June 14, 2017
Energy group fronts a sneaky pro-pipeline campaign in Virginia, calling homeowners “radicals” and “outsiders.” / The Washington Post
Visual guide to the Grenfell Tower fire in London. “I have never, ever seen anything of this scale.” / The Guardian
“‘He had a lot of ammo,’ Flake said, explaining why it took several minutes to get the situation under control.” A guy with a rifle opened fire at a congressional baseball practice this morning in Alexandria, Va, wounding House Majority Whip Steve Scalise and members of his security team. / Politico
To enjoy travel more, make all your major decisions with a coin flip. / HotelsDave
From 2001, Canadian comic Rick Mercer tries “Talking to Americans,” in which he interviews Americans about Canada-related topics (bombing Saskatchewan, for one thing). / YouTube
Don’t believe what you hear from Uber board members: Studies show that men talk more in meetings than women. / The New York Times
California Senator Kamala Harris, a former prosecutor, gets cut off once again by her male colleagues in the Senate. / Huffington Post
British politicians, uncomfortable with digital archives, decide to continue printing the country’s laws on vellum. / BBC Magazine
The Pope’s emphasis on simplicity and frugality has worldwide appeal—but not to the Vatican’s tailors and cobblers. / CRUX
In case you’ve ever wondered about the source of Batman’s finances: a thorough investigation into Wayne money. / Looper
Possibly the world’s youngest democracy? German kindergarten lets kids vote on their daily routine (mostly food). / The Local
Ecologists caution that a government-sanctioned cull could lead to extinction for Japanese badgers. / Atlas Obscura
America is a strange brew: The Indy 500 now books an EDM festival for the hyper-patriotic. / Thump
Africans entering web searches will overwhelmingly find American, not local, content—a form of “digital hegemony.” / Quartz
Artists should receive bigger payouts from YouTube after ASCAP agrees to work with the video site. / Billboard
“The Democrats should feel liberated by their current powerlessness. It allows them to propose simple, idealistic policies that excite people, with no repercussions.” To win, Democrats must get over their fear of ideology and partisanship. / TIME
“For more and more Americans, vying in a popularity contest for a limited supply of funds and sympathy may be the only way to pay the doctors and stay afloat.” Shortfalls in health insurance are a boon to crowdfunding sites that make a killing on transaction fees. (Kickstarter stays away.) / Bloomberg