Magazine Posts

"To look back on a year of reading is to be handed a clear mirror of your priorities and passions, of the questions that live in you and the reckonings that keep you up at night. While the literature of the present comprises only a tiny fraction of my own reading, here are a handful of books published this year that moved me with their tendrils of timelessness, with their questions and their consolations — selections neither exhaustive nor universal, as subjective as a shade of blue". Read more at the Marginalian

"Hundreds of millions in taxpayer dollars have been spent on what was sold as a revolution in transparency and accountability. Instead, police departments routinely refuse to release footage — even when officers kill. More at ProPublica ➜

Quote from Maggie Tokuda-Hall from her article giving her perspective on Gaza as a Jewish, Japanese American. (November  2023) Click below to read her essay at Densho or to read a related article by Naomi Ishisaka at The Seattle Times. 
Maggie Tokuda-Hall at Densho ➜        Naomi Ishisaka at The Seattle Times ➜

The Nobel Prize in Physics 2023 - To Pierre Agostini, Ferenc Krausz and Anne L’Huillier
The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2023 - To Moungi G. Bawendi, Louis E. Brus and Aleksey Yekimov
The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2023 - To Katalin Karikó and Drew Weissman
The Nobel Prize in Literature 2023 - To Jon FosseThe Nobel Peace Prize 2023 - To Narges Mohammadi
The Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel - To Claudia Goldin

More at The Nobel Organization ➜

"An investigation found criminal gangs using sham bank accounts and secret online marketplaces to steal from almost anyone – and little being done to combat the fraud"  More at The Conversation ➜

"Late last year, a series of crises at the world’s biggest iPhone factory — a Foxconn facility in Zhengzhou, central China — underscored Apple’s need to diversify its manufacturing partners. According to one "estimate, the factory’s delays cost Apple $1 billion a week...Apple has since sped up plans to expand in India. Foxconn is in the middle of doubling its workforce in the country ... Now Chinese engineers are flying to India to train the next generation of iPhone builders.  More at Rest of World ➜

In many cultures, striking up a conversation with a stranger is the norm, and could even lead to a budding friendship. But not for the Swedes....In Sweden, casual chattiness is seen as needless, since conversation is used for exchanging real, meaningful information. More at BBC ➜

Adult children of aging parents are facing the harsh realities of long-term care, and the financial and emotional toll it takes on them. Many people don't realize how expensive caregiving and long term care can be, as they are forced to dip into their own savings or retirement funds to cover the costs. They emphasize the need for better resources and support for those facing this situation. They also urge people to plan ahead for the financial costs of caregiving, and to talk to their parents about their wishes for long-term care. More at KFF Health News ➜

"Garment workers in the US are paid far below minimum wage. New legislation, if implemented successfully, would change that. For decades, the “Buy American” movement rested on the belief that such labels guaranteed a certain standard of quality and care. There lingered an assumption that US-made garments were produced in a more ethical manner than their foreign competitors, particularly those imported from lower-cost countries. The reality, however, is a bit more complicated"  More at The Nation ➜

"Your immune system requires a delicate balance to operate properly. When it’s out of balance, your immune system itself can cause disease. Healthy immune systems don’t need to be “boosted.” ... immunologists know that too much of an immune reaction could result in allergies, autoimmune disorders or chronic inflammation. On the flip side, too little of an immune reaction could result in illness or infection"  More at The Conversation ➜

Image credit: NIH NIAD (Scanning electron micrograph of a T cell)

Louie Schwartzberg is an American director, producer, and cinematographer. Since 2004, he has worked as a director for films, including the 2019 film, Fantastic Fungi, and the 2014 Netflix series, Moving Art. More

A digital platform has been created in Brazil to help preserve indigenous languages. Teens are using artificial intelligence to help translate, store, and spread these languages. The platform also helps create audio recordings and videos, and allows teens to access online courses, encouraging youth to learn the languages and keeps them alive for future generations More at Reasons to be Cheerful ➜