Extra, Extra
Heil Back in Style: Today in Nazism: The guy who heiled Hitler is platforming a song called Heil Hitler. The New Yorker: Kanye Gave Twitter an Exclusive Hit Single. Kanye West’s ‘Heil Hitler’ song turns hate into a hook. And hate is hooking a lot of people these days.
+ 86 This Discussion: “An anti-Trump protest online featuring the numbers ‘8647’ is now at the heart of a federal investigation after former FBI director James Comey shared it in a social media post.” Two things to know about this controversy. One, 86 usually just means to nix or get rid of something. It was obviously not a threat and the attack on Comey by the administration is more about going after their enemies. But two, Comey is a fool for sharing a post that could be so easily misconstrued, even if that’s being done on purpose.
+ Good Government: “The U.S. is slashing funding for scientific research, after decades of deep investment. Here’s some of what those taxpayer dollars created.” NYT (Gift Article): 9 Federally Funded Scientific Breakthroughs That Changed Everything.
+ Buyer Be Wary: Consumer sentiment hits second-lowest reading on record.
+ Suspension Breaks: “They come for asylum, insisting they face persecution for their religion, or sexuality or for supporting the wrong politicians. For generations, they had been given the chance to make their case to U.S. authorities. Not anymore.” Trump suspends asylum system, leaving immigrants to face an uncertain future.
+ The Tortoise and the Heir: “What is a sperm race, anyway? Well, it’s all in the name, really. Round up a couple of guys, get a sample of their semen, and examine it under a microscope to see whose sperm swims faster. Contrary to what you may be thinking, the race doesn’t actually start until an hour or so after the sample is produced.” Vanity Fair: Inside LA’s Young, Testosterone-Fueled Sperm Race. (I’ve been looking for a new sport. It’s down to this or pickleball.)
Feel Good Friday
“The technique used on a 9½-month-old boy with a rare condition has the potential to help people with thousands of other uncommon genetic diseases.” NYT (Gift Article): Baby Is Healed With World’s First Personalized Gene-Editing Treatment.
+ “Talking to your loved ones about your problems can be uncomfortable. Talking to your therapist can be expensive. Paul Jenkinson, however, is neither. He’s just a man with some free time, two chairs, a folding table and a sandwich board that reads: ‘You are not alone. I will listen.'”
+ “This winter, a resort owner in the Sierra National Forest decided to keep the cabin doors unlocked should anyone need shelter to survive while the area was snowed in. Just in case.” Missing Sierra camper found alive in cabin after 3 weeks.
+ ‘Hero’ gamer thwarted a mass school shooting being planned in California town.
+ “Come and stay at my house. I’ll look after you and we’re going to get you into rehab.” The kindness of strangers: I was homeless and addicted to heroin. Joanne saved my life.
+ Apple to Support Brain-Implant Control of Its Devices. (Usually, the devices control our brains. It will be nice to see the tables turned.)
