April 7, 2017

Russia voices its displeasure over the Syrian airstrike, with one official likening it to the US invasion of Iraq. / The New York Times

“Extraordinary precautions” were taken to ensure no areas with Russian personnel would be hit in the airstrikes. / BuzzFeed

Maps of the airfield and the region offer a sense of the thicket the US just walked into. / The New York Times

“Donald Trump, the man who just over a month ago wanted to bar entry of all Syrian refugees into the United States, now wants us to think that he cares deeply about Syrian children.” Moustafa Bayoumi, “Trump’s Senseless Syria Strikes Accomplish Nothing” / The Guardian

Hominins practiced cannibalism, but people don’t offer much nutrition, so let’s assume they were early foodies. / The Verge

Comparing shrines to dead rock stars, Bowie hasn’t reached Winehouse or Elvis sainthood yet, but watch this space. / Atlas Obscura

The Bureau of Land Management homepage used to feature a pristine landscape. Now the background is a coal seam. / NPR

From aubade to tanka, the origin stories of ten good-to-know poetic terms. / LitHub

Western revulsion, fetishization, and fascination with Hawaiian hula dances almost led to the destruction of Hawaii. / Collectors Weekly

“Police have always been at the root of a system for managing and producing inequality.” By squashing protests and over-policing (otherwise) underserved communities, policemen can’t be validated by liberal principles. / The New Inquiry

Transplanted “young poo” (gut microbes of young killifish) helps elderly fish live longer. / Nature

“If the Democrats use the filibuster to protest the nomination, that may very well be the only constructive purpose this wretched practice has ever served.” The filibuster began as an accident, and has mostly been used to ignominious ends. The Senate will be no less democratic without it. / The Atlantic

Octopi edit their own genetic information, which seems to contribute to their extraordinary intelligence. / The Atlantic