A tiny wasteland
On Black Friday 2025, Americans spent more, got less, and opted to buy now, pay later 45% more often than last year. / The New Republic
When buying items from abroad, US consumers are suddenly finding themselves stuck with paying hundreds extra in tariffs. / The New York Times [$]
See also: Costco joins Revlon, Kawasaki, and other retailers suing the US government to recover tariffs they say have no legal grounding. / MSNBC
Starting in February, travelers without a REAL ID will have to pay a $45 fee to subsidize their extra screening. / NBC News
By tracking individual PFAS types, water utilities can identify companies’ chemical discharges—now Trump’s EPA wants to drop restrictions on all but two types of PFAS. / NPR
“The forever chemicals in my blood would ‘most likely’ have an impact on my health, she told me.” A reporter learns she has high PFAS levels. / BBC News
“No one wants to make it illegal for corporations to speak, but no one voted to give them unlimited power over the public square either.” Treating corporations as people harms people. / Atmos
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To train AI to handle human tasks, developers are creating replicas of popular websites, including Gmail and Amazon. / The New York Times [$]
When you begin to cede basic cognition to chatbots—such as asking whether you should worry about a ringing fire alarm—it’s probably time to take a break from AI. / The Atlantic [$]
A team of researchers tried playing eight intact conch shells found at Neolithic settlements and mines, and believe these may be among the oldest human musical instruments. / The Guardian
Scientists studying fossils say anacondas, unlike other prehistoric giants, haven’t shrunk in at least 12 million years. / Gizmodo
How to make a tiny television that plays video from SD cards and over Wi-Fi. / designboom
How a line from Tom Stoppard’s Arcadia inspired a scientist in the audience to develop a new breast cancer therapy that went on to save countless lives. / Literary Hub
“Did you lose the other wheel?” and other frequently asked unicycling questions. / VALE
An advent calendar of the works that will enter the public domain next year. / The Public Domain Review
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