Extra, Extra
Getting the Lay of the ‘Land: “The directive is one of the first concrete steps Trump’s administration has taken toward fulfilling the president’s often-stated desire to acquire Greenland.” WSJ (Gift Article): U.S. Orders Intelligence Agencies to Step Up Spying on Greenland.
+ Xi Sheds Pretenses: “China’s Xi Jinping arrived in Moscow Wednesday for a four-day state visit aimed at deepening the ‘mutual trust’ between the Chinese leader and Russian President Vladimir Putin, Beijing said.”
+ Cardinal Rules: “Given the stakes, extreme measures have been taken to avoid eavesdropping, not just sweeping the Sistine Chapel for bugs but shuttering its windows to prevent scanners from detecting vibrations of the cardinals’ words on the panes. The electors must not only give up their cellphones but are also encouraged to vote using disguised handwriting.” No phones, no news — only God and church politics as Catholic elders choose Francis’ successor. (I wondered why my open rate dropped a bit this week.)
+ Voice of Unreason: Kari Lake says OAN’s far-right coverage will fuel Voice of America.
+ Star Wars: “E.P.A. managers announced during a staff meeting on Monday that divisions that oversee climate change and energy efficiency would be eliminated as part of an agency reorganization. That includes the E.P.A.’s climate change office as well as the division that oversees Energy Star.” E.P.A. Plans to Shut Down the Energy Star Program.
+ Diving Miss Daisy: “I watched an 87-year-old woman jump off a boat that hadn’t stopped moving.” WaPo: Genetics of Korea’s extreme divers could unlock chronic disease treatments. “The secret to tackling one of the United States’ most deadly chronic diseases may reside thousands of miles away in the chilly waters separating the Korean Peninsula and Japan, where generations of Jeju Island women have been diving to gather food from depths of up to 60 feet using only the bodies that genes and conditioning have given them.”
+ Mules Rush In: “The route involves risks not listed in the unofficial USPS motto. In the winter, ice can accumulate on the narrow switchbacks, which drop 1,000 feet in the first two miles. Temperatures in the summertime can exceed 110 degrees. Mules (and horses, which are sometimes used in the pack string) can get spooked by blowing debris and the occasional rattlesnake. During monsoon season, rainwater rushing down the canyon walls can turn the desert floor into a surging river within minutes.” The Atlantic (Gift Article): How the Most Remote Community in America Gets Its Mail. (They get their news from the outside world delivered by a mule. And you get yours sent by a jackass.)
