The US isn’t ready for clean energy

The US isn’t ready for renewable energy. The electric transmission grid doesn’t have the capacity to move it where it needs to be. A vox video by Madeline Marshall, animated by Matt Dunne.

Related:

“Old Power Gear Is Slowing Use of Clean Energy and Electric Cars,” Ivan Penn, New York Times

“2020 was the worst year yet for power outages in the US,” Justine Calma, The Verge

_________________
Short link: https://wp.me/p6sb6-xLL

Comments are welcome if they are on-topic, substantive, concise, and not boring or obscene. Comments may be edited for clarity and length.

 

Turkeys Fight Back!

By now you may have settled down into a post-Thanksgiving poultry-induced stupor, but watch out. In many parts of America, native wild turkeys are giving people a good basting. The meleagris gallopavo have come back from near-extinction, and now millions of the 4-foot-tall beasts are reclaiming their turf with a vengance:

“In New Hampshire a motorcyclist crashed after being assaulted. In New Jersey, a terrified postman rang 911 after a dozen members attacked at once. And in Michigan, one town armed public workers with pepper spray.

In September, the Daily Messenger in upstate New York had had enough and published a tongue-in-cheek call to arms: ‘We need to call out the militia, folks. This could be the greatest threat against humans and their civilization since Krakatau erupted. Wild turkey all over America are rioting, rising up in rebellion against the influx of people into their habitat.’”

— “How wild turkeys’ rough and rowdy ways are creating havoc in US cities,” Alice Hutton, The Guardian

_______________________
Short link: https://wp.me/p6sb6-y8U

Top image by Mike Licht. Download a copy here. If you need to warn folks near a domestic turkey factory farm, download an appropriate graphic here. Creative Commons license; credit Mike Licht, NotionsCapital.com

Comments are welcome if they are on-topic, substantive, concise, and not boring or obscene. Comments may be edited for clarity and length.

 

Thanksgiving Filmstrip, 1977

“An Old-Fashioned Thanksgiving,” a 1977 filmstrip adaptated from a short story by Louisa May Alcott. From the series “Classic Stories for American Holidays,” published by Spoken Arts, Inc. Innocent schoolchildren were subjected to these things. Soundtracks were on LPs (or later, audiocassettes), and the beeps were cues for the teacher to advance the projector to the next image. Video by Uncommon Ephemera.

Related:

“What Thanksgiving Means Today to the Native American Tribe That Fed the Pilgrims,”Olivia B. Waxman, Time

“No Thanks. How a National Holiday Became a Day of Mourning,” Emma Newcombe, Governing

_________________
Short link: https://wp.me/p6sb6-xZJ

Comments are welcome if they are on-topic, substantive, concise, and not boring or obscene. Comments may be edited for clarity and length.

 

7 Doctors at Florida Anti-Vax Summit Get COVID

Days after anti-vax doctors met in Florida, seven of them came down with COVID-19. The fringe medicos met on November 6th at Ocala’s World Equestrian Center, so naturally they pushed ivermectin horse de-wormer as a coronavirus cure. As the Daily Beast points out, the Equestrian Center requires all participating ponies to be vaccinated against Equine Herpes Virus and Equine Influenza. Florida law prevents vaccine mandates for two-legged participants.

“Florida Summit on Covid” participants listened to the 9 panel “experts” and lunched together, and $250 VIP admission tickets included a private reception and photo opportunity, a likely virus incubator.

More:

“Seven doctors contract Covid after attending Florida anti-vaccine summit,” Maya Yang, The Guardian

________________
Short link: https://wp.me/p6sb6-y7v

Top image by Mike Licht. Download a copy here. Creative Commons license; credit Mike Licht, NotionsCapital.com

Comments are welcome if they are on-topic, substantive, concise, and not boring or obscene. Comments may be edited for clarity and length.

 

Mask-Wearing Cuts Covid by 53%

Florence Nightingale, masked, after H. M. Bonham-Carter

A global research study published in BMJ shows that wearing facemasks is the most effective non-pharmaceutical measure reducing COVID-19 incidence and fatalities:

“Mask-wearing is the single most effective public health measure at tackling Covid, reducing incidence by 53%, the first global study of its kind shows.

Vaccines … do not confer 100% protection, most countries have not vaccinated everyone, and it is not yet known if jabs will prevent future transmission of emerging coronavirus variants.”

“Results from more than 30 studies from around the world were analysed in detail, showing a statistically significant 53% reduction in the incidence of Covid with mask wearing and a 25% reduction with physical distancing.”

— “Mask-wearing cuts Covid incidence by 53%, says global study,” Andrew Gregory, The Guardian

Related:

“As GOP Fights Mask and Vaccine Mandates, Florida Takes the Lead,” Patricia Mazzei, New York Times, via Yahoo News

“Mixed feelings as D.C. lifts mask mandate,” Chelsea Cirruzzo, Paige Hopkins, Cuneyt Dil, Axios

___________________
Short link: https://wp.me/p6sb6-y5l

Image (“Florence Nightingale masked, after a lithograph by H. M. Bonham-Carter”) by Mike Licht. Download a copy here. Creative Commons license; credit Mike Licht, NotionsCapital.com

Comments are welcome if they are on-topic, substantive, concise, and not boring or obscene. Comments may be edited for clarity and length.

Google Doesn’t Want You to Say You ‘Googled Something’

Google doesn’t want you to use “Googled” as a verb. It could endanger their brand. A video written by Tristan Purdy, presented by Sam Denby for Half as Interesting.

_________________
Short link: https://wp.me/p6sb6-xLk

Comments are welcome if they are on-topic, substantive, concise, and not boring or obscene. Comments may be edited for clarity and length.

Pure Imagination

“Pure Imagination,” written by Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley, performed by Diana Panton, 2015. Diana Panton (vocal), Don Thompson (bass, piano, vibes), Reg Schwager (guitar), Coenraad Bloemendal (cello).

Diana Panton website

_____________
Short link: https://wp.me/p6sb6-xH2

Comments are welcome ifhttps://wp.me/p6sb6-xn6 they are on-topic, substantive, concise, and not boring or obscene. Comments may be edited for clarity and length.

 

Ain’t No Love In The Heart Of The City

“Ain’t No Love In The Heart Of The City,” written by Michael Price and Dan Walsh, recorded by Black Pumas, 2020.

Black Pumas website

_________________
Short link: https://wp.me/p6sb6-xCQ

Comments are welcome if they are on-topic, substantive, concise, and not boring or obscene. Comments may be edited for clarity and length.

 

 

Here She Comes

“Here She Comes,” written by Roy Straigis, Billy Jackson, and Jimmy Wisner, recorded by The Tymes, 1964.

_____________
Short link: https://wp.me/p6sb6-xFe

Comments are welcome if they are on-topic, substantive, concise, and not boring or obscene. Comments may be edited for clarity and length.

Waiting For My Real Life to Begin

“Waiting for My Real Life to Begin,” written and recorded by Colin Hay, 1994.

Colin Hay website

_____________
Short link: https://wp.me/p6sb6-xIF

Comments are welcome if they are on-topic, substantive, concise, and not boring or obscene. Comments may be edited for clarity and length.