Saturday, March 27, 2021

How the World’s Oldest Wooden Sculpture Is Reshaping Prehistory

How the World’s Oldest Wooden Sculpture Is Reshaping Prehistory

At 12,500 years old, the Shigir Idol is by far the earliest known work of ritual art. Only decay has kept others from being found.

Beverly Cleary, Legendary Children's Author Who Quietly Revolutionized Kid Lit, Dies at 104

 Beverly Cleary, Legendary Children's Author Who Quietly Revolutionized Kid Lit, Dies at 104 

Beverly Cleary, Beloved Children’s Book Author, Dies at 104

Her funny stories about Henry Huggins and his dog Ribsy, the sisters Ramona and Beezus Quimby, and a motorcycling mouse named Ralph never talked down to readers.
 






Wednesday, March 24, 2021

Suez Canal Blocked After Container Ship Gets Stuck

 Suez Canal Blocked After Container Ship Gets Stuck (Thanks to Henry A. for this)
By Wednesday morning, more than 100 ships were stuck at each end of the canal, which carries roughly 10 percent of worldwide shipping traffic.


 

The Art of the Vladimir Putin Photo Shoot

 The Art of the Vladimir Putin Photo Shoot

The Russian president has posed for some new publicity stills amid the snowy Siberian landscape.


 

North Korea Launches 1st Missile Test Under Biden Administration

 North Korea Launches 1st Missile Test Under Biden Administration

The test of two short-range cruise missiles came after Pyongyang accused the United States and South Korea of raising “a stink” on the Korean Peninsula.

 


Officer Brian Sicknick Died After the Capitol Riot. New Videos Show How He Was Attacked.

 Officer Brian Sicknick Died After the Capitol Riot. New Videos Show How He Was Attacked.

 

We're #1: Why Does the U.S. Have So Many Mass Shootings? Research Is Clear: Guns.

 Why Does the U.S. Have So Many Mass Shootings? Research Is Clear: Guns.

Credit...John Locher/Associated Press

 

Colorado Shooting: Shooter Charged, Impact on Colorado, and Call for Assault Weapons Ban

 The suspect has been charged with 10 counts of murder.

Boulder Shooting Survivors Describe ‘Listening to Him Kill Everyone You Know’
A deadly shooting at a Boulder supermarket left 10 people dead and a state full of grief and fury that it had happened again. 

Across States, a Checkerboard of Gun Laws Reflects Partisan Tilt
The political divide on gun policy between red and blue states is another example of the way national issues — including abortion rights and, in the post-Trump era, voting rights — are defining local politics.

 Biden Seeks Assault Weapons Ban and Background Checks
After the second mass shooting in a week, the president said tighter gun laws should not be a partisan issue, but Republicans in Congress showed little interest in Democratic proposals.



Monday, March 22, 2021

‘Stupid’ DoorDash Side Job Gets Pennsylvania Prosecutor Demoted

‘Stupid’ DoorDash Side Job Gets Pennsylvania Prosecutor Demoted

The district attorney for Bucks County, Pa., said Gregg Shore, a high-ranking prosecutor, had been making food deliveries during work hours for the county. “I don’t know why he did this,” he said.



How North Korea evades international sanctions

 How North Korea evades international sanctions


Erdogan Pulls Turkey From European Treaty on Domestic Violence

 Erdogan Pulls Turkey From European Treaty on Domestic Violence

The move is likely to please President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s conservative followers. He also removed the head of the central bank.



Covid Has Traumatized America. A Doctor Explains What We Need to Heal.

 Covid Has Traumatized America. A Doctor Explains What We Need to Heal.



Evidence in Capitol Attack Most Likely Supports Sedition Charges, Prosecutor Says

 Evidence in Capitol Attack Most Likely Supports Sedition Charges, Prosecutor Says

“I personally believe the evidence is trending toward that, and probably meets those elements,” said Michael Sherwin, who had led the Justice Department’s inquiry into the riot.

‘Sedition’: A Complicated History

As a mob stormed the Capitol, the word “sedition” was on many people’s lips. Its force is clear, but its echoes across American history are more complex and ambiguous.\



Miami Beach, Overwhelmed by Spring Break, Extends Emergency Curfew

 Miami Beach, Overwhelmed by Spring Break, Extends Emergency Curfew

The city has been criticized for its enforcement of the curfew in South Beach over the weekend, when the police used pepper balls to try to disperse crowds.

The AstraZeneca vaccine protects fully against Covid-19’s worst outcomes, new study shows.

 The AstraZeneca vaccine protects fully against Covid-19’s worst outcomes, new study shows.

New AstraZeneca report says vaccine was 76% effective in preventing Covid-19 symptoms



Friday, March 19, 2021

'Enough Is Enough': Atlanta-Area Spa Shootings Spur Debate Over Hate Crime Label

'Enough Is Enough': Atlanta-Area Spa Shootings Spur Debate Over Hate Crime Label

Accused Gunman Had Visited Massage Parlors He Targeted, Police Say

The suspect, who was a customer at two of the spas in the Atlanta area that were attacked this week, spent time in a rehab clinic for a self-described sexual addiction.



For Political Cartoonists, the Irony Was That Facebook Didn’t Recognize Irony

For Political Cartoonists, the Irony Was That Facebook Didn’t Recognize Irony

As Facebook has become more active at moderating political speech, it has had trouble dealing with satire.

Matt Bors, a left-leaning cartoonist who runs a site called The Nib, gets most of his traffic from Facebook and Instagram. Credit...Norman Wong for The New York Times


Teen Vogue Editor Resigns After Fury Over Racist Tweets

Teen Vogue Editor Resigns After Fury Over Racist Tweets

The hiring of Alexi McCammond, who was supposed to start at the Condé Nast publication next week, drew complaints because of racist and homophobic tweets she had posted a decade ago.

