Word of the day: gallimaufry- a confused jumble or medley of things.
The Norwegian Nobel Committee awarded Maria Corina Machado the Nobel Peace Prize 2025. She will receive it for her tireless work promoting democratic rights for the people of Venezuela and for her struggle to achieve a just and peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy.
UAlbany Alum Omar Yaghi ’85 Shares 2025 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. He was born in Amman, Jordan.
FACT CHECK: Almost Every Syllable He Utters
Noem’s shutdown propaganda isn’t flying at US airports
Medicaid Work Requirements Will Devastate People With Invisible Disabilities
Portland Frog is Back after being “Pepper Sprayed In the Vent” by ICE
“They haven’t heard of Bad Bunny, and that’s all that matters.”
Why Planes Still Have ‘No Smoking’ Signs
The Silence of the Generals
As UN Turns 80, US Continues Violation of Charter’s Limits on Use of Force
FOTUS incompetence is bolstering China—and screwing US farmers
An Ohio village moved to rename a park after its hometown baseball star, Ray Brown. Controversy followed
What the evidence tells us about Tylenol, leucovorin, and autism. The questions of whether acetaminophen can cause the condition or leucovorin can treat it have been studied to a fair degree
Hallelujah, “the linguistic Swiss Army knife of joy”
A comic about AI art
History
Twelve Failed Constitutional Amendments That Could Have Reshaped American History
Making amends: A friendship forged from the Unabomber’s violence
Announcing the Winners of the 5th Annual Keeley Schenwar Memorial Essay Prize. The prize honors the work of incarcerated and formerly incarcerated authors writing toward a more just world.
State Data Center Clearinghouse data
The NYG&B has released a significant addition to its online records: a free-to-use, enhanced index for FamilySearch’s digital collection New York, Land Records, 1630–1975. The searchable index comprises 63.5 million records for more than 32 million transactions, including deeds, mortgages, patents, and land grants.
The Great Chicago Fire of October 8-10, 1871 | Journey to American Democracy
New book – The Essential Peanuts by Charles M. Schulz: The Greatest Comic Strip of All Time by Mark Evanier
Jane Goodall, renowned chimpanzee researcher and animal advocate, dies at 91
I’ve long been convinced that, though Diane Keaton won an Oscar for Annie Hall, her performance that same year in Waiting for Mr. Goodbar (1977) sealed the deal. I’ve also caught her in The Godfather (1972), Reds (1981), Baby Boom (1987), Father of the Bride I and II (1991, 1995), The First Wives’ Club (1996), Something’s Gotta Give (2003), The Family Stone (2005), and Finding Dory (2016-voice). Oh, and every single Woody Allen movie in which she appeared. She died at age 79.
The Life and Death of the American Foodie
Kelly’s Tabular Enclosification
The Dionne Quintuplets Captivated the World During the Great Depression. But Their Fame Came at a Cost
The Thieves That Wrestled With Their Conscience and A Heroic Reason to Steal a Jacket
News consumption
The blogger DelSo writes, “I’m sorry that the country where I live is so selfish that far too many people care for no one beyond themselves.” She then discusses the “Sumud Flotilla and its attempt to deliver critical aid to Palestine,” and other topics.
An old buddy complained, “Why isn’t this story all over the news?” referring to Body slamming, teargas, and pepper balls: viral videos show Ice using extreme force in Chicago.
Astonishingly often, I read or hear, “This should be getting far more attention than it is getting”about a wide swath of topics.
Conversely, many of my friends said they hardly watch the news, or at least limit the content. “It’s too depressing!”
I absolutely agree with all of it. There’s a lot of news that goes underreported. Sarah Mullally, the bishop of London, has been appointed archbishop of Canterbury, yet this didn’t make that evening’s network news, which I watched. At the same time, the sentencing of Sean “Puffy” Combs led the broadcasts.
As noted in Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, Bari Weiss took over CBS News’s leadership, which is worrisome.
I hope people can stay informed because lots of stuff is happening, much of it distressing. At the same time, I’m hoping others will allow some grace for those who can’t bear the 24-hour, largely overwhelming, news cycle.
One suggestion: avoid clickbait, those sites you have to click on to where some presumably terrible headline has occurred.
MUSIC
Silent Eyes – Paul Simon
Sad and Beautiful World – Mavis Staples –
Piano Concerto in F major by George Gershwin
The Empty Chair – Sting
The Addams Family theme (cover)
Ophelia – The Band
Dirty Work– Steely Dan
The overture to La Cenerentola by Rossini
Coverville 1551: Bryan Ferry and Roxy Music Cover Story and 1552: The Human League Cover Story
Tom & Jerry by the Korean a cappella group, MayTree
The Greatest Woman On Earth by Hans Zimmer, from the movie As Good As It Gets
The Crazed Moon by Julian Anderson
The Autumn Leaves – Nat King Cole
Carol Kaye Is Being Honored by the Rock Hall. She Doesn’t Care.
The Beatles Alpha Omega bootlegs
