October 3, 2019
"Everything That You're Feeling Is Okay"
Las Vegas' death investigators witnessed the atrocities of the Route 91 shooting, then had to grapple with the difficult task of healing themselves. (Ann Givens, GQ) [more inside]
Free Wang Xiyue
This evening a vigil was held at Princeton University for Wang Xiyue. Wang is a husband, a father, a historian, and, for three years now, a captive in Evin Prison in Iran. In 2016, Wang traveled to Iran to conduct archival research on the administrative and cultural history of the Qajar dynasty. He was arrested that summer and the following year, was charged with and convicted of espionage. Wang's wife, Hua Qu, continues to work unceasingly on her husband's behalf as she raises their son alone in the United States. Wang is one of several citizens of the United States of America currently imprisoned in Iran.
Rake in the Lake
One of the best computer games of the year recieves one of the most in-depth reviews: Video Game Dunkey, a normally foul-mouthed New Yorker youtuber gamer into edgy reviews, reviews the Untitled Goose Game, and gives it the dialog and backstory we all deserve. Wildly safe for work.
Bricks of Gold
How Ireland’s Kerrygold Butter Conquered America's Kitchens. Bloomberg’s Elizabeth G. Dunn explains why Americans melt for that “canary yellow” goodness, and why, despite potential tariffs, there’s no reason to have a cow: “‘Ireland running out of cream?’ Kelly repeats my question, with amusement. ‘Ah, that’d be the day.’”
"This is going to save some people's lives"
A federal judge has ruled that Safehouse, a proposed safe injection facility in Philadelphia, does not violate section 856 of the US Controlled Substance Act. Although the site still faces legal hurdles, the ruling sets a precedent that could pave the way for sites in San Francisco, Seattle, and several other US cities. [more inside]
The End of the '65 System
Blogger T.K. provides a six-part look at the history of South Korean-Japanese relations and the rise and fall of the system shaped by the 1965 Treaty on Basic Relations. (Although not limited to any specific current events, this series may be of particular interest to those trying to understand how a major trade war arose from a South Korean Supreme Court decision upholding the right of victims of forced labor under Japanese rule to sue the companies that victimized them.) [more inside]
a diverse cast to reflect reality
Armando Iannucci rips up rules with Dickens adaption: The Personal History of David Copperfield [The Guardian] ““It was like Manhattan in the 1920s,” said Iannucci. “London then and London now was and is a global city. We wanted to make a city that the audience would recognise and the characters would recognise.” The director said there is a big debate at the moment about “what Britain is and what it is not”, and how it has become excluded on the world stage, and the film’s outlook offers another perspective. “I wanted to celebrate what I think Britain is, which is something more lively and vibrant and cheery,” he said. “Personally, I’m an optimist.”” [YouTube][Official Trailer] [more inside]
Children's Book Illustrator Gerald L. Holmes has died.
Public Banks Can Now Be Formed In California
Gavin Newsom signed into law today AB857, which allows for public banks to form in California. The only other state in the US with a public bank is North Dakota. Vox covers how California could take inspiration from North Dakota in setting up its own. AOC has congratulated CA on its passage, which isn't surprising since both she and Bernie Sanders have proposed their own take on a public bank by using the US Post Office. Elizabeth Warren has also endorsed the idea.
Orion of Master?
1OOM is a re-creation of the classic Master of Orion, which arguably defined the entire genre known as 4X games. It includes several new features, enhanced UI and AI opponents, and general quality of life fixes. The original MOO1 data files are required to play.
17-0
Xu would be the first to tell you that he’s more of a troll at heart than political rebel, and he’s become a target of the state for reasons that are much more fitting of his personality: He likes to talk shit, and he likes to fight.Lauren Teixeira brings us the story of Xu Xiaodong, a Chinese dissident whose praxis is whaling on martial artists propped up by China's propaganda machine.
Wendy's Presents: Feast of Legends, a Fast Food Fantasy Tabletop RPG
Feast of Legends: You are adventurers in the realm of Beef ’s Keep, where the nations have been splintered over major disagreements in how to treat the realm’s people. Creepingvale and the United Clown Nations have led their people into a collective darkness known as The Deep Freeze. While the world currently feels like a cold and desolate place, you reside in the one nation that remains a true beacon of hope: Freshtovia.
(And yes, you do get buffs from eating Wendy's at the gaming table.)
What is the value of thoughts and prayers?
"We find that Christians value thoughts and prayers from religious strangers and priests, while atheists and agnostics are 'prayer averse'—willing to pay to avoid receiving prayers." The authors conclude that thoughts and prayers for others should be employed selectively.
The Power Suit is Out of Juice
The suit was once the uniform of the powerful and a requirement for every man. Now, people mostly wear suits when they’re in trouble.
How To Really Piss Off Your Parents
“There are so many myths and lies around the idea of meritocracy in this country. Even Trump’s whole, like, “I got a small loan.” I think we have this pervasive belief: If you work hard and you do the grind and you do the hustle, the American Dream is within reach for anyone. And what I’m trying to show from my stories is that so much of it is also due to systemic racism and who had access to what. Many of our members who are white have multigenerational wealth, because their parents or grandparents went to college on the GI Bill, or their ancestors had access to land ownership before any person of color was ever allowed access to land ownership.“ Meet the Rich Kids Who Want to Give Away All Their Money (Town & Country)
Inktober: just pick up a pen and start drawing
It's October again, and artists all over the world take on the Inktober drawing challenge by doing one ink drawing a day the entire month. You can get inspiration from Instagram (might be daunting), Twitter and Tumblr (aren't always so polished), but it's not an exercise for people with fancy pens and tons of skill. Anyone can join Inktober, just pick up a pen and start drawing. [reminder via Mltshp]
ITSNOTAFILMABOUTDIVERSITY!!!!!
The Untranslated: a hidden dimension of the shadow canon
The Untranslated blog is closing after six years of reviewing significant literary works that have not yet been translated into English and are relatively unknown in the Anglophone world [more inside]
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