"The strategy behind the “No-Blame” approach is counterintuitive but effective: enlisting the bullies’ help to solve the problem." More at Reasons to be Cheerful ➜

The removal of the Great Works Dam on the Penobscot River in Old Town, Maine shows that when dams are removed, a river and its fish can recover with surprising speed. More at Reasons to be Cheerful ➜ Krause

A community in India called Banda has been facing severe water scarcity due to climate change and overuse of resources. Now it has found a way to combat drought by implementing a system of water budgeting to minimize overuse of resources and water waste.  The villagers have reported an increase in crop yields and have been able to maintain a steady supply of water for their daily needs. More at Reasons to be Cheerful ➜

"Christians in Bethlehem have been holding a muted celebration to mark Christmas amid the ongoing Israel - Gaza war. Worshippers lit candles and prayed at the nativity scene, with the figures standing amid an installation of rubble and razor wire, outside the Church of the Nativity in Manger Square in Bethlehem. In previous years, Christmas in Bethlehem has seen decorations of a tree and festive lights". More at The BBC ➜

"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.

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 ➜

"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)