:15:23 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/australias-least-wanted-8-alien-species-and-diseases-we-must-keep-out-of-our-island-home-212850>

"This week’s landmark report on the impact of invasive alien species revealed
costs to the global economy exceeded US$423 billion (A$654 billion) a year in
2019. Costs have at least quadrupled every decade since 1970 and that trend is

(More...)

‘She played it down’: Bletchley Park codebreaker dies aged 99

Sun, 8 Oct 2023 12:16:11 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/sep/06/she-played-it-down-bletchley-park-codebreaker-dies-at-99>

"One of the last surviving female Bletchley Park codebreakers, who worked
helping to decipher enemy communications during the second world war, has died
aged 99.

(More...)

Farmers are famously self-reliant. Why not use farm dams as mini-hydro plants?

Sun, 8 Oct 2023 12:17:00 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/farmers-are-famously-self-reliant-why-not-use-farm-dams-as-mini-hydro-plants-212374>

"Farmers often pride themselves on their self-reliance. When you live far from
the cities, it makes sense to do as much as possible yourself. Australia’s
sheer size has meant many remote farms have long been off grid as it’s often

(More...)

‘Smashed’: summer of 2023 the hottest ever recorded

Sun, 8 Oct 2023 12:17:51 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/sep/06/summer-of-2023-hottest-recorded-in-wake-up-call-to-cut-carbon-emissions>

"The summer of 2023 was the hottest ever recorded, as the climate crisis and
emerging El Niño pushed up temperatures and drove extreme weather across the
world.

(More...)

Turkey, Greece and Bulgaria hit by fatal flash floods

Sun, 8 Oct 2023 20:09:18 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/sep/06/flash-floods-kill-tourists-in-turkey-greece-and-bulgaria>

"At least 12 people have died in Turkey, Greece and Bulgaria as flash floods
from torrential rainstorms turned rivers into torrents, swept away bridges and
inundated streets, homes and public buildings.

(More...)

From Blacktop to Green: Cities Are Depaving for a Cooler Future

Sun, 8 Oct 2023 20:09:59 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://reasonstobecheerful.world/depaving-cities-urban-heat-island-effect/>

"It all started because a man named Arif Khan wanted a garden.

In 2007, he had recently moved into a house in Portland, Oregon, whose backyard

(More...)

Scientists Gave Homeless People $7,500, Here’s How They Spent It

Sun, 8 Oct 2023 20:10:48 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:https://medium.com/illumination/scientists-gave-homeless-people-7-500-heres-how-they-spent-it-2adc85a9d27a>

"We’ve all heard the story:

Never give a homeless person money.

(More...)

Rohingya Refugees Capture the Reality of Their Lives One Photo at a Time

Sun, 8 Oct 2023 20:11:36 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://reasonstobecheerful.world/with-cameras-and-confidence-rohingya-refugees-are-sharing-their-own-stories/>

"In the summer of 2017, when Ishrat Bibi passed her matriculation exams in
Myanmar, her brother gifted her a smartphone. His gift would change Bibi’s
life.

(More...)

How a Buddhist-inspired high school is boosting Hungary’s Roma

Sun, 8 Oct 2023 20:12:58 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.csmonitor.com/World/Europe/2023/0906/How-a-Buddhist-inspired-high-school-is-boosting-Hungary-s-Roma>

"Classes begin with a gong, not a bell, at the Dr. Ambedkar School.

Each morning, 125 students in grades nine through 12, all from the local Romani

(More...)

Cities are advertising themselves as ‘climate havens.’ Experts say there’s no such thing

Sun, 8 Oct 2023 20:14:10 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://thehill.com/changing-america/sustainability/climate-change/4190038-cities-are-advertising-themselves-as-climate-havens-experts-say-theres-no-such-thing/>

"As the consequences of the planet warming grow ever more apparent, some cities
are marketing themselves as “climate havens,” or refuges from extreme climate
conditions.

(More...)

Dinosaur Emoji Timeline

Mon, 9 Oct 2023 04:42:31 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
https://www.courtneymilan.com/dinosaur-emoji-timeline/

"You may be aware that we now have at our disposal two of the world's finest
emoji: 🦖 and 🦕.

(More...)

The Future of Two Wheel Riding Is In Recline!

Mon, 9 Oct 2023 04:43:42 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KyrSdgtx-Wo

"Somewhere between a bicycle and a motorcycle the Electrom 1 offers a totally
new electric vehicle experience that, equipped with a laid back riding
position, is possibly the perfect way to whizz around a city. Ricky Roy went to

(More...)

The Rich Shouldn't Be Trusted To Make Decisions

Mon, 9 Oct 2023 04:44:59 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:https://aninjusticemag.com/the-rich-shouldnt-be-trusted-to-make-decisions-9eab11256162>

"As a society, we are constantly pushing many politicians to treat the
government as a business. "The government should be run like a great American
company," politician Fiorello La Guardia remarked as mayor in 1938. This trend

(More...)

New grant program asks residents to ‘throw shade,’ foster climate resiliency in Flint

Mon, 9 Oct 2023 04:46:24 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://flintbeat.com/new-grant-program-asks-residents-to-throw-shade-foster-climate-resiliency-in-flint/>

"Flint, MI — A new program hopes to tackle climate change on a
neighborhood-by-neighborhood level in Flint.

(More...)

Telstra-owned Pacific mobile network likely exploited by spies for hire

Mon, 9 Oct 2023 04:47:40 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-09-01/australia-owned-pacific-mobile-network-likely-exploited-by-spies/102784160>

"A Telstra-owned mobile phone operator in the Pacific Islands has likely been
used by private spy firms to track people on the other side of the world and
steal their data, according to expert cybersecurity analysis.

(More...)

Ending Nigeria’s fuel subsidy pushes a shift to solar. Without a climate plan, progress is at risk

Mon, 9 Oct 2023 04:49:22 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://apnews.com/article/nigeria-fuel-subsidy-solar-climate-9b3f32283b0f2fab9f6096761ef815e7>

"ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — As soon as Bridget Mosanya went to get a book from her
bag to study, it started to rain. The power immediately went out, as it
virtually always does in Nigeria, even if it is barely drizzling.

(More...)

EFF Award Winner: Alexandra Asanova Elbakyan

Mon, 9 Oct 2023 12:48:44 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2023/09/eff-award-winner-alexandra-asanova-elbakyan>

"We are honored to present the three winners of this year’s EFF Awards:
Alexandra Asanova Elbakyan, Library Freedom Project, and Signal Foundation.
But, before we kick off the ceremony, let’s take a closer look at each of the

(More...)

Whales stop singing and rock lobsters lose their balance: how seismic surveys can harm marine life

Mon, 9 Oct 2023 13:04:44 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/whales-stop-singing-and-rock-lobsters-lose-their-balance-how-seismic-surveys-can-harm-marine-life-211207>

"Woodside Energy this week announced it would start seismic testing for its
Scarborough gas project off Australia’s west coast, before reversing the
decision in the face of a legal challenge from Traditional Owners.

(More...)

3,200 deaths a year: 1 of many reasons air pollution in Australia demands urgent national action

Mon, 9 Oct 2023 13:05:28 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/3-200-deaths-a-year-1-of-many-reasons-air-pollution-in-australia-demands-urgent-national-action-212973>

"Australia is holding its collective breath ahead of a bushfire season that may
bring a return of the smoke linked to 400 deaths and 4,500 hospitalisations and
emergency department visits during the 2019–20 Black Summer fires.

(More...)

This Bold Plan to Kick the World’s Coal Habit Might Actually Work

Mon, 9 Oct 2023 13:06:46 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.wired.com/story/this-bold-plan-to-kick-the-worlds-coal-habit-might-actually-work/>

"One hundred miles east of Johannesburg in South Africa, the Komati Power
Station is hard to miss, looming above the flat grassland and farming
landscapes like an enormous eruption of concrete, brick, and metal.

(More...)

The Revolutionary Influence of the First English Children’s Novel

Mon, 9 Oct 2023 13:08:51 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/revolutionary-influence-first-english-childrens-novel-180982724/>

"It’s a universally familiar phrase. Ask any English-speaking adult or child,
and they will recognize the label “goody two-shoes” as derogatory shorthand for
an insufferable prude—but few remember how it became a staple of popular

(More...)

Elon Musk personally thwarted a Ukrainian attack and saved the Russian Navy

Mon, 9 Oct 2023 13:09:53 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2023/9/7/2191959/-Elon-Musk-personally-thwarted-a-Ukrainian-attack-and-saved-the-Russian-Navy>

"CNN reports that a portion of author Walter Isaacson’s upcoming biography of
the man who made Twitter, the site now known as X, safe for antisemitism shows
that Elon Musk had a direct hand in thwarting a Ukrainian attack on the Russian

(More...)

Why is truth-telling so important? Our research shows meaningful reconciliation cannot occur without it

Mon, 9 Oct 2023 19:43:43 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/why-is-truth-telling-so-important-our-research-shows-meaningful-reconciliation-cannot-occur-without-it-197685>

"Truth-telling is a key demand in the Uluru Statement and is seen as a vital
step for both the Voice to Parliament and a Treaty. However, there has been
ongoing debate as to whether historical injustices against First Nations

(More...)

Agrivoltaics Is Making Friends Across Partisan Lines, Thanks To Farmers

Mon, 9 Oct 2023 19:44:34 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://cleantechnica.com/2023/08/19/agrivoltaics-is-making-friends-across-partisan-lines-thanks-to-farmers/>

"US farmers are warming up to agrivoltaics, a specialized field of renewable
energy development that co-locates solar arrays with grazing fields, row crops,
pollinator habitats, and other forms of agricultural activity. The rise of this

(More...)

China’s concerning new strategy on human rights: unite the world behind a ‘selective’ approach

Mon, 9 Oct 2023 19:45:59 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/chinas-concerning-new-strategy-on-human-rights-unite-the-world-behind-a-selective-approach-212007>

"For more than three decades, China has struggled to contain criticism of its
human rights record. It faced a storm of outrage over the Tiananmen Square
massacre in 1989 and condemnation of its mass incarceration of Muslim Uyghurs

(More...)

JWST Spots Giant Black Holes All Over the Early Universe

Mon, 9 Oct 2023 19:47:27 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.quantamagazine.org/jwst-spots-giant-black-holes-all-over-the-early-universe-20230814/>

"Years before she was even sure the James Webb Space Telescope would
successfully launch, Christina Eilers started planning a conference for
astronomers specializing in the early universe. She knew that if — preferably,

(More...)

Fireflies, brain cells, dancers: new synchronisation research shows nature’s perfect timing is all about connections

Mon, 9 Oct 2023 19:48:32 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/fireflies-brain-cells-dancers-new-synchronisation-research-shows-natures-perfect-timing-is-all-about-connections-212708>

"Getting in sync can be exhilarating when you’re dancing in rhythm with other
people or clapping along in an audience. Fireflies too know the joy of
synchronisation, timing their flashes together to create a larger display to

(More...)

Scammers are cashing in on Worldcoin’s chaotic Kenya launch

Mon, 9 Oct 2023 19:49:24 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
https://restofworld.org/2023/worldcoin-kenya-suspended-scammers-cash-in/

"For the hundreds of thousands who signed up for Worldcoin in Kenya, the Sam
Altman-backed global blockchain project couldn’t have come at a better time.

(More...)

How one student forced the government to admit the economic risks of climate change

Tue, 10 Oct 2023 04:20:48 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/how-one-student-forced-the-government-to-admit-the-economic-risks-of-climate-change-212856>

"Last month, a significant victory for climate change was won behind closed
doors. In 2020, Katta O’Donnell, then a 23-year-old university student in
Melbourne, launched a world-leading class action lawsuit against the

(More...)

New paint gives extra insulation, saving on energy, costs, and carbon emissions

Tue, 10 Oct 2023 04:22:04 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://news.stanford.edu/2023/08/14/paint-keeps-heat-inside-winter-outside-summer/>

"Stanford University scientists have invented a new kind of paint that can keep
homes and other buildings cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter,
significantly reducing energy use, costs, and greenhouse gas emissions.

(More...)

Why the electric vehicle battery race needs a recycling revolution

Tue, 10 Oct 2023 04:25:49 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
https://www.ft.com/content/73138e84-701a-4e75-9ca8-7725d0867eb5

"From east Asia to Europe and North America, companies along the battery supply
chain are investing billions of dollars in recycling capabilities as they
confront projected shortages of the raw materials that will power the next

(More...)

Tess Finch Lee: Children are not immune to Covid, so we must pull out all the stops to protect them

Tue, 10 Oct 2023 04:27:32 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.independent.ie/opinion/comment/tess-finch-lee-children-are-not-immune-to-covid-so-we-must-pull-out-all-the-stops-to-protect-them/a1528932453.html>

"Year four of the pandemic and schools are reopening with an almost 100pc
increase in confirmed cases of the new SARS-Cov-2 Eris variant. There is also
the potentially “considerably” more immune-evasive BA.2.86 circulating

(More...)

Belgian company unveils bendable, lightweight, and wafer-thin solar panels

Tue, 10 Oct 2023 04:31:05 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://innovationorigins.com/en/belgian-company-unveils-bendable-lightweight-and-wafer-thin-solar-panels/>

"Lightweight, flexible, and wafer-thin. That’s [what] EnFoil‘s solar panels
look like. The company, a new spinoff of the Hasselt University (UHasselt),
Belgium, and imec – the leading Belgian R&D institution – recently introduced

(More...)

Temperature Check

Tue, 10 Oct 2023 04:31:51 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
https://thenib.com/temperature-check/

Via Violet Blue’s Pandemic Roundup: September 7, 2023
https://www.patreon.com/posts/pandemic-roundup-88906343

(More...)

Germany approves self-ID to make transitioning easier for trans people after year in legal limbo

Tue, 10 Oct 2023 13:02:13 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
https://www.thepinknews.com/2023/08/24/germany-self-id-trans-laws/

"Germany’s Federal Cabinet has green lit plans to make it easier for trans and
non-binary people to change their name and gender after a year of legal
pushback.

(More...)

Amazing Discovery Claims Elephants Have Specific 'Names' For Each Other

Tue, 10 Oct 2023 13:03:05 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.sciencealert.com/amazing-discovery-claims-elephants-have-specific-names-for-each-other>

"As elephants wander the African savannah, they might keep in touch with
relatives by calling out their individual 'names'.

(More...)

Bindeshwar Pathak realised that India’s future depended on toilets

Tue, 10 Oct 2023 13:04:57 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
https://archive.vn/6r0rd

"It all began with a dare. Bindeshwar Pathak, then seven or so, wondered why
the thin little woman who came through the back door sometimes, selling bamboo
utensils to his Brahmin family, was called “untouchable”. He wondered why his

(More...)

What long COVID taught me: How to help a friend with chronic illness

Tue, 10 Oct 2023 13:06:21 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/what-long-covid-taught-me-how-to-help-a-friend-with-chronic-illness/>

"I’d been sick for at least eight months when I finally did enough internet
research to diagnose myself with long COVID. It felt simultaneously like a
relief and falling into a deep, dark hole when the long COVID clinic at Sheba

(More...)

Tamil Nadu: Chief Minister’s Breakfast Scheme—An exemplary initiative

Tue, 10 Oct 2023 13:07:38 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/india/tamil-nadu-chief-ministers-breakfast-scheme%E2%80%94an-exemplary-initiative-539164>

"Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin attended an event in a Corporation School
at Chennai. When he was interacting with some of the children, he saw that some
of them were tired and weary. He asked them with motherly concern, why is it

(More...)

Health, nutrition and heroes in rural Afghanistan

Tue, 10 Oct 2023 13:08:28 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.unicef.org/blog/health-nutrition-and-heroes-rural-afghanistan>

"The needs of Afghanistan’s children and families are immense. So are the
efforts of those supporting them: teams of community workers made up of family
members, teachers in community-based schools, vaccinators, and health workers

(More...)

New System of Protected Areas in Ecuador’s Pichincha Province Safeguards 13 Ecosystems

Tue, 10 Oct 2023 19:54:48 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.andesamazonfund.org/country/new-system-of-protected-areas-in-ecuadors-pichincha-province-safeguards-13-ecosystems/>

"On July 26th, 2023, the northern Ecuadorian province of Pichincha established
a new system of protected areas totaling 298,310 acres (120,722 ha). Split into
four blocks throughout diverse, volcano-rich landscapes, the Pichincha

(More...)

What Could Go Right? More countries abolish the death penalty

Tue, 10 Oct 2023 19:55:30 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
https://theprogressnetwork.org/death-penalty-abolition-ghana-2023/

"On July 25, Ghana became the 124th country globally and the 29th in Africa to
abolish the death penalty. It remains on the books for high treason only. The
trend away from capital punishment is another measure of progress that has

(More...)

Vietnam’s wild elephants get unique ‘ID cards’ in novel conservation plan

Tue, 10 Oct 2023 19:56:40 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/9/8/creating-id-cards-for-vietnams-diminished-wild-elephant-herds>

"Dong Nai province, Vietnam – Dinh Quan knows just the right spot to hang out
on a warm day.

(More...)

New Protections Declared for Nearly 200,000 Acres in Ecuador, Safeguarding Iconic Species and Water Sources

Tue, 10 Oct 2023 19:57:33 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.andesamazonfund.org/country/ecuador-protects-nearly-200000-acres-safeguarding-iconic-species-and-water-sources/>

"Andes Amazon Fund celebrates the establishment of Ecuador’s newest Municipal
Protected Area System in the volcano-rich northern province of Pichincha. The
protected lands encompass 183,552 acres (74,281 ha) ranging from cloud forest

(More...)

A new dawn rises in the Arctic: the Inuit plan to reclaim their sea

Tue, 10 Oct 2023 19:59:25 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/aug/27/arctic-horizon-inuit-first-protected-zone-nunatsiavut-canada-photo-essay>

"A plume of red erupts in the grey-blue waters and Martin Shiwak accelerates
his boat to grab the seal he has shot before the animal sinks out of sight.
Shiwak has hunted for years in the waters of Lake Melville, by the Inuit

(More...)

Pop-up houses create a new village after Maui fire disaster

Tue, 10 Oct 2023 20:00:22 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.npr.org/2023/09/09/1196594500/pop-up-house-disaster-relief-families>

'MAUI, Hawaii — Natural disasters create a desperate rush to find housing for
people who lost their homes. After Maui's wildfires, that effort got an unusual
boost — from a massive military jet that delivered pop-up homes.

(More...)

A New Ocean Preserve Could Save the Waters Off Baja—And This Stunning Marine Life

Wed, 11 Oct 2023 05:19:49 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://time.com/6307192/baja-california-ocean-preserve-marine-life-in-photos/>

"It’s easy to spot the small, family-owned fishing boats that ply the waters
around Baja California­—a peninsula 1,223 km (760 miles) long that represents
the westernmost part of Mexico. There are 24,000 of the vessels, after all, and

(More...)

The state of the war

Wed, 11 Oct 2023 05:21:18 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
https://snyder.substack.com/p/the-state-of-the-war

"Greetings from Kyiv.  I have spent the last several days in Ukraine, here in
the capital, and in the southerly regions of Odesa, Mykolaïv, and Kherson,
trying to get a sense of the state of the war.  I will write more about the

(More...)

Montreal Adds Nine More Car-Free Streets after ‘Mind Blowing’ Success

Wed, 11 Oct 2023 05:23:18 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.theenergymix.com/2023/08/06/montreal-adds-nine-more-car-free-streets-after-mind-blowing-success/>

"Four years after Montreal decided to make a 2.5-kilometre stretch of a busy
downtown artery car-free every summer, the transformation continues to receive
rave reviews from users and local businesses.

(More...)

Even Dimming The Sun Wouldn't Save Antarctica's Ice Now, Scientists Say

Wed, 11 Oct 2023 05:24:33 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.sciencealert.com/even-dimming-the-sun-wouldnt-save-antarcticas-ice-now-scientists-say>

'Geoengineering is often presented as a last-resort technological fix to the
climate crisis that can still swoop in and save the day.

(More...)

The world is still falling short on limiting climate change, according to U.N. report

Wed, 11 Oct 2023 05:25:47 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.npr.org/2023/09/09/1198526427/un-report-climate-change-world-rapid-cut-emissions>

'The world needs to "rapidly accelerate action" on cutting heat-trapping
emissions, warns a new report from the United Nations Framework Convention on
Climate Change. Countries have an ever-shrinking window of time to stave off

(More...)

Elon Musk and the west’s fascist fifth column

Wed, 11 Oct 2023 05:28:26 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
https://archive.md/vSb82

"In theory, it ought to be possible for opponents of Western support for
Ukraine to oppose Vladimir Putin. They could denounce Russia’s illegal
invasion, condemn the rapes and the torture, and wish the Ukrainian resistance

(More...)

