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A binder of classified intel on Russian election interference went missing at the end of Trump's presidency, and still hasn't been located. / CNN
The British Library's vast digital collections vanished in a cyberattack. The physical editions remain intact, but we lost something nearly as essential: access to knowledge. / Public Books
Following news that thousands of items have been stolen from the British Museum, an independent review says the museum should keep better records of its artifacts. / The Guardian
See also: "The irony of British Museum thefts is not lost on nations awaiting return of looted artifacts." / Arab News
In building its brain collection, the Smithsonian targeted DC's most vulnerable populations, an investigation finds. / The Washington Post [+]
"To think of fanzines is to think of our younger, stumblebum selves. Warmly, bemusedly. Was that who I was? Oh God—I'm still that person now!" An exhibit on 50 years of zines. / 4Columns
Water has become a precious commodity in California, which is now reexamining the water rights it granted settlers who arrived over a century ago. / The New York Times [+]
See also: Ocean waves have long been posed as an answer to California's energy needs, yet the reality is the technology remains frustratingly out of reach. / CalMatters
Culture war war: Texas and California being on the same side in the forthcoming Civil War movie makes no sense, only it makes perfect sense. / The Ringer, VICE
"There is something paradoxical about trying to pin a name on an age characterized by extreme uncertainty." How should we name our current era? / The New Yorker
Writing checks may seem anachronistic today, yet the same method of payment—extending credit to cover a transaction—is exactly what underpins our financial system. / Bits About Money
Why don't musicians pump out holiday songs every year? The lure of nostalgia—and the public domain—would spawn more versions of "Jingle Bells" than you could ever want. / Monday Economist
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Your headlines are sourced and composed by Rosecrans Baldwin and Andrew Womack, Monday through Saturday. View this edition and the latest headlines at TMN.