Credit...Michael S. Schwartz/Getty Images.


I Got My Covid Vaccine. Now Can I Hug My Mom?

I Got My Covid Vaccine. Now Can I Hug My Mom?

Three experts respond to questions from readers about what they can do after getting vaccinated.

Testy Exchange in Alaska Signals a More Confrontational China

Testy Exchange in Alaska Signals a More Confrontational China

The Biden administration’s strategy to curb Beijing’s behavior faces a stiff challenge as China uses its economic, diplomatic and military might to deflect criticism.

U.S., Chinese Officials Trade Swipes At Photo Op

"Many people within the United States actually have little confidence in the democracy of the United States, and they have various views regarding the Government of the United States. In China, according to opinion polls, the leaders of China have the wide support of the Chinese people." Yang Jiechi, director of the Central Foreign Affairs Commission of the Chinese Communist Party



Wednesday, March 17, 2021

On vaccines, Trump tells his hesitant supporters, ‘I would recommend it.’

 On vaccines, Trump tells his hesitant supporters, ‘I would recommend it.’ (Thanks to Belinda H. for this one)


 

Quaint village of New Hope is getting a celebrity-stuffed makeover

 Quaint village of New Hope is getting a celebrity-stuffed makeover


Scroll through 125 years of the NY Times Book Review as it celebrates

Scroll through 125 years of the NY Times Book Review as it celebrates


 

Where to Stream ‘Nomadland,’ ‘Minari’ and More 2021 Oscar Nominees

Where to Stream ‘Nomadland,’ ‘Minari’ and More 2021 Oscar Nominees
Most of the top contenders can be watched at home. Here’s a guide to help you get a jump on the field.


 

Russian Interference in 2020 Included Influencing Trump Associates, Report Says; China punished; Britain seeks to join the fight

Russian Interference in 2020 Included Influencing Trump Associates, Report Says
The assessment was the intelligence community’s most comprehensive look at foreign efforts to interfere in the election.

U.S. Punishes 24 Chinese Officials on Eve of First Talks Under Biden
Setting a confrontational tone ahead of meetings in Alaska, the United States punished Chinese officials involved in eroding democracy in Hong Kong. 

Credit...Leo Ramirez/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images
Johnson Pins U.K. Future on U.S. Ties, as European Bonds Loosen
Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s blueprint for Britain’s economic, security and diplomatic future is a tighter embrace of Washington, with policies aligning London with President Biden.

Credit...Pool photo by Geoff Pugh

‘When Normal Life Stopped’: College Essays Reflect a Turbulent Year

‘When Normal Life Stopped’: College Essays Reflect a Turbulent Year
This year’s admissions essays became a platform for high school seniors to reflect on the pandemic, race and loss.


 

8 People Killed in Atlanta-Area Massage Parlor Shootings

8 People Killed in Atlanta-Area Massage Parlor Shootings
Six of the victims were Asian, the authorities said, raising fears that there may have been a racial motivation to the crimes.

Asian-Americans Are Being Attacked. Why Are Hate Crime Charges So Rare?

Several recent attacks have not been charged as hate crimes, fueling protests and outrage among many Asian-Americans.

Atlanta Shooting Suspect Charged In Spa Killings: He had a "bad day"


Credit...Crisp County Sheriff's Office

Tuesday, March 16, 2021

The Cooper Mini will be EV only by 2030

 The Cooper Mini will be EV only by 2030 (Thanks to Patrick R. for this)



The Worst Dust Storm in a Decade Shrouds Beijing and Northern China

The Worst Dust Storm in a Decade Shrouds Beijing and Northern China (Thanks to Dan F. for this)

The Communist Party has made great strides in reducing China’s pollution, but a perfect storm of northern winds and an industrial rebound has created dangerously high levels of pollution countrywide.


Monday, March 15, 2021

Kia Recalls 308,000 Vehicles for Fire Risk, Tells Owners to Park Outside

Kia Recalls 308,000 Vehicles for Fire Risk, Tells Owners to Park Outside (Thanks to Patrick R. for this one)

Kia is recalling the 2017–2019 Cadenza and the 2017–2021 Sportage due to the possibility of an electrical short causing a fire in the engine compartment.



How Some States Are Moving to Restrict Transgender Women in Sports

How Some States Are Moving to Restrict Transgender Women in Sports (Thanks to Rachel S. for this one)

Mississippi is the second state to bar transgender women from women’s sports. More are expected to follow.



Pennsylvania Woman Accused of Using Deepfake Technology to Harass Cheerleaders


Three teenagers in a Bucks County cheerleading program were subjected to a campaign of harassment using altered videos and spoof phone numbers, police officials said.

Credit...Bucks County Sheriff's Office




In Rage Over Sarah Everard Killing, ‘Women’s Bargain’ Is Put on Notice

 In Rage Over Sarah Everard Killing, ‘Women’s Bargain’ Is Put on Notice

The “Reclaim These Streets” movement in Britain asks why the police demand sacrifices of women rather than forcing men to change to end violence.

Grammys 2021: Women Sweep Awards Shaped by Pandemic and Protest; Blue Ivy Carter wins first Grammy...

 Grammys 2021: Women Sweep Awards Shaped by Pandemic and Protest

BeyoncĂ© broke a record, Megan Thee Stallion and H.E.R. won awards, Taylor Swift’s “Folklore” was named album of the year and Billie Eilish’s “Everything I Wanted” record of the year.


Also: Blue Ivy Carter, BeyoncĂ©’s daughter, wins her first Grammy.