G/O Media Gives Another Crash Course On Perils Of Replacing Human Journalists With Half-Baked ‘AI’

Wed, 11 Oct 2023 12:35:40 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.techdirt.com/2023/09/08/g-o-media-gives-another-crash-course-on-perils-of-replacing-human-journalists-with-half-baked-ai/>

"While recent evolutions in “AI” have netted some profoundly interesting
advancements in creativity and productivity, its early implementation in
journalism has been a sloppy mess thanks to some decidedly human-based

(More...)

Greenpeace opposes nuclear energy. Young climate activists say that's 'old-fashioned'

Wed, 11 Oct 2023 12:37:46 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
https://www.cbc.ca/amp/1.6958765

'Young climate activists in Europe are calling on Greenpeace to drop its
"old-fashioned" stance against nuclear energy.

(More...)

Streamer In Japan Gets 2 Years Jail Time For Uploading Let’s Plays, Anime Spoilers

Wed, 11 Oct 2023 12:40:46 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.techdirt.com/2023/09/08/streamer-in-japan-gets-2-years-jail-time-for-uploading-lets-plays-anime-spoilers/>

"Long time Techdirt readers may recall the iterative changes that Japanese
copyright laws have undergone over the course of the last several years. While
they aren’t the only changes to have occurred, the topline summary was to turn

(More...)

New global biodiversity fund to restore nature worldwide by 2030 officially launches

Wed, 11 Oct 2023 12:42:04 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://news.mongabay.com/2023/08/new-global-biodiversity-fund-to-restore-nature-worldwide-by-2030-officially-launches/>

"Yesterday, representatives of 185 countries officially agreed to launch a new
fund to ramp up investment in meeting major global biodiversity goals.

(More...)

Into the Black Hole: What’s at Stake for Comedy/Variety Writers in the WGA Strike

Wed, 11 Oct 2023 12:43:04 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:https://writingcooperative.com/into-the-black-hole-whats-at-stake-for-comedy-variety-writers-in-the-wga-strike-29d58b4c93c6>

"When Greg Iwinski joined the Writers Guild of America East, his work as a
late-night writer was covered under what is known as Appendix A in the Guild’s
Minimum Basic Agreement with the Association of Motion Pictures and Television

(More...)

Biden administration proposes $106 million for Western salmon and steelhead recovery

Wed, 11 Oct 2023 20:05:02 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
https://archive.vn/V7iHx

"The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is recommending sending
$106 million to 16 salmon and steelhead recovery efforts in five Western
states, the federal agency said Thursday.

(More...)

‘The war had come to us too’: how Ukraine’s Danube ports became vital hubs – and targets

Wed, 11 Oct 2023 20:05:57 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/sep/09/ukraine-russia-war-ports-danube-izmail-reni>

"It had been hundreds of years since the world paid much attention to the
Danube river port of Izmail at the edge of the estuary that now separates
Romania and Ukraine.

(More...)

The Australian solar tech that may have found a low cost solution to deep storage

Wed, 11 Oct 2023 20:07:43 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://reneweconomy.com.au/the-australian-solar-tech-that-may-have-found-a-low-cost-solution-to-deep-storage/>

"It’s a cool and sunny morning out near the small community of Carwarp in
western Victoria, and RayGen CEO Richard Payne is pleased. But he’s got a
nervous eye on the clouds rolling in from the west.

(More...)

The Historical Reason The British Drive On The Left (And Why Most People Don’t)

Wed, 11 Oct 2023 20:08:29 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:https://grantpiperwriting.medium.com/the-historical-reason-the-british-drive-on-the-left-and-why-most-people-dont-da2f68f1f8e7>

"Anyone who has traveled to a country where they drive on the left hand side of
the road is familiar with the frustration of constantly turning on their
windshield wiper instead of their blinker. This is the result of everything

(More...)

For International Youth Day, three youth conservation success stories

Wed, 11 Oct 2023 20:09:46 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://news.mongabay.com/2023/08/for-international-youth-day-three-youth-conservation-success-stories/>

"This Saturday is International Youth Day, established by the U.N. in 1999.
With a different theme every year, this year celebrates youth worldwide
developing the “green skills” needed to shift the world into one that is

(More...)

How Climate Change is Fueling Stronger Hurricanes

Wed, 11 Oct 2023 20:10:29 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:https://medium.com/the-new-climate/how-climate-change-is-fueling-stronger-hurricanes-75cec05081bd>

"Our life is inextricably linked to the health of our environment. And water is
the link that ties us to everything on Earth. Pretty much everything is made of
water, or at least “with” water: our bodies and clothes, our industries and

(More...)

Ocean cleanup group removes record 25,000 pounds of trash from Great Pacific Garbage Patch in one extraction

Thu, 12 Oct 2023 05:16:53 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://abcnews.go.com/International/ocean-cleanup-group-removes-record-25000-pounds-trash/story?id=102317006>

"Ocean cleanup crews have fished out the most trash ever taken from one of the
largest garbage patches in the world.

(More...)

A historic victory for horseshoe crabs

Thu, 12 Oct 2023 05:18:25 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.southernenvironment.org/news/a-historic-victory-for-horseshoe-crabs-in-south-carolina/>

"Horseshoe crabs and threatened rufa red knots will enjoy enhanced protection
in South Carolina following an agreement between Defenders of Wildlife and the
Coastal Conservation League, represented by SELC, and Charles River

(More...)

The Killer Whale Dagger

Thu, 12 Oct 2023 05:19:52 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
https://blog.plover.com/art/killer-whale-dagger.html

"Last month Toph and I went on vacation to Juneau, Alaska. I walked up to look
at the glacier, but mostly we just enjoyed the view and the cool weather. But
there were some surprises.

(More...)

Prehistoric bird once thought extinct returns to New Zealand wild

Thu, 12 Oct 2023 05:21:08 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/aug/29/prehistoric-bird-once-thought-extinct-returns-to-new-zealand-wild>

"Tā Tipene O’Regan, 87 years old, leaned into his carved walking stick and
reached down to a large wooden box. He paused a second, then slowly lifted the
lid. Out shot the hefty body of a bright turquoise bird, legs windmilling,

(More...)

As Russia woos nations to support its war in Ukraine, will fault lines deepen around the globe?

Thu, 12 Oct 2023 05:21:56 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/as-russia-woos-nations-to-support-its-war-in-ukraine-will-fault-lines-deepen-around-the-globe-212865>

"Some 560 days have passed since the Russian invasion of Ukraine. We have
repeatedly been reminded about the awfulness of war – the senseless waste of
human life and indiscriminate misery caused by the imperial delusions of a

(More...)

Matt Bruce poured his life savings into a tiny home. Now Byron Shire council wants to demolish it

Thu, 12 Oct 2023 05:23:49 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/sep/10/matt-bruce-poured-his-life-savings-into-a-tiny-home-now-byron-bay-council-wants-to-demolish-it>

"When Byron Shire council wrote to Matt Bruce to inform him it planned to
demolish his tiny home, it included the number for crisis accommodation.

(More...)

Bonobo & Anna Lapwood perform Otomo live at the Royal Albert Hall

Thu, 12 Oct 2023 12:49:03 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AdyAF9M3XVw

"I often do middle-of-the-night practice sessions at the @royalalberthall , and
have grown rather fond of hall staff calling up to the organ with requests. At
1am on Friday 20th, someone called up asking me to play Bach's Toccata in D

(More...)

Solar panel technology is set to be turbo-charged – but first, a few big roadblocks have to be cleared

Thu, 12 Oct 2023 12:49:47 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/solar-panel-technology-is-set-to-be-turbo-charged-but-first-a-few-big-roadblocks-have-to-be-cleared-210723>

"Solar panel technology has made enormous progress in the last two decades. In
fact, the most advanced silicon solar cells produced today are about as good as
the technology will get.

(More...)

Victoria’s gas ban for new homes expected to reap significant emissions cuts

Thu, 12 Oct 2023 12:54:07 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/sep/11/victorias-gas-ban-for-new-homes-expected-to-reap-significant-emissions-cuts>

"Victoria’s policy to ban gas connections for new residences from next year
would cut the state’s greenhouse gas emissions by almost a sixth compared with
typical new dual electric and gas-run homes, analysis by the state government

(More...)

Many people hate wasps, but they’re smarter than you might think – and ecologically important

Thu, 12 Oct 2023 12:55:47 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/many-people-hate-wasps-but-theyre-smarter-than-you-might-think-and-ecologically-important-212706>

"Everybody loves bees, but their cousins the wasps often provoke a far less
friendly reaction. The much-maligned insects often inspire fear, disgust or
even the “kill it with fire” response.

(More...)

Investors and unions press Labor to invest $100bn to compete in global green economy

Thu, 12 Oct 2023 12:56:40 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/sep/11/investors-and-unions-press-labor-to-invest-100bn-to-compete-in-global-green-economy>

"The Albanese government is being pushed to provide an extra $100bn over 10
years to boost jobs and reduce emissions including through investments in clean
industries and manufacturing of renewable energy components.

(More...)

Indigenous knowledges informing ‘machine learning’ could prevent stolen art and other culturally unsafe AI practices

Thu, 12 Oct 2023 13:01:41 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/indigenous-knowledges-informing-machine-learning-could-prevent-stolen-art-and-other-culturally-unsafe-ai-practices-210625>

"Artificial intelligence (AI) relies on its creators for training, otherwise
known as “machine learning.” Machine learning is the process by which the
machine generates its intelligence through outside input.

(More...)

Russian minister says G20 summit a success after criticism over war blocked

Thu, 12 Oct 2023 19:36:09 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/sep/10/russian-minister-says-g20-summit-a-success-after-criticism-over-war-blocked>

"Russia’s foreign minister has hailed the G20 summit in Delhi as a success,
after Moscow was shielded from criticism over the Ukraine war in a joint
declaration.

(More...)

Enabling Nazis and anti-feminists

Thu, 12 Oct 2023 19:37:36 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://rejserin.medium.com/enabling-nazis-and-anti-feminists-48feadfa2463>

"When Kellie-Jay Kean, aka Posie Parker, declares that she is perfectly happy
to have actual Nazis speak at her rallies you know that exclusionary feminism
has truly gone down the alt-right rabbit hole. This is not hyperbole, this is

(More...)

Exposing Australia’s online trade in pest plants – we’ve found thousands of illegal advertisements

Thu, 12 Oct 2023 19:38:22 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/exposing-australias-online-trade-in-pest-plants-weve-found-thousands-of-illegal-advertisements-212647>

"Do you buy plants online? You might be breaking the law without even knowing
it.

(More...)

How disappearance became a global weapon of psychological control, 50 years on from Chile’s US-backed coup

Thu, 12 Oct 2023 19:39:32 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/how-disappearance-became-a-global-weapon-of-psychological-control-50-years-on-from-chiles-us-backed-coup-213014>

Warning: detailed discussion of crimes against humanity

"For the few remaining women of Calama in Chile’s Atacama desert, September 11

(More...)

Brexiters outraged after crowds wave EU flag at Last Night of the Proms

Thu, 12 Oct 2023 19:41:45 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.theguardian.com/music/2023/sep/10/brexiters-in-outcry-after-crowds-wave-eu-flag-at-last-night-of-the-proms>

"The sight of hundreds of European Union flags at the Last Night of the Proms
has prompted outrage from Brexiters and a call for the BBC to investigate.

(More...)

50 years ago: Henry Kissinger and the death of democracy in Chile

Thu, 12 Oct 2023 19:43:33 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
https://robertreich.substack.com/p/today-50-years-ago-henry-kissinger

"As Chile marks the 50th anniversary tomorrow of the coup that brought
strongman Augusto Pinochet to power for almost 17 years — toppling Chile’s
democratically elected socialist government and resulting in the murders and

(More...)

Marrakech artisans – who have helped rebuild the Moroccan city before – are among those hit hard in the earthquake’s devastation

Fri, 13 Oct 2023 04:01:05 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/marrakech-artisans-who-have-helped-rebuild-the-moroccan-city-before-are-among-those-hit-hard-in-the-earthquakes-devastation-213217>

"A powerful earthquake that hit close to the medieval city of Marrakech in
Morocco on Sept. 8, 2023, has killed thousands and injured many more. It has
also put at risk buildings and monuments of major historic importance, among

(More...)

South Africa’s great white sharks are changing locations – they need to be monitored for beach safety and conservation

Fri, 13 Oct 2023 04:02:20 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/south-africas-great-white-sharks-are-changing-locations-they-need-to-be-monitored-for-beach-safety-and-conservation-212211>

"South Africa is renowned for having one of the world’s biggest populations of
great white sharks (Carcharodon carcharias). Substantial declines have been
observed, however, in places where the sharks normally gather on the coast of

(More...)

She kills to be kind: the mastermind ecologist eliminating invasive predators

Fri, 13 Oct 2023 04:03:43 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/sep/10/she-kills-to-be-kind-the-mastermind-ecologist-eliminating-invasive-predators-aoe>

"In the middle of the night, nine-year-old Elizabeth Bell sprints through the
narrow bush tracks of Maud Island, racing toward the nearest ridgeline. The
darkness beyond her is almost total. There is no ambient glow from distant city

(More...)

Greece’s record rainfall and flash floods are part of a trend – across the Mediterranean, the weather is becoming more dangerous

Fri, 13 Oct 2023 04:08:52 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/greeces-record-rainfall-and-flash-floods-are-part-of-a-trend-across-the-mediterranean-the-weather-is-becoming-more-dangerous-213164>

"Recent images of the devastating flash floods caused by Storm Daniel in Greece
hit close to home literally and figuratively. As a Greek who has completed a
PhD and worked for the past eight years on flash floods, the scenes unfolding

(More...)

Barrington Wildlife Sanctuary celebrates birth of 500th Tasmanian devil in Aussie Ark program

Fri, 13 Oct 2023 04:09:58 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-08-02/aussie-ark-500th-tasmanian-devil-barrington-wildlife-sanctuary/102677374>

'After more than 10 years of "blood, sweat and tears", a mainland Tasmanian
devil breeding program has produced its 500th joey.

(More...)

Tiny Forests With Big Benefits

Fri, 13 Oct 2023 04:11:13 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
https://archive.vn/susoK

"The tiny forest lives atop an old landfill in the city of Cambridge, Mass.
Though it is still a baby, it’s already acting quite a bit older than its
actual age, which is just shy of 2.

(More...)

Morocco earthquake: experts explain why buildings couldn’t withstand the force of the 6.8 magnitude quake

Fri, 13 Oct 2023 13:27:50 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/morocco-earthquake-experts-explain-why-buildings-couldnt-withstand-the-force-of-the-6-8-magnitude-quake-213245>

"As locals continue to mourn the loss of more than 2,100 people, a mammoth
search and rescue effort is underway in quake-struck Morocco.

(More...)

‘It’s like they’re impervious’: fury at let-off for Queensland police staff in racist recordings

Fri, 13 Oct 2023 13:29:30 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/sep/12/its-like-theyre-impervious-fury-at-let-off-for-queensland-police-staff-in-racist-recordings>

"Officers recorded making “sickening” racist comments while working inside a
Brisbane watch house have escaped sanction, despite repeated promises by the
police commissioner to crack down on racism and misogyny within the service.

(More...)

How we brought mistletoes back to the trees of Melbourne – while warding off hungry possums

Fri, 13 Oct 2023 13:30:24 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/how-we-brought-mistletoes-back-to-the-trees-of-melbourne-while-warding-off-hungry-possums-211742>

"Until recently, mistletoes were regarded as problematic pests across
Australia. They were seen as having been introduced from elsewhere, exploiting
helpless trees and driving their premature demise.

(More...)

Morocco quake survivors call for more help after entire villages destroyed

Fri, 13 Oct 2023 13:31:18 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/sep/11/no-one-has-come-to-help-us-grief-and-frustration-in-quake-hit-moroccan-villages>

"As the dirt roads leading to some of the areas worst hit in Friday’s
earthquake in Morocco were gradually cleared, the full extent of the disaster
was being revealed, including whole villages destroyed in Al Haouz province.

(More...)

Giant Cracks Emerging Across US Southwest, Scientists Warn

Fri, 13 Oct 2023 13:32:29 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.sciencealert.com/giant-cracks-emerging-across-us-southwest-scientists-warn>

'The United States has been pumping so much groundwater that the ground is
beginning to split open across southwestern parts of the country for miles on
end.

(More...)

In "Doppelganger", Naomi Klein says the world is broken: conspiracy theorists ‘get the facts wrong but often get the feelings right’

Fri, 13 Oct 2023 13:34:09 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/in-doppelganger-naomi-klein-says-the-world-is-broken-conspiracy-theorists-get-the-facts-wrong-but-often-get-the-feelings-right-209990>

"Review: Doppelganger: A Trip into the Mirror World – Naomi Klein (Allen
Lane)

(More...)

Five years on, Brisbane’s e-scooters and e-bikes are winning over tourists and residents as they open up the city

Fri, 13 Oct 2023 19:38:03 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/five-years-on-brisbanes-e-scooters-and-e-bikes-are-winning-over-tourists-and-residents-as-they-open-up-the-city-212464>

"Five years after being the first Australian city to introduce rideshare
e-scooters, Brisbane is leading the way after many growing pains and a lot of
learning.

(More...)

Up to 2,000 feared drowned after Libyan city hit by ‘catastrophic’ storm floods

Fri, 13 Oct 2023 19:38:39 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/sep/11/storm-daniel-floods-libya

"As many as 2,000 people may have been drowned after a powerful storm unleashed
catastrophic floods in the eastern Libyan city of Derna, according to the head
of one of the country’s two rival governments.

(More...)

Fire regimes around Australia shifted abruptly 20 years ago – and falling humidity is why

Fri, 13 Oct 2023 19:40:04 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/fire-regimes-around-australia-shifted-abruptly-20-years-ago-and-falling-humidity-is-why-209689>

"This century, Australia has suffered more frequent and more severe bushfires.
The Black Summer fires of 2019–20 were the worst on record for the area burned
and property loss.

(More...)

Kremlin confirms Putin meeting as Kim reportedly boards armoured train

Fri, 13 Oct 2023 19:41:04 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/sep/11/kim-jong-un-reportedly-heading-to-russia-to-meet-putin>

"The North Korean leader, Kim Jong-un, will visit Russia in the coming days at
the invitation of Vladimir Putin, the Kremlin has confirmed, amid concerns in
the west that Pyongyang plans to provide weapons to Moscow to use in the war

(More...)

‘You are still overweight’: how a doctor’s health advice triggered Sarah’s eating disorder

Fri, 13 Oct 2023 19:43:21 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/sep/12/you-are-still-overweight-how-a-doctors-health-advice-triggered-sarahs-eating-disorder>

"Sarah Cox was admitted to hospital and placed on a feeding tube because she
was malnourished, yet hospital staff discharged her with a weight loss plan. “I
was told: ‘You’re still overweight, you still need to lose weight.’”

(More...)

The difficult necessity of claiming climate victories

Fri, 13 Oct 2023 19:44:14 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/article-the-difficult-necessity-of-claiming-climate-victories/>

"The summer of 2023 has witnessed a harrowing revival in the resonance of the
phrase “global warming.” Climate scientists prefer the term “climate change,”
because it better acknowledges the staggering scope of the crisis, which

(More...)

‘Britain and the US: How the Oligarchies Posing as Democracies have Been Exposed’

Sat, 14 Oct 2023 05:00:04 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://bylinetimes.com/2023/09/05/britain-and-the-us-how-the-oligarchies-posing-as-democracies-have-been-exposed/>

"Anyone looking at the current state of the United States and the United
Kingdom – the former bitterly divided with a hooligan running for president
again, the latter both literally and figuratively falling to pieces around our

(More...)

No campaign’s ‘fear, doubt’ strategy revealed

Sat, 14 Oct 2023 05:01:57 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/no-campaign-s-fear-doubt-strategy-revealed-20230910-p5e3fu.html>

"The campaign to sink the Voice has instructed volunteers to use fear and doubt
rather than facts to trump arguments used by the Yes camp.

(More...)

British Gas advisers caught making false promises about ‘green’ boilers

Sat, 14 Oct 2023 05:08:32 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/british-gas-centrica-hydrogen-ready-boilers-green-energy-heat-pumps/>

"British Gas advisers have been caught misleading customers with false promises
about green energy in an investigation by openDemocracy.

(More...)

New sex discrimination commissioner urges wider lens to tackle inequality

Sat, 14 Oct 2023 05:09:42 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/new-sex-discrimination-commissioner-urges-wider-lens-to-tackle-inequality-20230911-p5e3ma.html>

"Australia’s new sex discrimination commissioner may have a
straightforward-sounding job title. But reality is more complicated.

(More...)

Paris Is Undergoing a Water Revolution

Sat, 14 Oct 2023 05:10:52 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
https://reasonstobecheerful.world/paris-water-management-revolution/

"For many, the Canal Saint-Martin in the hip 11th district of Paris — with its
aquamarine waters, quaint footbridges and rows of classic Parisian street-side
terraces — is an ideal place to while away the long summer days and nights. But

(More...)

