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TMN will return on Monday, following the Thanksgiving holiday.
Russian forces are advancing in Ukraine at the fastest rate since the start of the 2022 invasion. / Reuters
How many Ukrainian soldiers have died? As a share of population, more than America suffered in the Vietnam and Korean wars combined. / The Economist
See also: Street interviews with people in Kyiv about podcaster Joe Rogan's recent comments. / The Kyiv Independent
Gangs in Haiti now control most of Port-au-Prince. Up to half of their members are children. / The Associated Press
A former drug dealer known for Fox News appearances is arrested on suspicion of pimping and pandering. / The San Francisco Standard
Donald Trump's signature dance move is being embraced by athletes, but it's not clear if they're celebrating or mocking him. / The New Yorker
Unrelated: A bunch of "mirror houses" that you can rent or buy. / Field Magazine
A round-up of tariffs used by different countries "to stem the flow of China-made tech products." / rest of world
A fully functional microscope made of paper only costs $2 to make and is offered free to kids in lower income countries. / Goats and Soda
See also: Some office furniture pieces that can be converted into skate ramps and rails. / dezeen
In 2024, the number of people talking about "pheromone perfume" on social media rose nearly 300%. / The Wall Street Journal [+]
A genre of Japanese fiction known for cats and coziness is booming in Britain. / The Guardian
A first-of-its-kind lawsuit is testing whether the legal system can protect an influencer's vibe. / The Verge
A new Ken Burns documentary about Leonardo da Vinci can be streamed online through December 17. / Open Culture
Some lessons from the AI Art Turing Test. (You can still take it yourself.) / Astral Codex Ten, Google Docs
A puzzle for the week: "Suppose you have a publicity-seeking inchworm and want to keep him to yourself. What's the smallest cover you can contrive to keep him hidden?" (Mathmeticians still don't know the answer.) / Futility Closet
And now a brief chat with a new Sustaining Member, Maggie S.!
Hi, Maggie. You found us through the Tournament of Books, right? I first started following the ToB religiously in 2016, and I’ve been a near-completist every year since then, except last year, when my life was insane. I have many library holds already placed and I’m shooting for completist again this year!!
Wow! What's the biggest draw for you? The community is the biggest draw. I love the people I've met through the ToB, and the conversations we have about books. Also, every year I find at least one book I adore that I might not have encountered otherwise.
That's wonderful to hear. Any particular reason you decided to support today? In general, I try to put at least some money in the places where my heart goes, and the ToB is totally one of them. (Just ask my IRL friends, who are maybe sick of hearing about it.) I decided to up my donation when I resubscribed today because in a time where there is a lot of negativity in the world, the ToB and the commentariat remain a smart, respectful, joyful space in my life. We need that more than ever.
Well, thank you for the support. It's truly the reason we're able to produce the whole thing. Thanks for all you do! It’s hard to even say how much I love the ToB.
🎃 We are incredibly thankful for our Sustaining Members. Whether it's this newsletter or the Tournament of Books, if something we're doing is groovy (gravy?) for you, please let us know through your support—and thank you!
🎁 Free links to paywalled sites are marked with a [+].
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Your headlines are sourced and composed by Rosecrans Baldwin (☜) and Andrew Womack, Monday through Saturday. View this edition and the latest headlines at TMN.