February 27, 2017
Why most (ballet) dancers almost always turn clockwise and most athletes—figure skaters, aerial skiiers, divers—turn counterclockwise is unknown. But a personal investigation into the phenomenon makes for interesting reading. / Ballet Focus
A rugby match is built on “rucks,” what happens when a player is tackled to the ground. But what happens when the defensive side doesn’t send anybody to the scrimmage, as Italy preferred not to in an international match just yesterday? / The Economist
“During such scary periods, you should never forget two things: First, widespread fear is your friend as an investor, because it serves up bargain purchases. Second, personal fear is your enemy. It will also be unwarranted.” In his annual letter to investors, Warren Buffett counsels on how to use fear to your financial benefit. / Quartz
Huffington Post published an article about what would happen if someone read the wrong winner at the Oscars—and then it actually happened last night. / HuffPost, YouTube
Included are maps and charts of San Francisco’s housing discrimination, Japanese farm productivity before World War II, relocation routes, and internment locations today. / storymaps.esri.com
The Iowa governor and statehouse, controlled by Republicans for the first time in a decade, are fighting to prevent cities and counties from setting their own minimum wages, pushing legislation that would require adherence to the state minimum wage—$7.25—across the board. / daily-iowan.com
“If they get thrown in jail, somebody pays to get them out. There has to be something to deter them from that.” Arizona’s Republican-led Senate votes to approve a bill that will allow police to arrest anyone attending or involved in the planning of a protest that later ends up damaging property. / Arizona Capitol Times
In addition to their “taxpayer-funded horror” at Standing Rock, North Dakota lawmakers are looking to pass all kinds of nefarious anti-dissent bills, including ones that would make it a misdemeanor offense to wear a mask at a protest, and another that would somehow legalize running over someone who’s blocking a road. / The Daily Beast, billingsgazette.com
Republicans in statehouses all over the country are working to overrule or preempt city ordinances from largely liberal City Halls they disagree with, from municipal broadband programs to minimum wage to anti-discrimination bills. / nextcity.org
In many of the states now in full Republican control—namely Kansas, Missouri, and New Hampshire—Republicans are targeting unions, largely at the behest of Koch-linked groups. / The Intercept
If only to pause for a moment on all the doom: some lovely maps by designer and artist Paula Scher, which she describes making in the new Netflix design series Abstract. / curbed.com, netflix.com
How drones, gimbals, and other technological advances have helped the BBC make its beloved nature documentaries more cinematic. / BBC
Americans are spurning farm jobs. As a result, crops in at least 20 states rot because there aren’t enough workers to pick them. Deporting millions and building a wall would send farms, and our food, into a full-on crisis. / modernfarmer.com
Some beautiful acrylics by Taiwanese artist Huang Po-Hsun. You can find more at Asia Contemporary Art Buyer, or his Flickr page. / Huang Po-Hsun, asiacontemporaryart.com, flickr.com