Electric Cars Pass a Crucial Tipping Point in 23 Countries

Sat, 14 Oct 2023 05:12:21 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
https://archive.vn/jakiU

"Convincing everyone to adopt a new technology can be a slog at first. The
humble microwave oven, for example, took two decades of lukewarm sales to reach
just a tenth of US households. But then came the 1980s, and quicker than you

(More...)

Until They Killed Them… 100 Crucial Seconds of A Story Buried

Sat, 14 Oct 2023 11:35:02 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.gregpalast.com/until-they-killed-them100-crucial-seconds-of-a-story-buried/>

"The Osage of Oklahoma were the richest people on the planet.
Until they killed them.
For their oil.

(More...)

A Big New Report on American Children Is Out. It’s Horrific.

Sat, 14 Oct 2023 11:37:26 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2023/09/human-rights-watch-usa-child-abuse-labor-report.html>

"A new Human Rights Watch report paints a damning portrait of children’s rights
in the United States. That is, children here have remarkably few rights and are
particularly ill-treated in the conservative states that claim the mantle of

(More...)

The Portlanders Going Electric

Sat, 14 Oct 2023 11:38:19 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://reasonstobecheerful.world/electrify-home-decarbonization-portland/>

"When Nathan Howard and his wife Leslie Wright started electrifying their
Southeast Portland home in 2018, they were learning by doing. They hired a
builder friend who helped them renovate their 102-year-old house with an eye to

(More...)

Heat pumps twice as efficient as fossil fuel systems in cold weather, study finds

Sat, 14 Oct 2023 11:40:02 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/sep/11/heat-pumps-twice-as-efficient-as-fossil-fuel-systems-in-cold-weather-study-finds>

"Heat pumps are more than twice as efficient as fossil fuel heating systems in
cold temperatures, research shows.

(More...)

China is criminalising clothing ‘hurtful to the spirit and sentiments of the nation’ – could this mean a kimono ban?

Sat, 14 Oct 2023 11:41:06 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/china-is-criminalising-clothing-hurtful-to-the-spirit-and-sentiments-of-the-nation-could-this-mean-a-kimono-ban-213153>

"In August 2022 a young woman wearing a yukata – a simple, summer-weight kimono
– was having her photo taken on a street in picturesque Suzhou, China, when she
was accosted by a police officer. Following an angry exchange, partly captured

(More...)

Apple wants to know if you’re happy or sad as part of its latest software update. Who will this benefit?

Sat, 14 Oct 2023 11:41:44 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/apple-wants-to-know-if-youre-happy-or-sad-as-part-of-its-latest-software-update-who-will-this-benefit-210789>

"Apple’s iOS 17 operating system is expected to drop any day. The software
update comes with several new features, including a tool for daily mood and
emotion logging – a technique known to emotion researchers as “experience

(More...)

Anti-monarchy protester suing Met chief over coronation day arrest

Sat, 14 Oct 2023 20:37:53 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/sep/12/anti-monarchy-protester-suing-met-chief-over-coronation-day-arrest>

"The Metropolitan police commissioner, Sir Mark Rowley, is being sued over the
arrest of the chief executive of Britain’s leading republican movement on the
day of the king’s coronation, in what is being viewed as a first test case of

(More...)

Faster disaster: climate change fuels ‘flash droughts’, intense downpours and storms

Sat, 14 Oct 2023 20:38:35 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/faster-disaster-climate-change-fuels-flash-droughts-intense-downpours-and-storms-213242>

"The run of extreme weather events around the world seems to be never-ending.
After the northern summer of extreme heat and disastrous fires, we’ve seen more
exceptional autumn weather over Europe with record-breaking heat in the UK.

(More...)

‘Beginning of the end’ of fossil fuel era approaching, says IEA

Sat, 14 Oct 2023 20:39:35 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/sep/12/beginning-of-the-end-of-fossil-fuel-era-approaching-says-iea>

"The world’s demand for oil, gas and coal will begin to decline this decade in
“the beginning of the end” of the fossil fuel era, according to the global
energy watchdog.

(More...)

'A waste of taxpayer’s money' | German passenger group slams hydrogen trains as a distraction from need to electrify

Sat, 14 Oct 2023 20:42:07 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.hydrogeninsight.com/transport/a-waste-of-taxpayer-s-money-german-passenger-group-slams-hydrogen-trains-as-a-distraction-from-need-to-electrify/2-1-1516761>

"The German state of Bavaria’s push for hydrogen-powered trains as a way to
decarbonise its railways will be extremely expensive and delay the more
economic option of direct electrification, argues the Bavarian wing of Pro

(More...)

NZ’s vital kelp forests are in peril from ocean warming – threatening the important species that rely on them

Sat, 14 Oct 2023 20:42:57 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/nzs-vital-kelp-forests-are-in-peril-from-ocean-warming-threatening-the-important-species-that-rely-on-them-212956>

"Years of almost non-stop marine heatwaves are stressing New Zealand’s kelp
forests. But as we show in our new research, ongoing ocean warming is only one
of several threats to these unique and important coastal seaweed ecosystems.

(More...)

US behind more than a third of global oil and gas expansion plans, report finds

Sat, 14 Oct 2023 20:43:57 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/sep/12/us-behind-more-than-a-third-of-global-oil-and-gas-expansion-plans-report-finds>

"The US accounts for more than a third of the expansion of global oil and gas
production planned by mid-century, despite its claims of climate leadership,
research has found.

(More...)

A ‘Human-Led Approach’ to Loans Is Changing Lives in Rural India

Sun, 15 Oct 2023 11:05:30 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://reasonstobecheerful.world/peer-to-peer-lending-india-farmers-artisans-entrepreneurs/>

"Venkatamma and Vijayalakshmi are women farmers from Mahboobnagar in the south
Indian state of Telangana, considered one of the poorest regions of India.
Farmers here grow a variety of crops, from grains and lentils to cotton and

(More...)

Pivot to AI: Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain

Sun, 15 Oct 2023 11:06:58 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://amycastor.com/2023/09/12/pivot-to-ai-pay-no-attention-to-the-man-behind-the-curtain/>

"Since the buzzword “artificial intelligence” was coined in the 1950s, AI has
gone through several boom and bust cycles.

(More...)

Plant diversity in urban green spaces led to sevenfold increase in insect species, study finds

Sun, 15 Oct 2023 11:08:29 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.theguardian.com/science/2023/aug/22/melbourne-urban-greening-benefits-insect-species>

"The benefits of urban greening initiatives are increasingly well documented:
they can help mitigate the effects of urban heating, and improve physical
health and mental wellbeing. And even small greening actions in cities can

(More...)

The Batshit Crazy Story Of The Day Elon Musk Decided To Personally Rip Servers Out Of A Sacramento Data Center

Sun, 15 Oct 2023 11:09:27 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.techdirt.com/2023/09/12/the-batshit-crazy-story-of-the-day-elon-musk-decided-to-personally-rip-servers-out-of-a-sacramento-data-center/>

"Back on Christmas Eve of last year there were some reports that Elon Musk was
in the process of shutting down Twitter’s Sacramento data center. In that
article, a number of ex-Twitter employees were quoted about how much work it

(More...)

How Maine got more than 100,000 residents to install heat pumps

Sun, 15 Oct 2023 11:10:36 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.fastcompany.com/90944101/how-maine-got-more-than-100000-residents-to-install-heat-pumps>

"Jacquelyn Gill spent most of her youth and early 20s in Vermont, and she
remembers just a few summer days a year where temperatures turned sweltering.
“We’d have to bring the fans out,” she says. “We’d keep the windows open at

(More...)

Seattle’s Black Farmers Collective nurtures communities and crops

Sun, 15 Oct 2023 11:11:54 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.hcn.org/issues/55.9/agriculture-seattles-black-farmers-collective-nurtures-communities-and-crops>

"On a drizzly November day, Masra Clamoungou, the farm manager for Small Axe
Farm, was getting ready for winter. Small Axe is part of a patchwork of farms
east of Seattle, between the pine-filled Cascade foothills and the maple-lined

(More...)

How China’s Downturn Could Save the World

Sun, 15 Oct 2023 19:28:55 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
https://archive.vn/fLDZX

"The story of emissions over the past two decades has been written in Chinese.

Since it joined the World Trade Organization in 2001 and became the world’s

(More...)

Solar panels above orchards lower temperature, help conserve water

Sun, 15 Oct 2023 19:30:10 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://balkangreenenergynews.com/solar-panels-above-orchards-lower-temperature-help-conserve-water/>

"Agrisolar is becoming an increasingly popular solution. It is a combination of
agriculture and electricity generation from photovoltaic panels. Such devices
are usually mounted at a height of almost two and a half meters in rows so that

(More...)

France is raising taxes on flights to pay for trains: Should other European countries do the same?

Sun, 15 Oct 2023 19:31:06 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.euronews.com/green/2023/08/10/france-is-raising-taxes-on-flights-to-pay-for-trains-should-other-european-countries-do-th>

"France will increase taxes on flights to invest more in its railways, the
country’s Transport Minister Clément Beaune announced this week.

(More...)

Nearly 400 Scientists Tell Biden to 'Embrace Demands of the March to End Fossil Fuels'

Sun, 15 Oct 2023 19:32:15 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
https://www.commondreams.org/news/march-to-end-fossil-fuels

'In an open letter published Wednesday, around 400 scientists implored U.S.
President Joe Biden to endorse the demands of this weekend's March to End
Fossil Fuels in New York—which include halting new fossil fuel projects, ending

(More...)

Economic reasons for manufacturers to embrace repair

Sun, 15 Oct 2023 19:33:08 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
https://www.ifixit.com/News/80311/repair-makes-cents

"Making products repairable has many well-touted benefits for the environment
and society. It reduces waste from discarded products and lowers carbon
emissions from producing new ones. It facilitates a more efficient use and

(More...)

We just blew past 1.5 degrees. Game over on climate? Not yet

Sun, 15 Oct 2023 19:35:36 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/we-just-blew-past-1-5-degrees-game-over-on-climate-not-yet-213364>

"July 2023 was the hottest month ever recorded. And now we know something even
more alarming. This week, the European Space Agency announced the July heat
pushed the global average temperatures 1.5°C above the pre-industrial average.

(More...)

Earth ‘well outside safe operating space for humanity’, scientists find

Mon, 16 Oct 2023 03:39:22 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/sep/13/earth-well-outside-safe-operating-space-for-humanity-scientists-find>

"Earth’s life support systems have been so damaged that the planet is “well
outside the safe operating space for humanity”, scientists have warned.

(More...)

Will free teaching degrees fix the teacher shortage? It’s more complicated than that

Mon, 16 Oct 2023 03:40:19 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/will-free-teaching-degrees-fix-the-teacher-shortage-its-more-complicated-than-that-213361>

"Victorian Premier Dan Andrews has opened a new front in the national campaign
to attract and retain teachers. Amid ongoing teacher shortages, Victoria will
offer fee-free education for high school teaching degrees from next year.

(More...)

Three passengers with Covid on board cruise ship grounded off Greenland

Mon, 16 Oct 2023 03:41:45 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/sep/13/ocean-explorer-covid-cases-on-board-cruise-ship-grounded-off-greenland>

"Three people on board a cruise ship run aground in Greenland’s Alpefjord
national park have Covid-19, the ship’s operator, Australia-based Aurora
Expeditions, has confirmed, but a passenger aboard says everybody remains in

(More...)

Our unsung farm dams provide vital habitat to threatened species of frogs

Mon, 16 Oct 2023 03:44:09 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/our-unsung-farm-dams-provide-vital-habitat-to-threatened-species-of-frogs-213072>

"Frogs are in trouble. While many of the world’s animal species are now at risk
from habitat loss, climate change and other human pressures, frogs are
particularly at risk.

(More...)

Madeleines, creme brulee and banana bread: Philip Khoury’s plant-based baking recipes

Mon, 16 Oct 2023 03:44:56 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.theguardian.com/food/2023/sep/13/madeleines-creme-brulee-and-banana-bread-philip-khourys-plant-based-baking-recipes>

"From the Australian patissier (and head pastry chef at London’s Harrods) comes
a trio of sweet baked goods – and no egg or butter in sight"

(More...)

How rising water vapour in the atmosphere is amplifying warming and making extreme weather worse

Mon, 16 Oct 2023 03:45:50 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/how-rising-water-vapour-in-the-atmosphere-is-amplifying-warming-and-making-extreme-weather-worse-213347>

"This year’s string of record-breaking disasters – from deadly wildfires and
catastrophic floods to record-high ocean temperatures and record-low sea ice in
Antarctica – seems like an acceleration of human-induced climate change.

(More...)

Canada’s Conservatives Have Become the New MAGA Republicans

Mon, 16 Oct 2023 12:38:23 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:https://medium.com/prismnpen/canadas-conservatives-have-become-the-new-maga-republicans-9cd2a3e45a90>

"The genesis of this article was a comment that was left for me on one of my
social media posts. It was a throwaway post of mine on the Bluesky app,
cross-posted to Instagram: an observational riff at the expense of the

(More...)

Devastatingly low Antarctic sea ice may be the ‘new abnormal’, study warns

Mon, 16 Oct 2023 12:39:39 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/devastatingly-low-antarctic-sea-ice-may-be-the-new-abnormal-study-warns-212376>

"For most of us, Antarctic sea ice is an abstraction – something far away we
may have seen on a documentary. But the radiant white sheets of ice floating on
the seas around the snowy continent are a crucial component of Earth’s climate

(More...)

Mayor Wu bans fossil fuels from new municipal buildings and major renovations

Mon, 16 Oct 2023 12:46:51 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.boston.com/news/politics/2023/07/31/michelle-wu-bans-fossil-fuels-boston-owned-buildings/>

"Boston Mayor Michelle Wu issued an executive order Monday that bans the use of
fossil fuels in new city-owned buildings and major renovations of municipal
buildings.

(More...)

X repeatedly told us that users who posted “Hitler was right” and urged a “final solution” for Jewish people didn't break “our safety policies”

Mon, 16 Oct 2023 12:48:07 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.mediamatters.org/twitter/x-repeatedly-told-us-users-who-posted-hitler-was-right-and-urged-final-solution-jewish>

"X's internal reporting system repeatedly responded that posts claiming “Hitler
was right” and that there needs to be a “final solution” regarding Jewish
people don't violate the platform’s “safety policies.” This isn’t an isolated

(More...)

We've Been Misreading a Major Law of Physics For The Past 300 Years

Mon, 16 Oct 2023 12:49:46 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.sciencealert.com/weve-been-misreading-a-major-law-of-physics-for-the-past-300-years>

'When Isaac Newton inscribed onto parchment his now-famed laws of motion in
1687, he could have only hoped we'd be discussing them three centuries later.

(More...)

We urgently need $100bn for renewable energy. But call it statecraft, not ‘industry policy’

Mon, 16 Oct 2023 12:50:50 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/we-urgently-need-100bn-for-renewable-energy-but-call-it-statecraft-not-industry-policy-213351>

"This week, a diverse group of organisations called on the Australian federal
government to establish a A$100 billion, ten-year policy package to turbocharge
Australia’s green energy transition.

(More...)

What Manchester Museum’s return of 174 Indigenous artefacts tells us about the future of museums

Mon, 16 Oct 2023 19:35:11 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/what-manchester-museums-return-of-174-indigenous-artefacts-tells-us-about-the-future-of-museums-213147>

"Manchester Museum has formally handed over 174 cultural heritage items to a
delegation of women from the Anindilyakwa community of Groote Eylandt, an
island in the Northern Territory.

(More...)

Battery-Electric Fishing Vessel Marks A Sea Change For Small Commercial Fishers

Mon, 16 Oct 2023 19:36:33 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://cleantechnica.com/2023/08/23/battery-electric-fishing-vessel-marks-a-sea-change-for-small-commercial-fishers/>

"On a brisk morning this fall, a 46-foot commercial fishing boat will cruise
into the cold waters of Sitka, Alaska, and cut the diesel engine. In that
moment of near silence, an electric motor will whir to life. This moment will

(More...)

Ukraine war: why the G20 refused to condemn Russian aggression – and how that might change

Mon, 16 Oct 2023 19:37:45 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/ukraine-war-why-the-g20-refused-to-condemn-russian-aggression-and-how-that-might-change-213384>

"The recent G20 summit in India concluded with a statement on Russia’s war in
Ukraine that differs in a number of subtle but highly significant ways from the
declaration made by world leaders at the end of the 2022 summit in Bali.

(More...)

The Future of Recycling Is Sorty McSortface

Mon, 16 Oct 2023 19:39:34 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
https://archive.vn/L2KIw

"At the Boulder County Recycling Center in Colorado, two team members spend all
day pulling items from a conveyor belt covered in junk collected from the
area’s bins. One plucks out juice cartons and plastic bottles that can be

(More...)

What, a school revamp once every 440 years isn’t enough?

Mon, 16 Oct 2023 19:40:48 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/sep/10/what-a-school-revamp-once-every-440-years-isnt-enough>

"The government has had a busy week trying to deal with the school buildings
crisis. This hasn’t involved doing anything about all the dangerous school
buildings – it’s far too late for that. That’s not the job of modern

(More...)

School libraries are an ally to students needing an escape. We can’t let them vanish

Mon, 16 Oct 2023 19:42:23 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/commentisfree/2023/sep/12/school-libraries-are-an-ally-to-students-needing-an-escape-we-cant-let-them-vanish>

"As a children’s author I spend much of my time in schools talking to young
people about writing and explaining my love of reading and why that started me
on my journey with words. Mostly I do these talks in school libraries, which

(More...)

As 2024 Looms, Neo-Nazis Are Returning to the Streets

Tue, 17 Oct 2023 04:38:11 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.vice.com/en/article/v7byyd/2024-election-neo-nazis-visible-on-streets>

"On a recent overcast afternoon in Orlando, Florida, 10 neo-Nazis gathered
outside the entrance to Disney World.

(More...)

CDC greenlights two updated COVID-19 vaccines, but how will they fare against the latest variants? 5 questions answered

Tue, 17 Oct 2023 04:39:08 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/cdc-greenlights-two-updated-covid-19-vaccines-but-how-will-they-fare-against-the-latest-variants-5-questions-answered-213341>

"On Sept. 12, 2023, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended
the newly formulated COVID-19 vaccines for all Americans ages 6 months and up,
hours after its expert advisory committee voted 13 to 1 in favor of

(More...)

ANU museum to hand back stolen 2,500-year-old vase to Italy

Tue, 17 Oct 2023 04:40:05 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2023/sep/14/anu-to-return-2500-year-old-vase-to-italy-after-link-to-art-trade-exposed>

"For decades a vase dating back to 530BC with two handles depicting Herakles
attempting to stab the Nemean lion has been a seminal piece in the Australian
National University’s collection.

(More...)

How evasive and transmissible is the newest omicron offshoot, BA.2.86, that causes COVID-19? 4 questions answered

Tue, 17 Oct 2023 04:40:54 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/how-evasive-and-transmissible-is-the-newest-omicron-offshoot-ba-2-86-that-causes-covid-19-4-questions-answered-212453>

"The latest variant, or sublineage, of SARS-CoV-2 to emerge on the scene,
BA.2.86, has public health experts on alert as COVID-19 hospitalizations begin
to rise and the new variant makes its way across the globe.

(More...)

Democracies face ‘truth decay’ as AI blurs fact and fiction, warns head of Australia’s military

Tue, 17 Oct 2023 04:41:56 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/sep/14/democracies-face-truth-decay-as-ai-blurs-fact-and-fiction-warns-head-of-australias-military>

"Australia’s top military leader has warned that democracies will be vulnerable
to “truth decay” as artificial intelligence tools eventually leave citizens
struggling to sift fact from fiction.

(More...)

Seismologists can’t predict an impending earthquake, but longer-term forecasts and brief warnings after one starts are possible

Tue, 17 Oct 2023 04:42:45 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/seismologists-cant-predict-an-impending-earthquake-but-longer-term-forecasts-and-brief-warnings-after-one-starts-are-possible-199666>

"Almost like aftershocks, questions about earthquake prediction tend to follow
disasters like the one that occurred Sept. 8, 2023, in Morocco. Could advance
notice have prevented some of the devastation? Unfortunately, useful

(More...)

Can’t find a parking spot? Meet the planner who wants to make it much harder

Tue, 17 Oct 2023 12:13:07 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/sep/15/cant-find-a-parking-spot-meet-the-planner-who-wants-to-make-it-much-harder>

"Australian cities have an abundance of affordable, subsidised and often free
homes – but only for cars.

(More...)

Drop the talk about ‘mum and dad’ landlords. It lets property investors off the hook

Tue, 17 Oct 2023 12:14:28 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/drop-the-talk-about-mum-and-dad-landlords-it-lets-property-investors-off-the-hook-212958>

"Hardly a day passes without talk of “mum and dad” property investors. It’s
media shorthand for a rental market dominated by small operators rather than
big institutions.

