Giant(ess) steps
The House of Representatives votes to authorize an impeachment inquiry into President Biden. / BBC News
Related: "An impeachment inquiry into Biden very likely does not happen without organizations like Fox News rewarding members of Congress." / Reliable Sources
A report says the Ukraine war has cost Russia 315,000 dead and injured troops, or nearly 90% of the soldiers it had when it invaded. / Reuters
Polish infrastructure circles are being "roiled" by a train company threatening white-hat hackers. / 404 Media
A skirt returned to an H&M store in London traveled 15,467 miles only to be dumped in a vacant lot in Mali. / Atmos.earth
Related, via Nextdraft: "This is what happens to all the stuff you don't want." Because "we're all addicted to cheap stuff." / Nextdraft, The Atlantic [+], Vox
TikTok users say Pantone's choice of "peach fuzz" for color of the year prioritizes "the interests of tech conglomerates." / Hyperallergic
In India, "looking like a wow" would likely beat "rizz" for phrase of the year. / rest of world
A giantess fetish—a sexual desire for giants—is said to be the hot kink for 2024. / Mashable
See also: Reviewing the year in cinema's best sex scenes. / Vox
An online database records scents culled from 16th- to early 20th-century European art. / Smithsonian Magazine
"There can't be many footballers who have gone from playing for a military team to the cover of Vogue in a few months." / The Athletic
Some thoughts on what it's like to be a North Korean novelist. "You're saying I need protecting from something?" / The Dial
Correction: A link yesterday was labeled Oregon when it should've been Maine, ayuh.
And now a brief chat with a new Sustaining Member, Christine S.!
Christine, hi! Thanks so much for supporting! Wow. A personal response! That’s so cool.
You found us via the Tournament of Books, right? How long ago? I became aware of the ToB in 2013 (because I was reading The Fault in Our Stars at the time and John Green tweeted about it) and was instantly hooked. First of all, March Madness, but for books? Right in my wheelhouse. I loved The Orphan Master’s Son, so I read the rest of the contenders. I’ve read all 16 or 18 books every year since, although mostly after the Tournament is over. I’ve also read all the commentary and learned and laughed so much from it.
Wow! Wow! I’ve bought a few ToB T-shirts, but felt like it was time to give back. I’m currently digging in to the short list for next year’s tournament and looking forward to it.
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