Funny but odd, precise but unnameable

In Ukraine, Moscow's forces are becoming more capable before a critical spring period as the war drags on. / The Guardian

Russia's export system has gotten less reliant on Western infrastructure, "and has therefore escaped the scope of sanctions." / The Economist

A mess of global issues exacerbates Pakistan's political, economic, and security problems. / NPR

An ice storm in Texas leaves 171,000 people around Austin without power. / The Austin American-Statesman

An old law may soon eliminate housing-related zoning ordinances for the vast majority of cities in the Bay Area. / The Discourse Lounge

A new video shows planets circling a star light-years away. / Science Alert

See also: A newspaper article recounts how girls in 1971 perceived the Apollo program. / Paleofuture

Photographs of London cafes from the 1980s. / Flashbak

A new study suggests rising smog levels in 19th-century London and Paris played a role in Impressionism. / Hyperallergic

A round-up of Black artists who are not as widely celebrated as some of their historical or contemporary peers. / Artsy

"Funny but odd, precise but unnameable." Painters Sam McKinniss, Amy Sillman, Jamian Juliano-Villani, and David Salle respond to Alex Katz's body of work. / Artforum

Unrelated: "The artist who couldn't draw," by Danny Gregory. / YouTube

A professor asks other academics for advice after students turned class into a dating service. / StackExchange

One more time for this week: The merch table is open for 2023’s ToB! With all designs from TMN’s own Andrew Womack. / TMN Store

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Your headlines are sourced and written by Andrew Womack and Rosecrans Baldwin, Monday through Saturday.