(More...)

United Airlines Destroys the Life of Another Disabled Person

Tue, 17 Oct 2023 12:15:13 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:https://medium.com/counterarts/united-airlines-destroys-the-life-of-another-disabled-person-669363ed0939>

"Despite increasing scrutiny of their treatment of disabled passengers,
airlines have continued their behavior undeterred. While the industry as a
whole is complicit in this issue, two airlines seem to stand above the rest in

(More...)

Tim Flannery’s message to all: rise up and become a climate leader – be the change we need so desperately

Tue, 17 Oct 2023 12:15:57 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/tim-flannerys-message-to-all-rise-up-and-become-a-climate-leader-be-the-change-we-need-so-desperately-213066>

"As humanity hurtles towards a climate catastrophe, the debate has shifted –
from the science to solutions. We know we need to reduce our greenhouse gas
emissions. But progress has been painfully slow.

(More...)

Introducing the Australian Progressives

Tue, 17 Oct 2023 12:16:56 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6QIyEA2qm-g

"The Australian Progressives were founded in 2014 around beliefs and principles
shared by many progressive Australians, like equality, action on climate
change, and ethics in politics. We’re not bogged down in the history and bad

(More...)

When We See Ourselves in Others, We Stop Hating

Tue, 17 Oct 2023 12:19:04 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:https://medium.com/mystic-minds/when-we-see-ourselves-in-others-we-stop-hating-27f1e8a9ffdf>

"I watch the octave of legs run fearlessly toward me, and my gut reaction is
to flinch. Something deep within, some primitive part of me, imagines the
spider is dangerous. Reason, however, insists that since I’m in England, where

(More...)

Preparing homes for wildfires is big business that's only getting started

Tue, 17 Oct 2023 19:56:26 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.npr.org/2023/09/15/1198325664/preparing-homes-for-wildfires-is-big-business-thats-only-getting-started>

'As the Blue Ridge Fire blazed across California's Orange County in 2020, O.P.
Almaraz stared at the menacing glow on the horizon and evacuated his family to
a hotel. The next morning, he walked out of his room into a jam-packed,

(More...)

With the popularity of One Piece, has Netflix hit the winning formula for live-action anime adaptations?

Tue, 17 Oct 2023 20:00:20 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/with-the-popularity-of-one-piece-has-netflix-hit-the-winning-formula-for-live-action-anime-adaptations-213237>

"What began as a friendly pirate-based manga, Netflix’s One Piece features
the eternally optimistic Monkey D. Luffy (pronounced Loofy), a young man with
magical stretchy powers that gathers a crew of eccentric loners to crew his

(More...)

I Know Why Rural Populations Are Vulnerable To The Lies Of Tyrants

Tue, 17 Oct 2023 20:01:16 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:https://medium.com/ellemeno/i-know-why-rural-populations-are-vulnerable-to-the-lies-of-tyrants-867ec1ac8f8c>

"I grew up in an unincorporated town in Northern Wisconsin. My school district
served many small communities within a large geographical area. Every morning
we took a 45 minute bus ride to a metropolis of 2,000 people. It was the

(More...)

Seaweed is taking over coral reefs. But there’s a gardening solution – sea-weeding

Tue, 17 Oct 2023 20:02:08 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/seaweed-is-taking-over-coral-reefs-but-theres-a-gardening-solution-sea-weeding-212460>

"In the early 1990s, marine researchers in the Caribbean found something
alarming. On reef after reef, corals were dying off – and seaweed was growing
in their place.

(More...)

China Sows Disinformation About Hawaii Fires Using New Techniques

Tue, 17 Oct 2023 20:02:53 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/11/us/politics/china-disinformation-ai.html>

"When wildfires swept across Maui last month with destructive fury, China’s
increasingly resourceful information warriors pounced.

(More...)

Koalas need their booster shots too. Here’s a way to beat chlamydia with just 1 capture and less trauma

Tue, 17 Oct 2023 20:03:41 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/koalas-need-their-booster-shots-too-heres-a-way-to-beat-chlamydia-with-just-1-capture-and-less-trauma-211610>

"Chlamydia is a major threat to koala populations across Australia. This
bacterial disease infects between 20% and 90% of individuals in koala
populations. It’s a major cause of the rapid decline of many wild populations,

(More...)

AI design could "bring back the beauty and aesthetics of the classical era" says Tim Fu

Wed, 18 Oct 2023 03:25:34 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.dezeen.com/2023/08/16/ai-aesthetics-classical-era-tim-fu-aitopia/>

'Artificial intelligence could give rise to a "neoclassical futurist"
architecture style and will become "an everyday tool of necessity", says
designer Tim Fu in this interview for our AItopia series.

(More...)

Choose Repairability—Why and How

Wed, 18 Oct 2023 03:26:53 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
https://www.ifixit.com/News/80357/how-and-why-to-choose-repairability

"Let’s face it: stuff breaks. Whether from accidental damage, like sharing a
drink with your keyboard; or from wear and tear, like a cracked screen or a
drained phone battery, stuff eventually stops working. That’s normal. The

(More...)

News Corp gasses up ‘green’ fossil fuels in a series on future energy – but does it pass the sniff test?

Wed, 18 Oct 2023 03:28:08 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/sep/14/news-corp-gasses-up-green-fossil-fuels-in-a-series-on-future-energy-but-does-it-pass-the-sniff-test>

"In a double-page spread in News Corp Australia’s metropolitan newspapers on
Monday, readers were told how families loved cooking with gas, how gas had been
officially stamped as “green” by the European Union and how coal had a future

(More...)

The NZ ad industry wants to clean up its climate act – but will agencies drop their fossil fuel clients?

Wed, 18 Oct 2023 03:29:00 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/the-nz-ad-industry-wants-to-clean-up-its-climate-act-but-will-agencies-drop-their-fossil-fuel-clients-213236>

"At the launch of the Auckland Climate Festival last month, Green Party
Auckland Central MP Chlöe Swarbrick spoke about how building a community is the
best way to avoid being overwhelmed by the scale of the climate emergency.

(More...)

Brain Implants That Help Paralyzed People Speak Just Broke New Records

Wed, 18 Oct 2023 03:30:57 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.wired.com/story/brain-implants-that-help-paralyzed-people-speak-just-broke-new-records/>

"Paralysis had robbed the two women of their ability to speak. For one, the
cause was amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, a disease that affects the
motor neurons. The other had suffered a stroke in her brain stem. Though they

(More...)

DataViz of Australian COVID-19 Vaccinations and other related statistics

Wed, 18 Oct 2023 03:35:31 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
https://github.com/Mike-Honey/covid-19-au-vaccinations

Via Violet Blue’s Pandemic Roundup: September 14, 2023
https://www.patreon.com/posts/pandemic-roundup-89254762

(More...)

“Biocentrism”: A scientific answer to the meaning of life

Wed, 18 Oct 2023 12:30:34 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
https://bigthink.com/13-8/biocentrism-scientific-answer-meaning-life/

"A Universe without life is a dead Universe. A Universe without minds has no
memory. A Universe without memory has no history. The dawn of humanity marked
the dawn of a mindful Universe, a Universe that after 13.8 billion years of

(More...)

Golden eagles in Scotland at highest levels in 300 years

Wed, 18 Oct 2023 12:36:00 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/66707883

"Golden eagles are extremely rare in the UK, and so bird experts have been
helping the population grow.

(More...)

The New Old Age

Wed, 18 Oct 2023 12:37:32 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
https://archive.vn/aEa4o

"Anne Kenner worked for many years as a federal prosecutor, first in the
Eastern District of New York, and then in the Northern District of California,
trying mobsters and drug dealers. “I like the hairy edge,” she told me. Her job

(More...)

Can Poland Roll Back Authoritarian Populism?

Wed, 18 Oct 2023 12:38:57 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2023/09/poland-election-democracy-populism-autocracy/675255/>

"In Poland, next month’s parliamentary elections may be the opposition’s last,
best chance to stop the country’s slide into autocracy. Along with Hungary,
Poland once counted as a paradigmatic success story for a postcommunist

(More...)

World Yoyo Contest 2023 - 3A Champion - Hajime Miura

Wed, 18 Oct 2023 12:40:01 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BwsKpXwVMTM

Via Future Crunch:
<https://futurecrunch.com/good-news-poverty-bangladesh-conservation-ecuador-indigenous-fire-australia/>

(More...)

What Is ‘It Is What It Is’?

Wed, 18 Oct 2023 12:41:28 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/12/opinion/it-is-what-it-is.html

"On a recent podcast, Bill Gates asked me my least favorite word or expression.
On the fly, I chose “It is what it is.” As I explained, “People say it when
really what they mean is ‘I don’t care.’”

(More...)

Bringing 13 million more children into school: Lessons from Punjab

Wed, 18 Oct 2023 19:27:20 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://blogs.worldbank.org/endpovertyinsouthasia/bringing-13-million-more-children-school-lessons-punjab>

"“In the heart of my village, a government school emerged as a blessing,
helping us move ahead and become part of the workforce. Despite an academic
atmosphere that may not have ranked as the best, its impact was profound as it

(More...)

Green light for Red Panda Ravi’s health check-up

Wed, 18 Oct 2023 19:28:20 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.adelaidezoo.com.au/green-light-for-red-panda-ravis-health-check-up/>

"Adelaide Zoo’s male Red Panda, Ravi, has been given a clean bill of health
after a recent check-up and just in time for International Red Panda Day.

(More...)

In Wisconsin, the Menominee Tribe’s Sustainable Forestry Is Visible From Space

Wed, 18 Oct 2023 19:29:59 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/menominee-wisconsin-sustainable-forest>

"Mike Lohrengel looks up in awe at trees he has known for 30 years. “This is
one of the most beautiful places I know. This forest has it all: the most
species, the most diversity. Many trees I know individually. Look at this one

(More...)

Gas boiler lobby trying to delay UK’s heat pump plans, leak shows

Wed, 18 Oct 2023 19:31:49 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/jul/20/gas-boiler-lobby-uk-heat-pump-plans-leak>

"Lobbyists for the gas boiler industry are trying to delay the introduction of
new government measures to speed up the take-up of heat pumps, a leaked
document shows.

(More...)

Winning the right to abortion: the revolution of Latin American women

Wed, 18 Oct 2023 19:33:09 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
https://archive.md/emoF9

"Simone de Beauvoir once said: “Never forget that a political, economic or
religious crisis will be enough for women’s rights to be questioned again.
These rights are never to be taken for granted; you must remain vigilant

(More...)

Dead spider claws and 'anal-print' toilets: 2023's Ig Nobels

Wed, 18 Oct 2023 19:34:21 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
https://phys.org/news/2023-09-dead-spider-claws-anal-print-toilets.html

'Reanimating dead spiders to use them as robot claws, licking rocks, backwards
talking and a toilet that scans "anal-prints": this year's Ig Nobel prizes
again put a spotlight on the quirky side of science.

(More...)

Court Rules Bulgaria Must Recognize Same-Sex Relationships

Thu, 19 Oct 2023 03:40:34 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.hrw.org/news/2023/09/08/court-rules-bulgaria-must-recognize-same-sex-relationships>

"The European Court of Human Rights this week found that the government of
Bulgaria was violating European human rights law by failing to legally
recognize same-sex couples.

(More...)

Chinese people are living two years longer thanks to ‘war on pollution,’ report says

Thu, 19 Oct 2023 03:41:47 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://edition.cnn.com/2023/08/30/asia/air-pollution-report-china-south-asia-intl-hnk-scn/index.html>

"Ten years ago, China’s capital was often covered in dense yellow and gray
smog, so thick it shrouded nearly everything from view.

(More...)

'A Watershed Moment': California Sues Big Oil Over Decades of Climate Destruction

Thu, 19 Oct 2023 03:44:00 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
https://www.commondreams.org/news/california-sues-big-oil

'The state of California on Friday filed suit against ExxonMobil, Shell, BP,
ConocoPhillips, and Chevron, accusing the five oil and gas giants of a
decadeslong campaign to mislead the public about the threat fossil fuels pose

(More...)

A Canadian study gave $7,500 to homeless people. Here’s how they spent it.

Thu, 19 Oct 2023 03:45:48 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.vox.com/future-perfect/21528569/homeless-poverty-cash-transfer-canada-new-leaf-project>

"Ray, a man in his 50s, used to live in an emergency homeless shelter in
Vancouver, Canada. Then he participated in a study that changed his life. He
was able to pay for a place to live and courses to prepare him for his dream

(More...)

Historians are learning more about how the Nazis targeted trans people

Thu, 19 Oct 2023 03:46:57 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/historians-are-learning-more-about-how-the-nazis-targeted-trans-people-205622>

"In the fall of 2022, a German court heard an unusual case.

It was a civil lawsuit that grew out of a feud on Twitter about whether

(More...)

Faster with wings: Ghana’s immunisation rates soar in Zipline-served districts

Thu, 19 Oct 2023 03:48:18 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.gavi.org/vaccineswork/faster-wings-ghanas-immunisation-rates-soar-zipline-served-districts>

"Drone delivery of vaccines has helped immunisation programmes in remote parts
of Ghana’s Western North region bounce back faster than average from the
pandemic’s impact, new research says. VaccinesWork visited the Zipline regional

(More...)

Scotland is planning a transition to a 4-day workweek for civil servants and wants the private sector to follow suit

Thu, 19 Oct 2023 11:17:35 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://fortune.com/2023/09/04/scotland-4-day-work-week-pilot-civil-servants/>

"Workplaces which have dared to implement the four-day workweek policy are few
and far between, but Scotland’s government is reportedly ready to take the
plunge—and wants the private sector to join it.

(More...)

Traveling through the world’s most traffic-heavy city just got a lot quicker—and greener

Thu, 19 Oct 2023 11:18:56 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
https://www.popsci.com/technology/lagos-light-rail-line/

"Travelers within Lagos, Nigeria, can finally board a light-rail line
connecting two busy regions of the world’s worst metropolis for traffic.
Although construction on Lagos’ Blue Line Rail began in 2009, years of funding

(More...)

A Spotlight on Chile’s “Feminist Foreign Policy”

Thu, 19 Oct 2023 11:19:53 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.americasquarterly.org/article/a-spotlight-on-chiles-feminist-foreign-policy/>

"The government of President Gabriel Boric recently announced its commitment to
a “feminist foreign policy,” which it described as the first of its kind in
South America, joining countries like Spain, Canada, Germany, Sweden and

(More...)

Pluralistic: Greenwashing set Canada on fire (16 Sept 2023)

Thu, 19 Oct 2023 11:20:55 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
https://pluralistic.net/2023/09/16/murder-offsets/

"As a teenager growing up in Ontario, I always envied the kids who spent their
summers tree planting; they'd come back from the bush in September,
insect-chewed and leathery, with new muscle, incredible stories, thousands of

(More...)

US to cancel Alaska oil, gas leases issued under Trump

Thu, 19 Oct 2023 11:21:59 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.reuters.com/world/us/biden-administration-announce-cancellation-alaska-wildlife-drilling-leases-2023-09-06/>

'Sept 6 (Reuters) - The U.S. Interior Department on Wednesday said it would
cancel oil and gas leases in a federal wildlife refuge that were bought by an
Alaska state development agency in the final days of former President Donald

(More...)

There’s plenty of money: its just that the very rich have got it all

Thu, 19 Oct 2023 11:23:07 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://eastangliabylines.co.uk/theres-plenty-of-money-its-just-that-the-very-rich-have-got-it-all/>

"Everywhere you look there is reason for the UK government to spend more money:
health, schools, water, transport, housing and energy. But the government and
Labour say there is no money left. That, I suggest, is simply not true.

(More...)

NSW stops logging in 106 ‘hubs’ on mid-north coast amid plans for koala national park

Thu, 19 Oct 2023 19:35:58 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/sep/12/nsw-logging-cease-stops-koala-national-park-106-hubs>

"Logging in high value koala habitat on the New South Wales mid-north coast
will cease immediately while the state government consults experts about plans
to establish a great koala national park.

(More...)

‘I saw how grotesquely unqualified so many of us were’: Rory Stewart on his decade as a Tory MP

Thu, 19 Oct 2023 19:38:29 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2023/sep/16/rory-stewart-tory-mp-decade-incompetent>

"It is December 2015. I am the minister for flooding. (I am also the minister
for forestry, for national parks, for nature, for chemicals, for air quality,
for waste and recycling, for water and much more than can be written on a

(More...)

Brazil's Lula legalizes more Indigenous reservations in Amazon

Thu, 19 Oct 2023 19:39:24 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/brazils-lula-legalizes-more-indigenous-reservations-amazon-2023-09-05/>

"BRASILIA, Sept 5 (Reuters) - Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva
on Tuesday officially recognized two Indigenous territories, granting them
legal protection as reservations to defend against invasions by illegal

(More...)

We are poised to pass 1.5°C of global warming – world leaders offer 4 ways to manage this dangerous time

Thu, 19 Oct 2023 19:40:06 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/we-are-poised-to-pass-1-5-of-global-warming-world-leaders-offer-4-ways-to-manage-this-dangerous-time-213649>

"For three decades, the goal of international climate negotiations has been to
avoid “dangerous” warming above 1.5°C. With warming to date standing at around
1.2°C, we haven’t quite reached the zone we labelled dangerous and pledged to

(More...)

Replacing Australia’s retiring coal power stations with small nuclear reactors could cost $387bn, analysis suggests

Thu, 19 Oct 2023 19:41:24 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/sep/18/replacing-australias-retiring-coal-power-stations-with-small-nuclear-reactors-could-cost-387bn-analysis-suggests>

"The federal government says it would cost as much as $387bn to replace
Australia’s retiring coal-fired power stations with the form of nuclear power
proposed by the Coalition.

(More...)

With democracy on the ballot, the mainstream press must change its ways

Thu, 19 Oct 2023 19:43:57 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/sep/15/trump-biden-mainstream-politics-news-coverage>

"Christiane Amanpour has reported all over the world, so she recognizes a
democracy on the brink when she sees one.

(More...)

Like plumbing did for water, Australia’s ‘consumer data right’ could make your personal data safer and easier to share

Fri, 20 Oct 2023 04:25:55 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/like-plumbing-did-for-water-australias-consumer-data-right-could-make-your-personal-data-safer-and-easier-to-share-210969>

"Back in 2017, The Economist published a headline that became a meme. It said
data had become the new oil.

(More...)

COVID levels are so high, they’re hovering near 2020’s initial peak, as the WHO urges those at high risk to take any booster they can get their hands on

Fri, 20 Oct 2023 04:27:01 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://fortune.com/well/2023/09/16/united-states-covid-levels-approach-first-pandemic-peak-2020-who-urges-vaccination-boosters-high-risk/>

"U.S. COVID infections are hovering near levels of the pandemic’s first peak in
2020, and approaching the Delta peak of late 2021, according to wastewater
surveillance and modeling by forecasters.

(More...)

Pigs with human brain cells and biological chips: how lab-grown hybrid lifeforms bamboozle scientific ethics

Fri, 20 Oct 2023 04:28:06 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/pigs-with-human-brain-cells-and-biological-chips-how-lab-grown-hybrid-lifeforms-bamboozle-scientific-ethics-213357>

"Earlier this month, scientists at the Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and
Health announced they had successfully grown “humanised” kidneys inside pig
embryos.

(More...)

Another day, another roadblock: how should NZ law deal with disruptive climate protests?

Fri, 20 Oct 2023 04:29:06 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/another-day-another-roadblock-how-should-nz-law-deal-with-disruptive-climate-protests-213644>

"The most recent protest by the Restore Passenger Rail climate protest group,
in which a Wellington car dealership was defaced with red paint, is not just
the latest in a local movement – it’s part of a global trend.

(More...)

Italian PM warns migration an issue for all of Europe on Lampedusa visit

Fri, 20 Oct 2023 04:30:00 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/sep/17/italian-pm-warns-migration-an-issue-for-all-of-europe-on-lampedusa-visit>

"Italy’s prime minister has said that European countries must work together “to
stop departures [from Africa]” and swiftly deport those turned down for asylum,
who she said “threaten the future of Europe”, after thousands of people seeking

(More...)

What does Kim Jong Un stand to gain from his meeting with Vladimir Putin?

Fri, 20 Oct 2023 04:30:44 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/what-does-kim-jong-un-stand-to-gain-from-his-meeting-with-vladimir-putin-213555>

"North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has reportedly offered his “full and
unconditional support” to Russian President Vladimir Putin during his visit to
eastern Russia this week.

(More...)

Halliburton equipment worth $7.1m imported into Russia in past year, customs records show

Fri, 20 Oct 2023 11:48:09 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.theguardian.com/business/2023/sep/17/russia-trade-halliburton-equipment-export-us-oil>

"US oil and gas multinationals are facing fresh questions over their trade with
Russia after customs records revealed that more than $7.1m (£5.7m) worth of
equipment manufactured by Halliburton has been imported into the country since

(More...)

