In space of emergency.

What we know on day 111 of Russia's invasion: Zelenskiy calls the fighting in Sievierodonetsk "one of the most violent battles in Europe." / The Guardian

Ukraine still has a chance of winning, although the scope of its victory "would most likely be limited." / Foreign Affairs

Diary notes from an English teacher working for a pro-Putin commodities trader. / 1843 Magazine

See also: Putin is being very plain about his motivations. / Twitter

In "The Everything Virus," reporters around the world try to understand the past two and half years of Covid-19. / The Columbia Journalism Review

Since the arrival of the Omicron variants, the problem of delayed positivity "has gained some prominence." / The Atlantic

An algorithm developed at UCLA identifies people in Los Angeles on the verge of homelessness and dispatches social workers. / The Los Angeles Times

Hajjar Hussaini: "I have developed affinities for poems that provide a space to rest." / Poetry Magazine

Starbucks may resume closing its bathrooms to non-customers, citing "a growing mental health problem" posing a threat to its employees. / CNN

"Space Bubbles," a geoengineering project at MIT, proposes using frozen spheres to impede some of the sun's rays. / Senseable City Lab

Some scientists are proposing a new synonym for summer: "Danger season." / Grist

"Vegan leather" has been cast as more green than natural fibers, when it's just another petroleum-based material. / The New York Times

Watch: The Smithsonian houses 147 million specimens, but less than one percent of its holdings are on display, reserved instead for scientific research. / TMN

Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries ban Lightyear, the new Disney new film, over a same-sex kiss. Meanwhile, "Krissing" is Gen Z's version of Rickrolling. / The Hollywood Reporter, High Snobiety

A website dedicated to the history and wonders of sign painting. / Better Letters Magazine


🚨 And now a brief chat with a new Sustaining Member, Cheryl F. 🚨

TMN: Cheryl, thank you so much for the support. How long have you been reading?

Cheryl: I don't recall precisely when I came across TMN, or from whence I was directed to it. But it has become part of my routine, about 75-80% of days, to type in "them," at which point my browser knows just where I want to go.

TMN: Lol. "Them" is our new favorite nickname!

Cheryl: Via TMN I am connected with a manageable list (i.e., not too voluminous, not too sparse, but just right) of a wide range (and maybe that's the key thing) of links to articles—on astonishing beauty, on human foibles, on how this or that is so fucked up (excuse my language, please), on curious things. And that's another key aspect. So: a curious range. And that interests me.

TMN: May we ask why you decided to become a friend of TMN today?

Cheryl: You ask nicely. That has to be said. Not the determiner, but it got me through to the next thought, which was to read further and note how you describe your circumstances. So, there is a need. And I thought of how much I have come to enjoy my 75-80% of mornings checking in with you. And I didn't want that to go away.

☕  Do you value this newsletter? Here is why TMN relies on lovely readers like Cheryl to keep us going. Join today as a Sustaining Member, or support via PayPal or crypto. With our great thanks.

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Your headlines are sourced and written by Andrew Womack (🧘) and Rosecrans Baldwin (🧗), and arrive in your inbox, Monday through Saturday. View this edition and the latest headlines at TMN.