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1. An enormously important result for the future of American democracy
«It's much more likely the 2024 election will be free and fair» is a ridiculously low bar for celebrations after the midterm elections in the USA, but I guess we'll take it. A trenchant short analysis of the (preliminary and incomplete!) results.
2. Why climate despair is a luxury
A couple of weeks ago, I shared a listicle by Rebecca Solnit, with advice on how not to lose hope. In this new essay, she specifically addresses the feeling of despair, and why we must not give in to it. She describes despair as an «enemy of hope», a «false certainty about what is going to happen that excuses inaction». My favourite bit of the entire essay: «Despair can be true as an emotion, but false as an analysis.»
3. The First Minute of Every Phone Call Is Torture Now
Very relatable. As a passionate despiser of phone calls, I'd argue you can improve this article's title by removing the last word and the first four.
4. How the world changes with interest rates
Great episode from the David McWilliams podcast. On how rising interest rates have pushed us into a different world, back into reality, so to speak, because «when the interest rate is zero, the price of money is zero, and thus everything is priced wrongly.»
5. Science Has a Nasty Photoshopping Problem
A very interesting topic, expertly visualised. On fraud by photoshop in science, and how artificial intelligence is both part of the solution and making things worse.
What else?
Ultimate Calm — sounds curated and commented on by Ólafur Arnalds
There's an index of «Unusual Articles» on Wikipedia
On my list of things I'd like to experience myself: Jacob Collier turning his audience into a choir
«Your personal experiences make up maybe 0.00000001% of what’s happened in the world but maybe 80% of how you think the world works.» — Morgan Housel