Solar power five times more popular than fossil fuels: survey

Fri, 20 Oct 2023 11:49:17 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/solar-power-five-times-more-popular-than-fossil-fuels-survey>

"According to a new global poll by research firm Glocalities, more than 68
percent of people worldwide support solar energy, five times more than those
who back fossil fuels.

(More...)

Electric vehicle fires are very rare. The risk for petrol and diesel vehicles is at least 20 times higher

Fri, 20 Oct 2023 11:50:10 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/electric-vehicle-fires-are-very-rare-the-risk-for-petrol-and-diesel-vehicles-is-at-least-20-times-higher-213468>

"Two electric vehicle fires have been reported in Australia this week. Five
cars were destroyed after a lithium battery ignited in a car parked at Sydney
Airport on Monday. Firefighters believed the battery had been detached from the

(More...)

Our planet is burning in unexpected ways - here’s how we can protect people and nature

Fri, 20 Oct 2023 11:51:05 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/our-planet-is-burning-in-unexpected-ways-heres-how-we-can-protect-people-and-nature-213215>

"People have been using fire for millennia. It is a vital part of many
ecosystems and cultures. Yet human activities in the current era, sometimes
called the “Anthropocene”, are reshaping patterns of fire across the planet.

(More...)

As climate change warms rivers, they are running out of breath – and so could the plants and animals they harbor

Fri, 20 Oct 2023 11:53:12 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/as-climate-change-warms-rivers-they-are-running-out-of-breath-and-so-could-the-plants-and-animals-they-harbor-213297>

"As climate change warms rivers, they are losing dissolved oxygen from their
water. This process, which is called deoxygenation, was already known to be
occurring in large bodies of water, like oceans and lakes. A study that

(More...)

Sustainable use of natural resources: lessons from Pantanal communities

Fri, 20 Oct 2023 19:12:20 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/sustainable-use-of-natural-resources-lessons-from-pantanal-communities-213224>

"“How can we use nature in a sustainable way?” That is a question I, together
with colleagues from different parts of the world, have sought to answer for a
decade. We are dedicated to studying issues related to the sustainable use of

(More...)

As the Mississippi Swerves, Can We Let Nature Regain Control?

Fri, 20 Oct 2023 19:13:28 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
https://e360.yale.edu/features/neptune-pass-louisiana-mississippi-delta

"Like most people during the pandemic, Alex Kolker found himself with extra
time on his hands. A coastal geologist at the Louisiana Universities Marine
Consortium, Kolker studies the Mississippi River Delta, and his work often

(More...)

Libya dam collapse: engineering expert raises questions about management

Fri, 20 Oct 2023 19:14:12 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/libya-dam-collapse-engineering-expert-raises-questions-about-management-213546>

"More than 11,000 people have been killed and tens of thousands are missing
following the catastrophic collapse of two dams in the eastern Libyan city of
Derna. The dam collapse came after an extreme storm, Storm Daniel, slammed into

(More...)

Libya floods: why cash is the best way to help get humanitarian aid to people affected by disasters

Fri, 20 Oct 2023 19:15:02 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/libya-floods-why-cash-is-the-best-way-to-help-get-humanitarian-aid-to-people-affected-by-disasters-213669>

"The heavy rainfall that hit Libya during Storm Daniel caused two dams and four
bridges to collapse in the coastal city of Derna, submerging most of the city
in floodwater and claiming thousands of lives.

(More...)

People who work from home all the time ‘cut emissions by 54%’ against those in office

Fri, 20 Oct 2023 19:16:50 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/sep/18/people-who-work-from-home-all-the-time-cut-emissions-by-54-against-those-in-office>

"People who work remotely all the time produce less than half the greenhouse
gas emissions of office workers, according to a new study.

(More...)

Mass Extinction: Entire Branches on Tree of Life Are Dying, Scientists Warn

Sat, 21 Oct 2023 03:46:50 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.sciencealert.com/mass-extinction-entire-branches-on-tree-of-life-are-dying-scientists-warn>

'Like the comet striking the dinosaurs – in slower motion, but just as deadly –
human activity is hacking off entire branches from the tree of life, a new
study confirms.

(More...)

Tonga is running out of space for more than 30,000 abandoned cars. But it has a plan to fix that

Sat, 21 Oct 2023 03:48:26 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.abc.net.au/news/science/2023-09-19/how-tonga-plans-to-recycle-its-mountain-of-scrap-cars/102614772>

"The Kingdom of Tonga looks like paradise, but its lush coconut palms nurse a
hidden problem that threatens the health of its people.

(More...)

Fridays for Future: Greta’s school strikes led a third of Swiss citizens to change their habits

Sat, 21 Oct 2023 03:49:35 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.euronews.com/green/2023/09/10/fridays-for-future-gretas-school-strikes-led-a-third-of-swiss-citizens-to-change-their-hab>

"Almost a third of Swiss people changed their daily habits as a result of Greta
Thunberg’s Fridays for Future climate strikes, new research has found.

(More...)

Worried about heat and fire this summer? Here’s how to prepare

Sat, 21 Oct 2023 03:50:18 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/worried-about-heat-and-fire-this-summer-heres-how-to-prepare-212443>

"The Northern Hemisphere summer brought catastrophic fires and floods to many
countries. Down south, the winter was the hottest ever recorded in Australia,
fuelled by record ocean temperatures.

(More...)

Intense Heatwaves Persist Far Longer in The Deep Ocean, Scientists Find

Sat, 21 Oct 2023 03:51:41 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.sciencealert.com/intense-heatwaves-persist-far-longer-in-the-deep-ocean-scientists-find>

'Marine heatwaves may last longer and be more intense in deeper water,
potentially threatening sensitive species as climate change makes the extreme
events more frequent, researchers said on Monday.

(More...)

Tests that diagnose diseases are less reliable than you’d expect. Here’s why

Sat, 21 Oct 2023 03:52:37 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/tests-that-diagnose-diseases-are-less-reliable-than-youd-expect-heres-why-213359>

"You feel unwell, and visit your doctor. They ask some questions and take some
blood for testing; a few days later they call to say you have been diagnosed
with a disease.

(More...)

Mahsa Amini: a year into the protest movement in Iran, this is what’s changed

Sat, 21 Oct 2023 11:26:26 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/mahsa-amini-a-year-into-the-protest-movement-in-iran-this-is-whats-changed-212661>

"Iran’s rulers continue to enforce tight public controls as the anniversary of
the death of Mahsa Amini in the custody of the “morality police” approaches.

(More...)

Australian supermarkets should use ‘shrinkflation’ labels to warn shoppers and shame brands, advocate says

Sat, 21 Oct 2023 11:27:26 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/sep/19/australian-supermarkets-should-use-shrinkflation-labels-to-warn-shoppers-and-shame-brands-advocate-says>

"Australian supermarkets should follow the lead of French giant Carrefour and
shame brands by alerting shoppers when a packaged food product has reduced in
size, a leading consumer group says.

(More...)

Well behind at halftime: here’s how to get the UN Sustainable Development Goals back on track

Sat, 21 Oct 2023 11:28:07 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/well-behind-at-halftime-heres-how-to-get-the-un-sustainable-development-goals-back-on-track-206677>

"This week world leaders are gathering at the United Nations (UN) headquarters
in New York to review progress against the Sustainable Development Goals. We’re
halfway between when the goals were set in 2015 and when they need to be met in

(More...)

Intelligence Community Feels It Might Be Time To Start Stuffing Surveillance Gear Into People’s Pants

Sat, 21 Oct 2023 11:29:11 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.techdirt.com/2023/09/18/intelligence-community-feels-it-might-be-time-to-start-stuffing-surveillance-gear-into-peoples-pants/>

"Who among us has not considered shoving a camera into our underwear… but for
the greater good… on the public’s dime? No need to raise your hands. We already
know where they are.

(More...)

Global corporate power is ‘out of control’, but reports of democracy’s death are greatly exaggerated

Sat, 21 Oct 2023 11:30:42 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/global-corporate-power-is-out-of-control-but-reports-of-democracys-death-are-greatly-exaggerated-210270>

"Review: Silent Coup: How Corporations Overthrew Democracy – Claire Provost
and Matt Kennard (Bloomsbury)

(More...)

Bill Willingham Says Fables Is Released To The Public Domain, DC Comics Says It Most Certainly Is Not

Sat, 21 Oct 2023 11:32:28 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.techdirt.com/2023/09/18/bill-willingham-says-fables-is-released-to-the-public-domain-dc-comics-says-it-most-certainly-is-not/>

"I don’t think I’ve ever had a story sent in to me more than Bill Willingham’s
Substack/press release announcing that he was putting the Fables comic book
property into the public domain, as part of a dispute he’s having with DC

(More...)

Shenzhen to be protection hub for mangroves

Sat, 21 Oct 2023 20:17:17 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202309/08/WS64fa6fd3a310d2dce4bb49eb.html>

'In a landmark victory for global mangrove preservation and cooperation, the
Standing Committee of Ramsar Convention on Wetlands on Wednesday approved the
establishment of the world's first international mangrove center in Shenzhen,

(More...)

Peregrine falcons, once extremely endangered, now stable in Iowa skies

Sat, 21 Oct 2023 20:18:21 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.thegazette.com/environment-nature/peregrine-falcons-once-extremely-endangered-now-stable-in-iowa-skies/>

"A small silhouette dotted the sky in Waverly in 2003. If you squinted at it,
you might’ve been able to make out pointed wings backlit by the sun, powerfully
commanding the air with strong pumps. It hovered over a waterway and cast a

(More...)

We Are Retroactively Dropping the iPhone’s Repairability Score

Sat, 21 Oct 2023 20:19:26 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.ifixit.com/News/82493/we-are-retroactively-dropping-the-iphones-repairability-score-en>

"We need to have a serious chat about iPhone repairability. We judged the
phones of yesteryear by how easy they were to take apart—screws, glues, how
hard it was to change a battery. But repairs have gotten trickier, by design.

(More...)

N.S. to protect 684 hectares of wilderness, lake eyed by mining company

Sat, 21 Oct 2023 20:20:18 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/guysborough-county-archibald-lake-wilderness-area-1.6949475>

'A new wilderness area in Nova Scotia's Guysborough County will protect 300
hectares of old-growth forest as well as a lake that has been identified by a
mining company as a water source for a proposed gold mine.

(More...)

Exclusive Clip: Michel Gagné Crafts an Epic Fox Tale in ‘The Saga of Rex’

Sat, 21 Oct 2023 20:21:32 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.animationmagazine.net/2023/09/exclusive-clip-michel-gagne-crafts-an-epic-fox-tale-in-the-saga-of-rex/>

"Acclaimed Canadian animator Michel Gagné has been working on his solo feature
effort The Saga of Rex since 2017. Gagné, whose recent credits include
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-VerseSpace Jam: A New LegacyTeen Titans

(More...)

Cybersecurity Roundup: September 19, 2023

Sat, 21 Oct 2023 20:22:17 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
https://www.patreon.com/posts/cybersecurity-19-89492575

"This week: The Thermonator robot flamethrower dog is terrible at playing
fetch, the ransomware attack on MGM only took a 10-minute phone call, Clorox is
frozen by ransomware; a firsthand account from someone social engineering

(More...)

Cat Godzillas: Giant Cats In Cities by Fransdita Muafidin

Sun, 22 Oct 2023 03:47:41 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
https://www.sadanduseless.com/cat-godzillas-gallery/

"Indonesian artist Fransdita Muafidin has created a series of photoshopped
pictures of giant cats in urban landscapes from around the world. These huge
cats are big enough to give Godzilla a scare, but here they are captured doing

(More...)

Today The UK Parliament Undermined The Privacy, Security, And Freedom Of All Internet Users

Sun, 22 Oct 2023 03:49:41 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2023/09/today-uk-parliament-undermined-privacy-security-and-freedom-all-internet-users>

"The U.K. Parliament has passed the Online Safety Bill (OSB), which says it
will make the U.K. “the safest place” in the world to be online. In reality,
the OSB will lead to a much more censored, locked-down internet for British

(More...)

What are ‘planetary boundaries’ and why should we care?

Sun, 22 Oct 2023 03:50:48 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/what-are-planetary-boundaries-and-why-should-we-care-213762>

"As far as we know, there is exactly one planet in our Solar System – and the
galaxy – which hosts life. And you’re on it.

(More...)

‘Missing half the equation’: scientists criticise Australia over approach to fossil fuels

Sun, 22 Oct 2023 03:51:58 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/sep/19/missing-half-the-equation-scientists-criticise-australia-over-approach-to-fossil-fuels>

"The Australian government is “missing half the equation” in acting on the
climate crisis by backing a shift to renewable energy but having no plan to get
out of fossil fuels, according to an author of a new scientific review.

(More...)

Researchers make surprising discovery about lifespan of EV batteries: ‘That was a shock’

Sun, 22 Oct 2023 03:56:03 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://news.yahoo.com/researchers-surprising-discovery-lifespan-ev-110000330.html>

"A dead, irreplaceable battery is often the demise of an otherwise perfectly
good piece of equipment, and it can be incredibly frustrating. New research
shows, however, that the opposite may be true when it comes to the batteries

(More...)

The Emulation Station

Sun, 22 Oct 2023 03:57:14 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
https://archive.org/details/emulation

"Using the EMULARITY, a loading system of browser-based emulators, it is
possible to play hundreds of thousands of programs, games and applications from
previous years at the Internet Archive. Click to different sets of collections

(More...)

Virtual influencers: meet the AI-generated figures posing as your new online friends – as they try to sell you stuff

Sun, 22 Oct 2023 12:24:41 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/virtual-influencers-meet-the-ai-generated-figures-posing-as-your-new-online-friends-as-they-try-to-sell-you-stuff-212001>

"The future of influence is here: a digital avatar that captivates millions of
adoring fans while offering unparalleled customisation and round-the-clock
availability.

(More...)

Hidden women of history: disabled Australian author Dorothy Cottrell was ‘the Liane Moriarty of the Jazz Age’ but is almost unheard of here

Sun, 22 Oct 2023 12:25:33 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/hidden-women-of-history-disabled-australian-author-dorothy-cottrell-was-the-liane-moriarty-of-the-jazz-age-but-is-almost-unheard-of-here-212792>

"In the late 1920s, poet Mary Gilmore – the woman on the A$10 note – declared
she’d encountered only two instances of “genius” during her four decades in
Australian literature. The first was a man who remains a household name: Henry

(More...)

The Backyard Farmers Who Grow Food With Fog

Sun, 22 Oct 2023 12:26:35 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://reasonstobecheerful.world/lima-fog-catchers-water-scarcity-irrigation/>

"At the highest point of Los Tres Miradores, a terrifyingly steep urban
settlement with soaring views across Peru’s capital, Lima, there is a curious
set of large structures that resemble a fleet of ships in the sky. They are

(More...)

Ukraine war: reports suggest that Russia has been deliberately targeting journalists – which is a war crime

Sun, 22 Oct 2023 12:27:21 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/ukraine-war-reports-suggest-that-russia-has-been-deliberately-targeting-journalists-which-is-a-war-crime-213663>

"At least 15 media workers have been killed in Ukraine since Russia began its
full-scale war in February 2022. Along with targeting civilians, hospitals,
schools, orphanages, residential buildings, communications centres and places

(More...)

Can a Tiny Restaurant Surcharge Move the Needle on Climate?

Sun, 22 Oct 2023 12:28:01 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://reasonstobecheerful.world/zero-foodprint-changing-the-food-system/>

"When Anthony Myint and his wife Karen Leibowitz opened their San Francisco
restaurant The Perennial in 2016, they had big ambitions: They wanted it to be
the first carbon-neutral restaurant in the world, and they succeeded.

(More...)

Tears, compromise, divorce – what it’s like to leave the UK because of Brexit

Sun, 22 Oct 2023 12:29:06 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/tears-compromise-divorce-what-its-like-to-leave-the-uk-because-of-brexit-213422>

"Nicole and Hemmo have two children. Our team visited them at home just a few
days before they moved to the Netherlands. Piles of boxes filled every room of
the house, ready to be shipped over the coming days. Althought they had lived

(More...)

Getting the Soil Right: How Carbon Farming Combats Climate Change

Sun, 22 Oct 2023 19:47:27 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://reasonstobecheerful.world/carbon-farming-climate-change-regenerative-practices/>

"The solution to stopping climate change might be buried on 10 acres in the
Pauma Valley of California. In the early morning before the sun will rise above
the hills and torch the valley, Bea Alvarez picks plump, ripe blackberries and

(More...)

The world’s happiest man? Matthieu Ricard on the secrets of a serene, successful, satisfying life

Sun, 22 Oct 2023 19:50:32 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2023/sep/18/the-worlds-happiest-man-matthieu-ricard-on-the-secrets-of-a-serene-successful-satisfying-life>

"I get anxious about interviews, I tell Matthieu Ricard moments after he
appears on my computer screen in his red and saffron robes, his background,
somewhere in the Dordogne region of France, discreetly blurred. He starts

(More...)

‘Don’t say anything about it’: why so many LGBTQIA+ Buddhists feel pressure to hide their identities

Sun, 22 Oct 2023 19:51:24 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/dont-say-anything-about-it-why-so-many-lgbtqia-buddhists-feel-pressure-to-hide-their-identities-212253>

"More than half of Australia’s LGBTQIA+ Buddhists feel reluctant to “come out”
to their Buddhist communities and nearly one in six have been told directly
that being LGBTQIA+ isn’t in keeping with the Buddha’s teachings.

(More...)

Putting Green Jobs in the Curriculum

Sun, 22 Oct 2023 19:53:15 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://reasonstobecheerful.world/california-high-school-sustainability-green-jobs-curriculum/>

"Jesika Gonzalez will tell you that she wasn’t the biggest fan of Porterville,
California, while she was growing up.

(More...)

Revealed: almost everyone in Europe is breathing toxic air

Sun, 22 Oct 2023 19:54:59 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/sep/20/revealed-almost-everyone-in-europe-breathing-toxic-air>

"Europe is facing a “severe public health crisis”, with almost everyone across
the continent living in areas with dangerous levels of air pollution, an
investigation by the Guardian has found.

(More...)

Starfield is the latest game to be boycotted by conservatives. This time because of pronouns

Sun, 22 Oct 2023 19:56:38 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/starfield-is-the-latest-game-to-be-boycotted-by-conservatives-this-time-because-of-pronouns-213244>

"One of the most highly anticipated game releases this year is Bethesda
Studio’s action role-playing game Starfield. An open world game set in the
year 2330 with over 1,000 explorable planets, it’s been described by producer

(More...)

Cool pavement covers this LA neighborhood. Does it make a difference?

Mon, 23 Oct 2023 03:42:47 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.smartcitiesdive.com/news/cool-pavement-urban-heat-results-pacoima-los-angeles/692642/>

"The first community-wide cool pavement experiment is unfolding in the north
Los Angeles neighborhood of Pacoima — and preliminary results are promising,
according to the city and its partners on the project.

(More...)

Living in the 70s: why Australia’s dominant model of unemployment and inflation no longer works

Mon, 23 Oct 2023 03:43:45 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/living-in-the-70s-why-australias-dominant-model-of-unemployment-and-inflation-no-longer-works-211487>

"As we approach the release of Monday’s employment white paper we can expect to
hear a lot about something called the NAIRU – the so-called Non-Accelerating
Inflation Rate of Unemployment.

(More...)

How the humpback whale made a massive comeback in the Salish Sea

Mon, 23 Oct 2023 03:44:56 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/environment/how-the-humpback-whale-made-a-massive-comeback-in-the-salish-sea/>

"ABOARD THE MOLLY B, on the Salish sea — They are big. They are beautiful. And
they are back.

(More...)

There have been attempts to censor more than 1,900 library book titles so far in 2023

Mon, 23 Oct 2023 03:45:55 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
https://www.npr.org/2023/09/20/1200647985/book-bans-libraries-schools

"There were nearly 700 attempts to ban library books in the first eight months
of 2023, according to data released Tuesday by the American Library
Association.

(More...)

Renewable energy is now cheap—what’s next?

Mon, 23 Oct 2023 03:46:39 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://arstechnica.com/science/2023/09/renewable-energy-is-now-cheap-whats-next/>

"A decade ago, our present renewable energy situation was unimaginable. Most
projections had wind and solar as niche players on the electric grid due to
their relatively high cost. In the US, the reality is anything but. Combined,

(More...)

Russell Brand: how the comedy industry uses humour to abuse and silence women

Mon, 23 Oct 2023 03:47:55 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/russell-brand-how-the-comedy-industry-uses-humour-to-abuse-and-silence-women-213885>

"Over the last ten years I have been researching the barriers to women’s
participation in the UK comedy circuit. During that time, it became clear to me
that the live comedy industry has a particular susceptibility to fostering

(More...)

