Fear and loathing in Jordan ? ??
CULTURE — On the far side banks of Jordan – Aman Madan for ftn.media: Jordanian rapper Emsallam Hdaib talks about LGBTQ+ rights, freedom of expression, and resistance.
GENDER — The progressive Omerta – Nick Wingfield for nytimes.com: A precise and balanced writeup of the developments sorrowing the Google gender gap controversy.
DEBATE — Creating an insurgency – James D. Miller for businessinsider.de: “The firing of James Damore over his “Google's Ideological Echo Chamber” memo will empower the tech alt-right.”
RELIGION — The hunger games – Allison Braden for warisboring.com: “Faced with their country’s insecurity, Venezuelans are making intensely personal choices about their faith and where they can turn for help and comfort.”
DEMOCRACY — Farewell welfare – Brink Lindsey for niskanencenter.org: A suggestion to “roll back the welfare state, not by complaining about it, but by outcompeting it”.
AI — It's all fun and games – James Vincent for theverge.com: Computers playing challenging computer game is a useful testing ground to teach AIs new skills. For example: Starcraft.
HISTORY — Entente extra-cordiale – Dominic Tierney for theatlantic.com: During WW2 France and Britain almost united into one country. “The Franco-British Union is an extraordinary near-miss of history.”
HUMANITY — Purpose and Meaning – Laura Oliver for weforum.org: The Japanese concept of “Ikagi” helps many to live for over 100 years.
ENVIRONMENT — The 6 Million Dollar Coral – Kyle Frischkorn for smithsonianmag.com: To save reefs under adverse conditions, scientists are suggesting to genetically engineer super corals.
PHILOSOPHY — Octopus, ergo sum – Olivia Goldhill for qz.com: Octopuses are very likely conscious beings. Which raises the question: What makes humans so special?
Photo by Wilson Szeto on Unsplash