AEC struggles to get Twitter to remove posts that ‘incite violence’ and spread ‘disinformation’ ahead of voice

Mon, 23 Oct 2023 12:37:06 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/sep/21/aec-twitter-x-struggles-posts-violence-disinformation-removal>

"The Australian Electoral Commission has struggled to get Twitter to remove
posts that it says are inciting violence against staff and promoting
disinformation about the electoral process ahead of the Indigenous voice to

(More...)

“Wrong direction:” Australia called out for betting bigger on fossil gas

Mon, 23 Oct 2023 12:38:02 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://reneweconomy.com.au/wrong-direction-australia-called-out-for-betting-bigger-on-fossil-gas/>

"Australia is one of 16 countries failing to effectively decarbonise their
power sectors in line with global climate goals, according to a new report from
the Climate Action Tracker.

(More...)

The joke’s on us – how big tech is replicating our laughter online

Mon, 23 Oct 2023 12:39:23 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/the-jokes-on-us-how-big-tech-is-replicating-our-laughter-online-206191>

"Human laughter as we know it likely developed between ten and 16 million years
ago. For context, the stone tools our distant human ancestors made in the Early
Stone Age date back around 2.6 million years. These are vast time spans, but it

(More...)

Roof Not Suitable For Solar? Here's The Solution!

Mon, 23 Oct 2023 12:41:33 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nYqSkEYsoQo

"The demand for solar panels has soared in the UK in recent years with 2022
recording the biggest uptake of domestic solar panels mainly due to the
increase in energy prices.

(More...)

Racism and democracy: why claims of ‘division by race’ in the NZ election and Voice referendum need challenging

Mon, 23 Oct 2023 12:42:25 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/racism-and-democracy-why-claims-of-division-by-race-in-the-nz-election-and-voice-referendum-need-challenging-213651>

"It’s a coincidence that New Zealand elects a new parliament on October 14, the
same day Australians decide whether (at the request of Indigenous people) they
will entrench in the constitution an Aboriginal and Torres Islander Voice to

(More...)

Coalition frontbencher condemns anti-voice rallies as ‘shameless’ attempt to push ‘extreme causes’

Mon, 23 Oct 2023 12:43:25 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/sep/20/indigenous-voice-to-parliament-referendum-rally-james-paterson-no-campaign-simeon-boikov>

"A senior Coalition frontbencher has warned fellow no voters against attending
anti-voice rallies promoted by a pro-Kremlin activist, arguing the events are a
“shameless” attempt to push “wacky and extreme causes”.

(More...)

The social lives of kangaroos are more complex than we thought

Tue, 24 Oct 2023 00:23:21 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/the-social-lives-of-kangaroos-are-more-complex-than-we-thought-213770>

"Have you ever wondered what a kangaroo’s social life looks like? Well,
kangaroos have stronger bonds to one another than you might think.

(More...)

Rishi Sunak announces U-turn on key green targets

Tue, 24 Oct 2023 00:24:29 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/sep/20/rishi-sunak-confirms-rollback-of-key-green-targets>

"Rishi Sunak has announced a major U-turn on the government’s climate
commitments as he promised to put his party on a more radical path in an
attempt to close the gap with Labour before the next general election.

(More...)

Colonists upended Aboriginal farming, growing grain and running sheep on rich yamfields, and cattle on arid grainlands

Tue, 24 Oct 2023 00:25:29 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/colonists-upended-aboriginal-farming-growing-grain-and-running-sheep-on-rich-yamfields-and-cattle-on-arid-grainlands-207118>

"First Nations readers are advised this article contains references to
colonial violence against First Nations people.

(More...)

Swedish government criticised for curbing green policies in budget

Tue, 24 Oct 2023 00:26:34 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/sep/20/swedish-government-criticised-curbing-green-policies-budget>

"Sweden’s government has come under criticism after unveiling a budget that
will dramatically increase carbon emissions.

(More...)

Morocco’s earthquake and Libya’s floods highlight obstacles to relief efforts, from botched disaster diplomacy to destroyed infrastructure

Tue, 24 Oct 2023 00:27:23 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/moroccos-earthquake-and-libyas-floods-highlight-obstacles-to-relief-efforts-from-botched-disaster-diplomacy-to-destroyed-infrastructure-213691>

"A 6.8 magnitude earthquake struck southern Morocco on Sept. 8, 2023, causing
widespread damage in mountain villages. Three days later, an unusually severe
Mediterranean storm caused two poorly maintained Libyan dams to collapse,

(More...)

The push for nuclear energy in Australia is driven by delay and denial, not evidence

Tue, 24 Oct 2023 00:28:55 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/sep/21/nuclear-energy-australia-smokescreen-climate-denialism-coalition>

"The vague, ideological push for nuclear energy backed by the Coalition and
News Corp and given legitimacy this week on the ABC’s Q+A should be treated
as what it is: the latest step in a decades-long campaign of delay and denial

(More...)

Fires burn on Sydney’s fringe in taste of hot summer ahead

Tue, 24 Oct 2023 07:07:46 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/fires-burn-on-sydney-s-fringe-in-taste-of-hot-summer-ahead-20230920-p5e6ag.html>

"Sydney has had a taste of the hot, dry summer ahead with near-record September
temperatures, extreme bushfire conditions and blazes burning out of control on
the city’s fringe.

(More...)

The Tiny Electric Car Made By A Scooter Company!

Tue, 24 Oct 2023 07:08:31 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aC8uvlzFXdU

"One year on from driving it for the first time in Turin, Jack is reunited with
the Swiss-made Microlino - this time in London. The creation of a Swiss company
best known for kids' kick scooters, and with a design inspired by the iconic

(More...)

Australia’s Hydrogen Pipe Dream Is Leaking

Tue, 24 Oct 2023 07:10:46 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:https://medium.com/the-future-is-electric/australias-hydrogen-pipe-dream-is-leaking-9b8e0a138fb>

"Three articles crossed my screen recently suggested that Australia might be
seeing reality around hydrogen. It’s not official policy or anything, but it’s
a good sign that the hype bubble might be leaking or even deflating, which

(More...)

Maine’s puffin colonies recovering in the face of climate change

Tue, 24 Oct 2023 07:12:03 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://apnews.com/article/maine-puffin-chicks-rebound-climate-change-a88782912dd93a1830a73748e83eae6f>

"EASTERN EGG ROCK, Maine (AP) — On remote islands off the Maine coast, a unique
bird held its own this year in the face of climate change.

(More...)

Gray wolf personality research uses puzzle boxes, rain sticks

Tue, 24 Oct 2023 07:13:02 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
https://phys.org/news/2023-09-gray-wolf-personality-puzzle.html

'Researchers using puzzle boxes, rain sticks and papier-mâché balls are
studying captive gray wolves at the Oakland Zoo and the California Wolf Center
to evaluate personality and problem-solving skills of the endangered animals.

(More...)

A COVID inquiry has been announced. But is COVID still a thing? Do I need a booster?

Tue, 24 Oct 2023 07:14:07 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/a-covid-inquiry-has-been-announced-but-is-covid-still-a-thing-do-i-need-a-booster-213469>

"Today’s announcement of an independent inquiry into Australia’s COVID response
will examine how we’ve handled the pandemic and how we could better prepare for
the next one.

(More...)

‘Nature positive’ isn’t just planting a few trees – it’s actually stopping the damage we do

Tue, 24 Oct 2023 12:41:37 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/nature-positive-isnt-just-planting-a-few-trees-its-actually-stopping-the-damage-we-do-213075>

"Have you heard the phrase “nature positive”? It’s suddenly everywhere.

The idea is simple: rather than continually erode the natural world, nature

(More...)

Rupert Murdoch’s reign at Fox News is over. But the damage he did may last forever

Tue, 24 Oct 2023 12:42:39 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/sep/21/rupert-murdochs-reign-at-fox-news-is-over-but-the-damage-he-did-may-last-forever>

"In a chilling scene at the end of James Graham’s play Ink, Rupert Murdoch –
having made his indelible mark on British media and society – slows his
frenetic pace to ponder the future.

(More...)

Stripping Russia’s veto power on the Security Council is all but impossible. Perhaps we should expect less from the UN instead

Tue, 24 Oct 2023 12:43:34 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/stripping-russias-veto-power-on-the-security-council-is-all-but-impossible-perhaps-we-should-expect-less-from-the-un-instead-213985>

"Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has lambasted the UN Security Council
yet again, saying in a speech this week that as long as Russia has veto power
on the body, it will remain powerless to do anything to stop the war in Ukraine

(More...)

Rethinking Human Exceptionalism

Tue, 24 Oct 2023 12:44:24 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:https://medium.com/irrelevant-matters/rethinking-human-exceptionalism-936214596f16>

"For thousands of years, but especially in the last few centuries, we humans
have crowned ourselves superior to all other species. So much so that for a
long time, especially in Western cultures, we saw, and see, ourselves as

(More...)

Zero alcohol doesn’t mean zero risk – how marketing and blurred lines can be drinking triggers

Tue, 24 Oct 2023 12:45:03 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/zero-alcohol-doesnt-mean-zero-risk-how-marketing-and-blurred-lines-can-be-drinking-triggers-210881>

"The availability and sales of “zero-alcohol” products have soared in recent
years. In Australia, these are products containing less than 0.5% alcohol by
volume, designed to mimic the flavour, appearance and packaging of alcoholic

(More...)

Long covid: the doctors’ lives destroyed by an illness they caught while doing their jobs

Tue, 24 Oct 2023 12:46:09 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
https://www.bmj.com/content/382/bmj.p1983

"When Kelly Fearnley first stepped on to a surgical ward as a doctor at
Bradford Royal Infirmary in August 2020 her head was still buzzing with delight
at having finally achieved her dream of qualifying in medicine.

(More...)

“You won’t get far with that thing, mate:” Model Y does lap of Australia towing a boat trailer

Tue, 24 Oct 2023 19:28:20 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://thedriven.io/2023/09/22/you-wont-get-far-with-that-thing-mate-model-y-does-lap-of-australia-towing-a-boat-trailer/>

"Australia’s former prime minister once infamously said the EV won’t tow your
boat, but retiree Jeff Giddins begs to differ. In fact, Giddins has just towed
a trailer – including a kayak, an electric bike and camping equipment – with

(More...)

Net zero by 2050? Too late. Australia must aim for 2035

Tue, 24 Oct 2023 19:29:04 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/net-zero-by-2050-too-late-australia-must-aim-for-2035-213973>

"This year’s heightened drumbeat of extreme weather shows us how little time we
actually have to slash emissions.

(More...)

Sex life discovery raises IVF hope for endangered purple cauliflower soft coral

Tue, 24 Oct 2023 19:29:51 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/sex-life-discovery-raises-ivf-hope-for-endangered-purple-cauliflower-soft-coral-212849>

"Vital coastal habitat was destroyed in the devastating floods that hit New
South Wales in 2021 and 2022.

(More...)

Judge Tosses Twin Metals Lawsuit, Halting Mine’s Threat to Boundary Waters

Tue, 24 Oct 2023 19:32:00 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://earthjustice.org/press/2023/judge-tosses-twin-metals-lawsuit-halting-mines-threat-to-boundary-waters>

"In a major win for conservation groups, a federal judge yesterday dismissed a
complaint brought by Twin Metals that would have forced the Biden
administration to renew two mining leases that threaten Minnesota’s Boundary

(More...)

EU to ban ‘climate neutral’ claims by 2026

Tue, 24 Oct 2023 19:33:56 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
https://www.ft.com/content/53f84f03-1f1c-4240-977f-9de0e4893377

"The EU will ban sweeping environmental claims such as “climate neutral” or
“eco” by 2026 unless companies can prove the claim is accurate, as the bloc
cracks down on greenwashing of consumer products.

(More...)

How did Taylor Swift get so popular? She never goes out of style

Tue, 24 Oct 2023 19:35:38 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/how-did-taylor-swift-get-so-popular-she-never-goes-out-of-style-213871>

"Last week, USA Today/Gannett posted a job ad for a Taylor Swift reporter,
seeking an experienced journalist and content creator to “capture the music and
cultural impact of Taylor Swift”.

(More...)

A surprising number of new wolf packs have suddenly appeared in California

Wed, 25 Oct 2023 03:59:31 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
https://archive.md/LlrRE

"Four new packs of wolves have established themselves in California in the past
five months, bringing the grand total to eight new wolf packs since 2015 — and
counting.

(More...)

Wait goes on for effective long Covid treatments

Wed, 25 Oct 2023 04:03:51 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
https://www.ft.com/content/24865d7d-d18d-4978-9dec-3da56a559f4e

"While Covid-19 rapidly emptied cities and shut industries, long Covid has been
more stealthy.

(More...)

Airless bike tires made with NASA technology are now on sale

Wed, 25 Oct 2023 04:05:57 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/airless-bike-tires-made-with-nasa-technology-are-now-on-sale>

"The much-hyped airless tire technology developed by NASA for its rovers, later
commercialized for terrestrial use by The SMART Tire Company (STC), is now
available for sale.

(More...)

Southern Africa Elephant Population Increases Amid Concerns Over Mortality Rate

Wed, 25 Oct 2023 04:07:21 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.voanews.com/a/southern-africa-elephant-population-increases-amid-concerns-over-mortality-rate/7251632.html>

'The elephant population in southern Africa has increased by 5% since 2016 to
nearly 228,000, according to results of a first ever aerial census conducted
last year. However, there are concerns over the animals’ mortality rate.

(More...)

Open source is actually the cradle of artificial intelligence. Here's why

Wed, 25 Oct 2023 04:08:40 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.zdnet.com/article/why-open-source-is-the-cradle-of-artificial-intelligence/>

"In a way, open source and artificial intelligence were born together.

Back in 1971, if you'd mentioned AI to most people, they might have thought of

(More...)

Bootmaker Dr Martens to offer repairs in sustainability step

Wed, 25 Oct 2023 14:03:23 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.reuters.com/business/retail-consumer/bootmaker-dr-martens-offer-shoe-repairs-sustainability-push-2023-09-15/>

'LONDON, Sept 15 (Reuters) - Dr Martens (DOCS.L) plans to launch a shoe repair
service in Britain next month as it seeks to polish its sustainability
credentials, encourage customers to extend the life of their boots, and create

(More...)

Electricity Market Report Update: Outlook for 2023 and 2024

Wed, 25 Oct 2023 14:05:48 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://iea.blob.core.windows.net/assets/15172a8d-a515-42d7-88a4-edc27c3696d3/ElectricityMarketReport_Update2023.pdf>

"Since the release of the IEA’s Electricity Market Report 2023 in February,
the global energy crisis has continued to affect many parts of the world.
Higher costs for energy commodities as well as economic slowdowns in various

(More...)

Kind Engineering: How To Engineer Kindness

Wed, 25 Oct 2023 14:10:46 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
https://kind.engineering/

Kind is about being invested in other people, figuring out how to help them,
meeting them where they are.

(More...)

The American chestnut tree is coming back. Who is it for?

Wed, 25 Oct 2023 14:12:34 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://grist.org/indigenous/transgenic-american-chestnut-indigenous-rights/>

"When Neil Patterson Jr. was about 7 or 8 years old, he saw a painting called
“Gathering Chestnuts,” by Tonawanda Seneca artist Ernest Smith. Patterson
didn’t realize that the painting showed a grove of American chestnuts, a tree

(More...)

30 years of the web down under: how Australians made the early internet their own

Wed, 25 Oct 2023 14:14:10 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/30-years-of-the-web-down-under-how-australians-made-the-early-internet-their-own-212542>

"The internet is growing old. While the roots of the internet date back to the
1960s, the popular internet – the one that 99% of Australians now use – is a
child of the 1990s.

(More...)

Chart: Renewables are on track to keep getting cheaper and cheaper

Wed, 25 Oct 2023 14:15:29 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/clean-energy/charts-renewables-are-on-track-to-keep-getting-cheaper-and-cheaper>

"Renewable energy already beats fossil fuels on cost globally — and according
to analysts, the gap is only going to grow.

(More...)

Electric two-wheelers are creating a buzz in Asia

Wed, 25 Oct 2023 23:52:03 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.economist.com/business/2023/09/14/electric-two-wheelers-are-creating-a-buzz-in-asia>

"THE CACOPHONY of small-vehicle engines and horns is one of the most
recognisable noises in traffic-choked cities across Asia. Soon that trademark
roar may be a thing of the past, even if the horns remain. A wave of

(More...)

EU fossil fuel burning for electricity fell to lowest on record in 2023, data shows

Wed, 25 Oct 2023 23:53:42 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/aug/30/eu-fossil-fuel-burning-for-electricity-fell-to-lowest-on-record-in-2023-data-shows>

"The European Union is stoking its power plants with fewer lumps of coal and
barrels of oil and gas than it has ever recorded, data shows.

(More...)

Wild Elephants Seem to Have Been Domesticated, But Not by Humans

Wed, 25 Oct 2023 23:54:43 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.sciencealert.com/wild-elephants-seem-to-have-been-domesticated-but-not-by-humans>

"Over many thousands of years, a species of animal that shared a close
relationship with wolves slowly morphed into something that loves to curl up in
your lap, get belly rubs, and eat kibble three times a day.

(More...)

World record: Wind turbine generates enough energy in a day to power 170,000 homes

Wed, 25 Oct 2023 23:55:39 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.euronews.com/green/2023/09/07/world-record-wind-turbine-generates-enough-energy-in-a-day-to-power-170000-homes>

"The world’s largest wind turbine has smashed the record for the most power
produced by a single turbine in a day.

(More...)

The Vice of Spice: Confronting Lead-Tainted Turmeric

Wed, 25 Oct 2023 23:57:27 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://undark.org/2023/07/19/the-vice-of-spice-confronting-lead-tainted-turmeric/>

"Before the heat of the day set in, dozens of people were already gathered
under a large banyan tree at the twice-weekly turmeric market in Ataikula,
Bangladesh. The season for harvesting turmeric was quickly coming to an end.

(More...)

Steel Is Getting Cleaner

Wed, 25 Oct 2023 23:59:02 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
https://archive.md/hIOHJ

"Steel is the backbone of the modern economy, essential for building
skyscrapers, wind turbines, planes, trains and automobiles. It’s also
incredibly dirty, responsible for about 7 percent of global carbon emissions.

(More...)

Her son was an accused cult leader. She says he was a victim, too.

Thu, 26 Oct 2023 06:22:03 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://edition.cnn.com/2023/09/23/us/qanon-trump-kennedy-protzman-cult-invs/index.html>

"“Now the family tree goes like this,” the man on the tape extolled
confidently. “John John and…Trump are cousins. And Trump’s uncle is JFK Sr.,
and Joe Kennedy, who is also not dead…. And Trump’s father is General George

(More...)

'This could be the holy grail to replace palm oil' - research team

Thu, 26 Oct 2023 06:23:13 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-66842496

'A Scottish research team believe they may have produced the "holy grail"
alternative to palm oil.

(More...)

What If Polyester Isn’t So Bad After All?

Thu, 26 Oct 2023 06:26:49 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
https://archive.md/aasCA

"Polyester is the refined sugar of our wardrobes: It’s cheap, has an iffy
reputation and is in almost everything, from stretchy leggings to $4,000
jackets. An estimated 34 million tons of it went into apparel in 2021,

(More...)

China Reaches Peak Gasoline in Milestone for Electric Vehicles

Thu, 26 Oct 2023 06:27:43 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.bloomberg.com/news/newsletters/2023-08-29/china-reaches-peak-gasoline-in-milestone-for-electric-vehicles>

"Earlier this month, Chinese oil giant Sinopec made a surprise announcement
that mostly flew under the radar. It’s now expecting gasoline demand in China
to peak this year, two years earlier than its previous outlooks.

(More...)

Google has a new tool to outsmart authoritarian internet censorship

Thu, 26 Oct 2023 06:29:05 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.technologyreview.com/2023/09/13/1079381/google-jigsaw-outline-vpn-internet-censorship/>

"Google is launching new anti-censorship technology created in response to
actions by Iran's government during the 2022 protests there, hoping that it
will increase access for internet users living under authoritarian regimes all

(More...)

Tired of feeling hopeless about climate change? Take a look at these charts.

Thu, 26 Oct 2023 06:30:30 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
https://archive.md/EUDN5

"Charts that illustrate the effects of climate change often share a distinct
feature: that alarming, bright-red line.

(More...)

Sponsor an ocean? Tiny island nation of Niue has a novel plan to protect its slice of the Pacific

Thu, 26 Oct 2023 13:19:45 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://apnews.com/article/niue-ocean-conservation-pacific-tagelagi-larsen-4efba10dfd8c5705c625cab150fae95f>

"WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — The tiny Pacific island nation of Niue has come
up with a novel plan to protect its vast and pristine territorial waters — it
will get sponsors to pay.

(More...)

The Brief – Waking up from hydrogen daydreams

Thu, 26 Oct 2023 13:21:40 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.euractiv.com/section/energy-environment/opinion/the-brief-waking-up-from-hydrogen-daydreams/>

"This week, I attended a business leadership conference hosted by the German
Chamber of Commerce in Berlin. Attendees, all serious businesspeople, were
asked which technology is the key net-zero technology. The number one answer?

(More...)

Could ‘algorithmic destruction’ solve AI’s copyright issues?

Thu, 26 Oct 2023 13:22:41 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.sfchronicle.com/tech/article/ai-artificial-intelligence-copyright-18374295.php>

"If artificial intelligence mimics our brains, does that mean it too can
unlearn something it knows?

(More...)

California Shows an Electric-Car Uprising Headed for the US

Thu, 26 Oct 2023 13:34:08 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
https://archive.md/BjIQJ

"If you want to know how quickly electric vehicles might spread across the US,
just look at California. In the past five years, EVs have gone from 2% of
new-car sales in the state to 22%.

(More...)

A Trip to Ukraine Clarified the Stakes. And They’re Huge.

Thu, 26 Oct 2023 13:35:30 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/15/opinion/ukraine-war-putin.html

"While visiting Kyiv last week, my first trip to Ukraine since Vladimir Putin’s
invasion in February 2022, I tried to get my exercise every morning by walking
the grounds of St. Michael’s Golden Domed Monastery. Its serenity, though, has

(More...)

Challenge Accepted: High-speed AI Drone Overtakes World-Champion Drone Racers

Thu, 26 Oct 2023 13:43:11 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
https://www.news.uzh.ch/en/articles/media/2023/Drone-race.html

"In a milestone for artificial intelligence (AI), the AI system “Swift”,
designed by UZH researchers, has beaten the world champions in drone racing – a
result that seemed unattainable just a few years ago. The AI-piloted drone was

(More...)

AI and the Doctor Dolittle challenge

Thu, 26 Oct 2023 20:13:52 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
https://www.cell.com/current-biology/fulltext/S0960-9822(23)00848-5

"Talking to animals is a fundamental human desire. The emergence of powerful AI
algorithms, and specifically Large Language Models, has driven many to suggest
that we are on the verge of fulfilling this wish. A few large scientific

(More...)

Can We Talk to Whales?

Thu, 26 Oct 2023 20:18:25 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2023/09/11/can-we-talk-to-whales

"David Gruber began his almost impossibly varied career studying bluestriped
grunt fish off the coast of Belize. He was an undergraduate, and his job was to
track the fish at night. He navigated by the stars and slept in a tent on the

(More...)

Elemental (acapella)

Thu, 26 Oct 2023 20:18:57 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rK9nhzUg37g

The movie is excellent too.

(More...)

China's 'batwoman' scientist warns another coronavirus outbreak is 'highly likely'

Thu, 26 Oct 2023 20:20:07 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/world/2023/09/672_359913.html

'One of China's best-known virologists Shi Zhengli, also known as "batwoman,"
has warned that it is "highly likely" another coronavirus will appear in
future.

(More...)

The invisible problem

Thu, 26 Oct 2023 20:20:54 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
https://jenson.org/text/

"Whenever I explain my research at Google into mobile text editing, I’m usually
met with blank stares or a slightly hostile “Everyone can edit text on their
phones, right? What’s the problem?”

(More...)

Broken Peach - Give It Up

Thu, 26 Oct 2023 20:21:35 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gz8Sv3CNibs

Share and enjoy,
               *** Xanni ***

(More...)

The road that's the 'Eighth World Wonder'

Fri, 27 Oct 2023 04:19:21 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20230903-the-karakoram-highway-the-road-thats-the-eighth-world-wonder>

'Crisp mountain air rushed in through the car window as I drove past jagged
mountain landscapes. Despite summer being in full swing, massive amounts of
snowpack still clung to the 7,000m peaks. Glacial waterfalls dripped down to

(More...)

The Cleanup of Seattle’s Only River Could Cost Boeing and Taxpayers $1 Billion. Talks Over Who Will Pay Most Are Secret.

Fri, 27 Oct 2023 04:20:48 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.propublica.org/article/cleanup-cost-seattle-duwamish-boeing-taxpayers>

"In its early days as a major aircraft manufacturer, Boeing was remarkably open
about toxic chemicals flowing from its factory into the neighboring Duwamish,
Seattle’s only river and a longtime source of food, tradition and culture for

(More...)

China sentences Uyghur scholar to life in jail – BBC News

Fri, 27 Oct 2023 04:23:45 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-rrasPak3lE

'A prominent Uyghur academic has been reportedly jailed for life by China for
"endangering state security".

(More...)

Toxic chemicals found in vapes seized from NSW schools and retailers

Fri, 27 Oct 2023 04:24:51 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/sep/25/toxic-chemicals-found-in-vapes-seized-from-nsw-schools-and-retailers>

"The New South Wales chief health officer has warned “there is no such thing as
a safe vape” after government-funded research identified toxic chemicals in
scores of vapes seized from schools and retailers, including the same substance

(More...)

Are fish oil supplements as healthy as we think? And is eating fish better?

Fri, 27 Oct 2023 04:25:41 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/are-fish-oil-supplements-as-healthy-as-we-think-and-is-eating-fish-better-212250>

"Fish oil, which contains omega-3 fatty acids, is promoted for a number of
health benefits – from boosting our heart health, protecting our brain from
dementia, and easing the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis.

(More...)

Tiny homes have existed ‘under the radar’. But changing rules are making the lifestyle more permanent

Fri, 27 Oct 2023 12:38:25 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/sep/25/tiny-houses-australia-councils-allow>

"Kathryn McGoldrick had moved 15 times in five years when she decided to take
the leap into tiny house living. But she soon realised it wasn’t going to quite
achieve the housing security she had been yearning for.

(More...)

We need urban trees more than ever – here’s how to save them from extreme heat

Fri, 27 Oct 2023 12:39:15 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/we-need-urban-trees-more-than-ever-heres-how-to-save-them-from-extreme-heat-211414>

"Australians are bracing for a hot spring and summer. The Bureau of Meteorology
has finally declared El Niño is underway, making warmer and drier conditions
more likely for large parts of the country. And we’ve just watched the Northern

(More...)

That Drink Sounds Really Nice, Actually…

Fri, 27 Oct 2023 12:40:35 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://notalwaysright.com/that-drink-sounds-really-nice-actually/304243/>

"I work in a small chicken place in a relatively rural Australian town. We’re
between two larger cities, so we often get a lot of people coming in from the
highway. We also get the same bad jokes all the time from customers thinking

(More...)

The Voice is a test of enlightened democracy

Fri, 27 Oct 2023 12:42:35 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://web.archive.org/web/20230925044244/https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/comment/topic/2023/09/23/the-voice-test-enlightened-democracy>

"The “No” campaign’s confusing and foggy polemics about the Voice referendum
have set me thinking. The thought is about those qualities that we uncritically
ascribe to our Australian character: that we enjoy a fair go for all with no

(More...)

Planning laws protect people. A poorly regulated rush to boost housing supply will cost us all

Fri, 27 Oct 2023 12:48:23 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/planning-laws-protect-people-a-poorly-regulated-rush-to-boost-housing-supply-will-cost-us-all-213068>

"The housing crisis is firmly on the Australian policy agenda. Governments see
a rapid increase in supply as the main solution.

(More...)

Kids dressing up as older people is harmless fun, right? No, it’s ageist, whatever Bluey says

Fri, 27 Oct 2023 12:49:19 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/kids-dressing-up-as-older-people-is-harmless-fun-right-no-its-ageist-whatever-bluey-says-212607>

"A child once approached me, hunched over, carrying a vacuum cleaner like a
walking stick. In a wobbly voice, he asked:

(More...)

Why we didn’t get a malaria vaccine sooner

Fri, 27 Oct 2023 22:01:42 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://worksinprogress.co/issue/why-we-didnt-get-a-malaria-vaccine-sooner>

"In 1969, just 14 years after it was initiated, the World Health Assembly
stepped back from its program to eradicate malaria worldwide, declaring that it
was no longer feasible in the near future.

(More...)

Carbon removal: why ambitious ‘no nonsense’ plans are vital to limit global heating to 2°C

Fri, 27 Oct 2023 22:02:23 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/carbon-removal-why-ambitious-no-nonsense-plans-are-vital-to-limit-global-heating-to-2-212462>

"2023 is proving to be a year of climate and weather extremes. Record-busting
global air and ocean temperatures, unprecedented low levels of Antarctic sea
ice, and devastating fires and floods have been reported across the world.

(More...)

What OpenAI Really Wants

Fri, 27 Oct 2023 22:09:31 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
https://www.wired.com/story/what-openai-really-wants/

"The air crackles with an almost Beatlemaniac energy as the star and his
entourage tumble into a waiting Mercedes van. They’ve just ducked out of one
event and are headed to another, then another, where a frenzied mob awaits. As

(More...)

Ultra-processed foods are not only bad for our bodies, their production damages our environments

Fri, 27 Oct 2023 22:10:07 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/ultra-processed-foods-are-not-only-bad-for-our-bodies-their-production-damages-our-environments-211815>

"Ultra-processed foods (UPF) have become increasingly popular and range from
chips to microwave meals and even bread. Even just a casual glance at
supermarket shelves reveals a plethora of UPF offerings in all their elaborate

(More...)

a portrait of Tenochtitlan

Fri, 27 Oct 2023 22:11:36 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
https://tenochtitlan.thomaskole.nl/

"The year is 1518. Mexico-Tenochtitlan, once an unassuming settlement in the
middle of Lake Texcoco, now a bustling metropolis. It is the capital of an
empire ruling over, and receiving tribute from, more than 5 million people.

(More...)

Idea of green growth losing traction among climate policy researchers, survey of nearly 800 academics reveals

Fri, 27 Oct 2023 22:12:34 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/idea-of-green-growth-losing-traction-among-climate-policy-researchers-survey-of-nearly-800-academics-reveals-213434>

"When she took to the floor to give her State of the Union speech on 13
September, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen largely stood by
the script. Describing her vision of an economically buoyant and sustainable

(More...)

European Battle for Air Quality Heats Up as EU Parliament Votes to Toughen Rules

Sat, 28 Oct 2023 05:38:03 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://healthpolicy-watch.news/european-battle-for-air-quality-heats-up-as-eu-parliament-votes-to-toughen-rules/>

"An air of uncertainty loomed over the European Parliament in Strasbourg on
Wednesday as lawmakers prepared to vote on new air pollution rules that would
set the bar for the European Union’s ambitions to tackle the unsafe air that

(More...)

How air pollution is making life tougher for bugs

Sat, 28 Oct 2023 05:38:56 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/how-air-pollution-is-making-life-tougher-for-bugs-213122>

"Whether you love them or loathe them, we all depend on bugs. Insects help to
pollinate three-quarters of the world’s crop varieties, making them a treasured
resource.

(More...)

Changing attitudes and empowering young girls in Senegal

Sat, 28 Oct 2023 05:40:01 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://blogs.worldbank.org/investinpeople/changing-attitudes-and-empowering-young-girls-senegal>

"I met Mariama in her hometown of Goudiry, in the region of Tambacounda.
Situated in the east of Senegal, Tambacounda is one of the country’s most
impoverished, marginalized regions, with some of the worst levels of health and

(More...)

Peru signs $20-million debt-for-nature swap with focus on Amazon rainforest

Sat, 28 Oct 2023 05:40:57 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://news.mongabay.com/2023/09/peru-signs-20-million-debt-for-nature-swap-with-focus-on-amazon-rainforest/>

"Peru signed a deal last week that will redirect millions of dollars of
international debt to environmental efforts in the Amazon rainforest, a move
that could help it meet long-term conservation goals and reduce pressure from

(More...)

The gold jewellery made from old phones

Sat, 28 Oct 2023 05:41:56 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20230904-how-the-royal-mint-is-turning-electronic-waste-into-gold>

'Through security, equipped with a pair of safety glasses and a white lab coat,
I'm taken behind the scenes at the Royal Mint near Cardiff, South Wales – a
place that's world-renowned for making billions of coins for more than 30

(More...)

Science Fiction Recommended by Scientists

Sat, 28 Oct 2023 05:43:43 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://fivebooks.com/category/fiction/science-fiction/science-fiction-recommended-by-scientists/>

"“The best science fiction is heavy on science and light on fiction,” Professor
Chris Mason told us in his interview on science fiction and space travel. A
geneticist and computational biologist at Cornell, he is just one of several

(More...)

Stunning New Species of Tarantula Shimmers Like an Electric-Blue Jewel

Sat, 28 Oct 2023 11:08:39 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.sciencealert.com/stunning-new-species-of-tarantula-shimmers-like-an-electric-blue-jewel>

"A new species of tarantula found scurrying around the forests of Thailand
shimmers with dazzling blue highlights.

(More...)

Container deposit schemes reduce rubbish on our beaches. Here’s how we proved it

Sat, 28 Oct 2023 11:09:53 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/container-deposit-schemes-reduce-rubbish-on-our-beaches-heres-how-we-proved-it-213562>

"Our beaches are in trouble. Limited recycling programs and a society that
throws away so much have resulted in more than 3 million tonnes of plastic
polluting the oceans. An estimated 1.5–1.9% of this rubbish ends up on beaches.

(More...)

A national digital ID scheme is being proposed. An expert weighs the pros and (many more) cons

Sat, 28 Oct 2023 11:10:38 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/a-national-digital-id-scheme-is-being-proposed-an-expert-weighs-the-pros-and-many-more-cons-214144>

"In 2018-19, identity crime directly and indirectly cost Australia an estimated
A$3.1 billion.

(More...)

Australian discovery of change in ‘killer T cells’ could help fight against influenza

Sat, 28 Oct 2023 11:12:25 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.theguardian.com/science/2023/sep/25/australian-discovery-of-change-in-killer-t-cells-could-help-fight-against-influenza>

"A world-first discovery from Australian researchers unlocks the potential for
the development of better vaccines and therapies against influenza viruses
tailored to different age groups.

(More...)

As Antarctic sea ice continues its dramatic decline, we need more measurements and much better models to predict its future

Sat, 28 Oct 2023 11:13:30 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/as-antarctic-sea-ice-continues-its-dramatic-decline-we-need-more-measurements-and-much-better-models-to-predict-its-future-213747>

"After two seasons of record-breaking lows, Antarctica’s sea ice remains in
dramatic decline, tracking well below any winter maximum levels observed since
satellite monitoring began during the late 1970s.

(More...)

Australian women and children in squalid Syrian camp are being detained unlawfully, federal court told

Sat, 28 Oct 2023 11:14:29 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/sep/26/australian-women-and-children-syrian-detention-camp-roj-federal-court>

"Thirty-one Australian women and children forcibly held for four years in a
Syrian detention camp have told the federal government to prove it cannot bring
them home, or “bring their bodies to the court” in Australia.

(More...)

From Luna Park to neo-Nazis – why the Middle Ages still matters to middle Australia

Sat, 28 Oct 2023 20:05:09 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/from-luna-park-to-neo-nazis-why-the-middle-ages-still-matters-to-middle-australia-214246>

"The medieval is part of the mosaic of modern Australia. Our nation’s heritage
on this island continent is full of it: in aesthetics, institutions, laws,
languages, identities, moralities. Indeed, the very idea of a university is

(More...)

Use of antiviral may be fuelling evolution of Covid, scientists say

Sat, 28 Oct 2023 20:06:12 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/sep/25/use-of-antiviral-molnupiravir-evolution-covid-virus-mutations>

"An antiviral drug used to treat patients with Covid-19 may be causing
mutations in the virus and fuelling the evolution of new variants, scientists
have said.

(More...)

Seals, swimmers, bat carers – exploring the world of the pale brown, oft-maligned Yarra River

Sat, 28 Oct 2023 20:07:50 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/seals-swimmers-bat-carers-exploring-the-world-of-the-pale-brown-oft-maligned-yarra-river-212791>

"Review: A Clear Flowing Yarra – Harry Saddler (Affirm Press)

Author Harry Saddler’s book on Melbourne’s Yarra River is an engaging account

(More...)

Macron launches ‘ecological plan’ to cut France’s dependency on fossil fuels

Sat, 28 Oct 2023 20:08:42 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/sep/25/emmanuel-macron-ecological-plan-end-france-fossil-fuels-by-2030>

"Emmanuel Macron has unveiled a national “ecological plan” to reduce France’s
greenhouse gas emissions by 55% by 2030, compared to 1990 levels, and end the
use of coal-fired power plants by 2027.

(More...)

Not even bankers wear ties and blazers any more. So why should schoolchildren?

Sat, 28 Oct 2023 20:12:02 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/sep/25/why-do-we-force-our-kids-into-ties-and-blazers-when-not-even-bankers-wear-them-any-more>

"Recently I dropped off my daughter at school. Dressed up in a tie and blazer,
she squirmed with discomfort in the late summer heat. After she disappeared
through the gate, I headed to my office in the City of London. Walking from the

(More...)

‘The kids had all been tortured’: Indonesian military accused of targeting children in West Papua

Sat, 28 Oct 2023 20:14:03 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/sep/26/indonesian-military-accused-of-targeting-children-west-papua>

Warning: describes torture of children.

"The body of 17-year-old Wity Unue was brought back by the Indonesian military

(More...)

Wooden Skyscrapers are Changing the Skyline and Our Environmental Future

Sun, 29 Oct 2023 03:57:29 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:https://grantpiperwriting.medium.com/wooden-skyscrapers-are-changing-the-skyline-and-our-environmental-future-688825bc93c8>

"There are perhaps no two things more heavily linked than steel and
skyscrapers. The advent of modern steel allowed humans to build taller and
taller buildings. Steel started flooding cities like New York City and Chicago,

(More...)

One of Europe’s Most Endangered Birds Is Bouncing Back

Sun, 29 Oct 2023 03:59:01 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/one-of-europes-most-endangered-birds-is-bouncing-back-180982835/>

"When conservation biologist Jaime Ramos began the fieldwork for his doctoral
studies on the elusive Azores bullfinch in 1991, one sound in the island
forests excited him the most—the patter of a light drizzle. But there was no

(More...)

I took a fun photo celebrating my disability. Then a stranger shared it

Sun, 29 Oct 2023 04:01:06 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.abc.net.au/everyday/a-stranger-shared-a-photo-celebrating-my-disability/102869802>

"Back in 2020, I wrote an article for the ABC about how being disabled adds an
extra layer to the challenges of making new friends.

(More...)

Planet Snapshots Issue 93: Tipping Points: Boreal Forests

Sun, 29 Oct 2023 04:02:04 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
"It’s Climate Week in NYC — that time when thousands congregate to hash out
solutions to labyrinthian climate problems. But what likely won’t garner a
roundtable discussion are northern Earth’s dying forests. It doesn’t take a PhD
to interpret the smoke signals from the hottest summer on record’s wildfires
and declare it a bad sign. Tallying the hectares burned is one thing and

(More...)

Bjooks

Sun, 29 Oct 2023 04:13:53 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
https://bjooks.com/

"Our mission is to create exciting, informative, and beautiful books about
music technology, artists, and makers, in order to document, inspire, and
explore the wonderful world of music creation."

(More...)

We Throw Away A Lot of Energy Which Is Why Electrifying Everything Matter

Sun, 29 Oct 2023 04:15:08 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:https://medium.com/the-future-is-electric/we-throw-away-a-lot-of-energy-which-is-why-electrifying-everything-matter-e5ef282ed9e9>

"First among the short list of climate actions that will work is electrify
everything
, but why? Why not insulation or renewable natural gas or wind
turbines? To answer that, we’ll have to take a bit of a detour into Sankey

(More...)

A ‘Tape Recorder for the Planet’: What Natural History Museums Bring to the Climate Fight

Sun, 29 Oct 2023 10:23:07 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://reasonstobecheerful.world/natural-history-museums-collections-climate-change-future/>

"An African bush elephant called Henry. Glittering-winged butterflies. A
palm-sized taxidermy pink fairy armadillo. These are just a few of the
awe-inspiring specimens on display at the Smithsonian National Museum of

(More...)

Three lessons from a man who averted nuclear war by not trusting a computer

Sun, 29 Oct 2023 10:24:26 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
https://axbom.com/lessons-from-stanislav-petrov/

"On September 26, 1983, Stanislav Petrov made the correct decision to not trust
a computer. The early warning system at command center Serpukhov-15, loudly
alerting of a nuclear attack from the United States, was of course modern and

(More...)

An Enby Speaks: 6 Survival Tips Parents Should Tell Trans Children

Sun, 29 Oct 2023 10:25:10 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:https://medium.com/pink-hair-pronouns/an-enby-speaks-6-survival-tips-parents-should-tell-trans-children-f1b957fffe9f>

"Did you recently see that news article about the Michigan school mural that
was forcibly taken down? If not, I’ll give you a quick run-through: it was a
mural that was painted by a teenage girl as part of an art contest.

(More...)

Hayao Miyazaki Donates His Personal Car to Ghibli Park

Sun, 29 Oct 2023 10:26:21 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://gamerant.com/hayao-miyazaki-donates-his-personal-car-to-ghibli-park/>

"Hayao Miyazaki, best known for his beautiful animated movies from Studio
Ghibli, has a serious passion beyond anime - his classic car. Miyazaki's car
was famous among Studio Ghibli diehards, and even featured in a few movies. But

(More...)

Ukraine war: mixed signals among Kyiv’s allies hint at growing conflict fatigue

Sun, 29 Oct 2023 10:26:54 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/ukraine-war-mixed-signals-among-kyivs-allies-hint-at-growing-conflict-fatigue-213913>

"It is now almost 600 days since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of
Ukraine, and the war that has followed has tested the resilience of both
countries. But it has also tested those in the west that have supported Ukraine

(More...)

Australia’s wealthiest 20% worth 90 times the country’s poorest, new report reveals

Sun, 29 Oct 2023 10:27:59 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/sep/27/australias-wealthiest-20-worth-90-times-the-countrys-poorest-new-report-reveals>

"Australia’s wealth gap has continued to grow over the past two decades, with
superannuation and property investment driving inequality across the country, a
new report from the Australian Council of Social Service and the University of

(More...)

Millie Bobby Brown’s debut novel is a bestseller. Does it matter that the 19-year-old actor didn’t write it?

Sun, 29 Oct 2023 20:27:28 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/millie-bobby-browns-debut-novel-is-a-bestseller-does-it-matter-that-the-19-year-old-actor-didnt-write-it-214258>

"Stranger Things actor Millie Bobby Brown’s debut novel, Nineteen Steps,
revolves loosely around true events. In 1943, the Bethnal Green tube disaster
claimed the lives of 173 Londoners, due to faulty stairs in the station used as

(More...)

‘Even Lucifer was using a fan’: Brazil bakes as mercilessly hot spring begins

Sun, 29 Oct 2023 20:28:31 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/sep/26/brazil-temperature-spring-heatwave-weather-climate-change>

"A ferocious heatwave was sweeping South America, and samba composer Beto Gago
(Stuttering Bob) saw only one thing to do: pop out for an ice-cold beer with
his drinking buddy Joel Saideira – Last Order Joel.

(More...)

‘I want to get bogged at a beach in my wheelchair and know people will help’. Micheline Lee on the way forward for the NDIS

Sun, 29 Oct 2023 20:30:00 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/i-want-to-get-bogged-at-a-beach-in-my-wheelchair-and-know-people-will-help-micheline-lee-on-the-way-forward-for-the-ndis-213348>

"Review: Lifeboat: Disability, Humanity and the NDIS; Quarterly Essay 91 –
Micheline Lee (Black Inc)

(More...)

Europe’s banks helped fossil fuel firms raise more than €1tn from global bond markets

Sun, 29 Oct 2023 20:31:12 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.theguardian.com/business/2023/sep/26/europes-banks-helped-fossil-fuel-firms-raise-more-than-1tn-from-global-bond-markets>

"Banks including some of Europe’s largest lenders have helped fossil fuel
companies to raise more than €1tn (£869bn) from the global bond markets since
the Paris climate agreement, according to an investigation by the Guardian

(More...)

Sydney Opera House: 85,000 oyster shells tell of site’s true story in major public artwork

Sun, 29 Oct 2023 20:32:30 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2023/sep/26/sydney-opera-house-85000-oyster-shells-tell-of-sites-true-story-in-major-public-artwork>

"Some 85,000 oyster shells have been hand-polished, drilled, threaded and
mounted to create three large-scale public works now open at the Sydney Opera
House forecourts.

(More...)

What do we know about long COVID in kids? And what do I do if I think my child has it?

Sun, 29 Oct 2023 20:33:09 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/what-do-we-know-about-long-covid-in-kids-and-what-do-i-do-if-i-think-my-child-has-it-205027>

"While COVID in children has generally been milder than in adults, there are
concerns long COVID may be a major consequence for children and young people
arising from the pandemic.

(More...)

A virus you’ve never heard of is taking hold in NSW

Mon, 30 Oct 2023 04:29:17 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.smh.com.au/national/a-virus-you-ve-never-heard-of-is-taking-hold-in-nsw-20230925-p5e7ic.html>

"It is a virus you have never heard of, and it is rampaging across NSW in big
numbers. It is very likely you have had it before.

(More...)

New study shows we can create value from food waste by turning it into a highly desirable material – nanocellulose

Mon, 30 Oct 2023 04:30:02 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/new-study-shows-we-can-create-value-from-food-waste-by-turning-it-into-a-highly-desirable-material-nanocellulose-214153>

"Food waste is a global problem with approximately 1.3 billion tonnes of food
wasted each year throughout the food lifecycle – from the farm to food
manufacturers and households.

(More...)

AI from a legal perspective

Mon, 30 Oct 2023 04:31:08 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
https://lwn.net/Articles/945504/

'The AI boom is clearly upon us, but there are still plenty of questions
swirling around this technology. Some of those questions are legal ones and
there have been lawsuits filed to try to get clarification—and perhaps monetary

(More...)

7 years, billions of kilometres, a handful of dust: NASA just brought back the largest-ever asteroid sample

Mon, 30 Oct 2023 04:32:12 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/7-years-billions-of-kilometres-a-handful-of-dust-nasa-just-brought-back-the-largest-ever-asteroid-sample-214151>

"After a journey of billions of kilometres, NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission has
culminated in a small black capsule blazing through the sky before touching
down in the Utah desert.

(More...)

Authors Guild, Jealous Of Other Terrible Author Lawsuits Against AI, Decides To Join In The Party

Mon, 30 Oct 2023 04:33:10 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.techdirt.com/2023/09/26/authors-guild-jealous-of-other-terrible-author-lawsuits-against-ai-decides-to-join-in-the-party/>

"It’s been eight years since the Authors Guild was thoroughly and totally
embarrassed by losing its big lawsuit against Google over the Google Books
scanning project. I guess they’re missing the feeling of embarrassment, as

(More...)

Playful whales can use seaweed as a hat – or exfoliant. This “kelping” behaviour is more common than we realised

Mon, 30 Oct 2023 04:34:03 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/playful-whales-can-use-seaweed-as-a-hat-or-exfoliant-this-kelping-behaviour-is-more-common-than-we-realised-214269>

"If you’re a whale, there’s often not too much to see out in deeper water.
Perhaps that’s why so many whales get playful with kelp and other seaweed.

(More...)

‘I want to see the first African woman in space’: the Kenyan stargazer bringing astronomy to the people

Mon, 30 Oct 2023 11:45:43 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2023/sep/18/i-want-to-see-the-first-african-woman-in-space-the-kenyan-stargazer-bringing-astronomy-to-the-people>

"It’s 1.30am in Kenya’s parched and sparsely populated north, and 50 people are
lying on their backs on the shore of a dried-up river, staring up at the night
sky. Thousands of stars create a vast, glittering canvas with the ghostly glow

(More...)

Six Portuguese youth take 32 nations to European court over climate change

Mon, 30 Oct 2023 11:46:35 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UJbbEwypINA

"Six young people from Portugal are taking 32 nations to the European Court of
Human Rights to force their governments to take action against climate change.

(More...)

Muscle, wood, coal, oil: what earlier energy transitions tell us about renewables

Mon, 30 Oct 2023 11:47:34 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/muscle-wood-coal-oil-what-earlier-energy-transitions-tell-us-about-renewables-213550>

"In 2022, the burning of fossil fuels provided 82% of the world’s energy. In
2000, it was 87%. Even as renewables have undergone tremendous growth, they’ve
been offset by increased demand for energy.

(More...)

Ukraine and Russia traded barbs in the UN’s top court over the legality of the invasion. What could happen next in the case?

Mon, 30 Oct 2023 11:48:14 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/ukraine-and-russia-traded-barbs-in-the-uns-top-court-over-the-legality-of-the-invasion-what-could-happen-next-in-the-case-213986>

"In the days immediately following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February
2022, the Ukrainian government filed a case against Moscow in the UN’s highest
court, the International Court of Justice.

(More...)

German police carry out sweeping raids as neo-Nazi group banned

Mon, 30 Oct 2023 11:48:59 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/sep/27/germany-raids-neo-nazi-artgemeinschaft-group-banned>

"Police have carried out raids across Germany as ministers announced a ban on a
far-right group described as a “cult-like, deeply racist and antisemitic
association” that sought to indoctrinate children with Nazi ideology.

(More...)

The disability royal commission delivers its findings today. We must all listen to end violence, abuse and neglect

Mon, 30 Oct 2023 11:49:56 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/the-disability-royal-commission-delivers-its-findings-today-we-must-all-listen-to-end-violence-abuse-and-neglect-213253>

"The Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People
with Disability will hand its final report and recommendations to the
Australian governor general today.

(More...)

Single-bladed floating wind turbine promises half the cost, more power

Mon, 30 Oct 2023 19:51:46 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
https://newatlas.com/energy/touchwind-floating-wind-turbine/

"We haven't seen a floating offshore wind turbine like this before. Touchwind
claims its innovative single-blade turbines will solve several problems to
drive down cost and downtime, using a single, huge blade with no fancy active

(More...)

Funky AI-generated spiraling medieval village captivates social media

Mon, 30 Oct 2023 19:53:09 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2023/09/dreamy-ai-generated-geometric-scenes-mesmerize-social-media-users/>

'On Sunday, a Reddit user named "Ugleh" posted an AI-generated image of a
spiral-shaped medieval village that rapidly gained attention on social media
for its remarkable geometric qualities. Follow-up posts garnered even more

(More...)

Will AI kill our creativity? It could – if we don’t start to value and protect the traits that make us human

Mon, 30 Oct 2023 19:54:07 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/will-ai-kill-our-creativity-it-could-if-we-dont-start-to-value-and-protect-the-traits-that-make-us-human-214149>

"There’s no doubt generative AI’s ability to rapidly produce new texts, images
and audio is shaking up creative jobs.

(More...)

Anthony Albanese to accelerate transition to low emissions after voice referendum

Mon, 30 Oct 2023 19:55:01 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/sep/28/anthony-albanese-to-accelerate-transition-to-low-emissions-after-voice-referendum>

"Anthony Albanese has signalled he will do more to accelerate the transition to
low emissions after the Indigenous voice referendum has concluded, declaring
the “right decisions” are needed to ensure Australia emerges a winner in the

(More...)

An entry fee may not be enough to save Venice from 20 million tourists

Mon, 30 Oct 2023 20:02:40 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/an-entry-fee-may-not-be-enough-to-save-venice-from-20-million-tourists-213703>

"Venice’s history, art and architecture attract an estimated 20 million
visitors every year. The city, a Unesco World Heritage site, is often crammed
with tourists in search of special memories.

(More...)

Inside the vast digital campaign by Hindu nationalists to inflame India

Mon, 30 Oct 2023 20:06:48 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/09/26/hindu-nationalist-social-media-hate-campaign/>

"MUDBIDRI, India — At first, the WhatsApp messages touted roads paved, schools
built, free food distributed to the poor — all the usual pitches from a
government during election season. But as May drew closer, the messages turned

(More...)

Citizen scientists collect more nature data than ever, showing us where common and threatened species live

Tue, 31 Oct 2023 04:36:31 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/citizen-scientists-collect-more-nature-data-than-ever-showing-us-where-common-and-threatened-species-live-212372>

"Citizen science isn’t new anymore. For decades, keen amateur naturalists have
been gathering data about nature and the environment around them – and sharing
it.

(More...)

The NYT Uses Trans Hate to Discipline Its Workers

Tue, 31 Oct 2023 04:38:15 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.everythingishorrible.net/p/the-nyt-uses-trans-hate-to-discipline>

"Last week, Soleil Ho at the San Francisco Chronicle wrote a quietly bleak
exposé of the anti-trans coverage and bias at the New York Times. According

(More...)

Nature TTL Photographer of the Year 2023

Tue, 31 Oct 2023 04:39:23 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
https://www.naturettl.com/poty/2023-winners/

"The 2023 competition saw over 8,000 images competing for the title of Nature
TTL Photographer of the Year 2023
, with photographers submitting images from
all around the world.

(More...)

Forcing people to repay welfare ‘loans’ traps them in a poverty cycle – where is the policy debate about that?

Tue, 31 Oct 2023 04:40:14 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/forcing-people-to-repay-welfare-loans-traps-them-in-a-poverty-cycle-where-is-the-policy-debate-about-that-212528>

"The National Party’s pledge to apply sanctions to unemployed people receiving
a welfare payment, if they are “persistently” failing to meet the criteria for
receiving the benefit, has attracted plenty of comment and criticism.

(More...)

China’s new anti-espionage law is sending a chill through foreign corporations and citizens alike

Tue, 31 Oct 2023 04:41:40 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/chinas-new-anti-espionage-law-is-sending-a-chill-through-foreign-corporations-and-citizens-alike-212010>

"Earlier this year, China updated its anti-espionage law amid an intensifying
rivalry with the US and growing distrust of the Western-led international
order.

(More...)

New battery recycling rules could be a game-changer in the EU’s search for EV minerals

Tue, 31 Oct 2023 04:42:52 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://grist.org/international/new-battery-recycling-rules-could-be-a-game-changer-in-the-eus-search-for-ev-minerals/>

"The clean energy transition will require lots of batteries — primarily to
power electric vehicles and to store renewable energy that can be dispatched to
the electric grid on demand. European Union policymakers are growing more

(More...)

Canada’s House speaker quits: What the Hunka scandal reveals about Second World War complexities

Tue, 31 Oct 2023 11:46:49 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/canadas-house-speaker-quits-what-the-hunka-scandal-reveals-about-second-world-war-complexities-214339>

"Anthony Rota, the speaker of Canada’s House of Commons, has resigned from his
post after inviting “war hero” Yaroslav Hunka to Parliament to take in the
recent appearance of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

(More...)

The New American Nazism

Tue, 31 Oct 2023 11:47:46 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:https://medium.com/@RFL2002/the-new-american-nazism-a49f0f701e80>

"American Nazism seems to be this quiet beast that many are afraid to
acknowledge. To recognize the existence of the ideology, for the average
American, is to admit that some large subsection of American culture is in fact

(More...)

Swiss glaciers lose 10% of their volume in two years

Tue, 31 Oct 2023 11:48:58 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/sep/28/swiss-glaciers-lose-tenth-volume-in-two-years-climate-crisis>

"Swiss glaciers have lost 10% of their volume in just two years, a report has
found.

(More...)

Environmental disasters and climate change force people to cross borders, but they’re not recognised as refugees – they should be

Tue, 31 Oct 2023 11:50:08 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/environmental-disasters-and-climate-change-force-people-to-cross-borders-but-theyre-not-recognised-as-refugees-they-should-be-212979>

"As our planet warms, we’re experiencing more frequent and severe weather
events, rising sea levels, prolonged droughts and altered ecosystems. These
environmental shifts directly affect people’s livelihoods by destroying crops

(More...)

Seattle residents go wildly off-script with Fox News reporter

Tue, 31 Oct 2023 11:51:29 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2023/9/27/2195837/-Fox-News-reporter-ambushes-Seattle-hellscape-residents-gets-laughed-at>

"One of Fox News’ most resilient claims has been that liberal cities in
America have crumbled into hellscapes. Post-apocalyptic downtowns where crime
runs rampant; entire cities that are now no-go zones under “sharia law”;

(More...)

Nagorno-Karabakh: crisis in the Caucasus could destabilise the whole of Eurasia

Tue, 31 Oct 2023 11:53:12 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/nagorno-karabakh-crisis-in-the-caucasus-could-destabilise-the-whole-of-eurasia-214400>

"In the past few days there has been a steady stream of ethnic Armenians
fleeing the contested region of Narogno-Karabakh. Azerbaijan launched a 24-hour
assault on the Armenian enclave, which is surrounded by Azerbaijani territory,

(More...)

Somali piracy, once an unsolvable security threat, has almost completely stopped. Here’s why

Tue, 31 Oct 2023 19:59:22 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/somali-piracy-once-an-unsolvable-security-threat-has-almost-completely-stopped-heres-why-213872>

"In 2011, pirates carried out 212 attacks in a vast area spanning Somali
waters, the Indian Ocean, the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, actions that the
World Bank said cost the world economy US$18 billion a year.

(More...)

Brian Merchant’s “Blood In the Machine”

Tue, 31 Oct 2023 20:00:30 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:https://doctorow.medium.com/brian-merchants-blood-in-the-machine-a666e61846b1>

"In Blood In the Machine, Brian Merchant delivers the definitive history of
the Luddites, and the clearest analysis of the automator’s playbook, where
“entrepreneurs’” lawless extraction from workers is called “innovation” and

(More...)

SARS-CoV-2 infection triggers pro-atherogenic inflammatory responses in human coronary vessels

Tue, 31 Oct 2023 20:01:27 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
https://www.nature.com/articles/s44161-023-00336-5

"Patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) present increased risk for
ischemic cardiovascular complications up to 1 year after infection. Although
the systemic inflammatory response to severe acute respiratory syndrome

(More...)

World’s biggest bat colony gathers in Zambia every year: we used artificial intelligence to count them

Tue, 31 Oct 2023 20:04:02 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/worlds-biggest-bat-colony-gathers-in-zambia-every-year-we-used-artificial-intelligence-to-count-them-210028>

"Everybody who visits Kasanka National Park in Zambia during “bat season”
agrees that the evening emergence of African straw-coloured fruit bats from
their roost site is one of the wildlife wonders of the world. The bats

(More...)

The Surprisingly Radical Roots of the Renaissance Fair

Tue, 31 Oct 2023 20:04:46 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-surprisingly-radical-roots-of-the-renaissance-fair-180982918/>

"Every year, the roughly 200 Renaissance fairs and festivals held across the
United States and abroad attract several million visitors. United by their
raucous entertainment, elaborate costumes and setting in the distant past,

(More...)

Friday essay: ‘I hope eventually to become a woman’ – trans life in Australia from the 1940s to 1970s

Tue, 31 Oct 2023 20:06:05 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/friday-essay-i-hope-eventually-to-become-a-woman-trans-life-in-australia-from-the-1940s-to-1970s-212775>

"In December 1952, former American GI Christine Jorgensen made global news
after undergoing gender affirmation surgery in Copenhagen. Australian
newspapers showed great interest, with headlines like “Man Converted to Woman

(More...)

The green energy surge still isn’t enough for 1.5 degrees. We’ll have to overshoot, adapt and soak up carbon dioxide

Wed, 1 Nov 2023 04:41:36 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/the-green-energy-surge-still-isnt-enough-for-1-5-degrees-well-have-to-overshoot-adapt-and-soak-up-carbon-dioxide-214463>

"It was a rare bit of good news on climate. The International Energy Agency
this week released its latest net zero roadmap, showing it was still just
possible to hold global heating to 1.5°C.

(More...)

This Futuristic Electric Boat Is Transforming Cities!

Wed, 1 Nov 2023 04:43:12 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RRJsMfwleT8

"Imogen heads to Norway to take a ride on a groundbreaking new electric ferry
from Hyke. Could small electric passenger ferries like this play a part in
decongesting our city streets and providing us with happier, calmer commutes?"

(More...)

Handkerchief or tissue? Which one’s better for our health and the planet?

Wed, 1 Nov 2023 04:44:04 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/handkerchief-or-tissue-which-ones-better-for-our-health-and-the-planet-213065>

"Maybe you have hay fever, COVID, a cold or the flu, and are reaching for a
tissue or handkerchief.

(More...)

How Do You Retrofit Heat Pumps Into High-Rise Apartments?

Wed, 1 Nov 2023 04:45:25 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:https://medium.com/the-future-is-electric/how-do-you-retrofit-heat-pumps-into-high-rise-apartments-3213939476c5>

"As a condo dweller in a building constructed without the foresight of central
air conditioning, I’ve been feeling the effects of climate change more acutely
than ever, as have my neighbors. Every summer seems to bring new temperature

(More...)

Beyond the PwC scandal, there’s a growing case for a royal commission into Australia’s ruthless corporate greed

Wed, 1 Nov 2023 04:46:14 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/beyond-the-pwc-scandal-theres-a-growing-case-for-a-royal-commission-into-australias-ruthless-corporate-greed-214474>

"Accounting and consulting group PwC has been front page news ever since its
chief executive Tim Seymour stepped down “effectively immediately” in May, when
the firm said it had “betrayed the trust” of Australians and promised an

(More...)

Temperatures to soar 8C above average as ‘heat bubble’ brings scorcher to Australia’s east coast this weekend

Wed, 1 Nov 2023 04:47:51 +1100

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

Andrew Pam
<https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/sep/29/australia-east-coast-weekend-weather-heatwave-sydney-melbourne-brisbane>

"Temperatures are expected to soar more than 8C above average along Australia’s
east coast this weekend.

(More...)

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