Tiny stim.
Nine months after the CARES act, Congress has passed a second stimulus bill that’s half the size of its predecessor. / The New York Times
In addition to direct payments to Americans and more unemployment benefits, the stimulus extends tax breaks for film and TV production companies and includes funding for live venues and independent theaters. / Variety, Rolling Stone
Also in the stimulus package: important new climate legislation, with bipartisan support for new limits on emissions of hydrofluorocarbons. / Quartz
Progressives expected two seats on the Energy & Commerce Committee, including one for AOC. It didn't happen that way. / The American Prospect
"This is how our government is spending its time?" The FDA will revoke regulations on French dressing and frozen cherry pie. / The New York Times
In determining how to distribute 5,000 Covid vaccines among its staff, Stanford's algorithm selected only seven medical residents. / The Verge
Administrative delays could mean Germany and the EU will have insufficient vaccine doses. / Spiegel
A deep dive into how Trump's actions—and lack thereof—have led to our current moment, with record-breaking new daily infections. / The Washington Post
Two former Arizona State Bar presidents have filed an ethics complaint against 21 Trump attorneys for "utterly meritless cases." / KPNX
A study from Lyft has determined that one hour of your free time is worth about $19. / Vox
Very excited to hear "Liberty Bell," the first new music from Darkside (Nicolas Jaar and Dave Harrington) since 2013. / The Morning News
Increased radio waves from human technology are creating a buffer around Earth, protecting life from space radiation. / Popular Mechanics
SimpliSafe's social-distancing holiday sweater plays a siren and flashes its lights if someone gets within six feet of you. / South China Morning Post
Video: In 1659, Massachusetts made it illegal to celebrate Christmas—a ban that lasted for the next 22 years. / The Morning News
"And, yes, significant boxing matches have also taken place on Boxing Day." Boxing Day, explained. / Vox
Helen Rosner's food-themed gift guide, including pepper with a "dusky, spicy roundness that verges on intoxicating." / The New Yorker
A recipe for porridge to appease vengeful house elves. / Atlas Obscura
Vintage clothing adorned with stunning trompe l'oeil nature scenes, by Ron Isaacs. / Colossal
And now for a brief Q&A with Brandon L., one of our newest Sustaining Members!
Hi Brandon! Can you tell us when you started reading TMN? In 2008 or 2009. Right after I graduated college.
And what brought you here? I started reading thanks to my college friend and now published author and Features Editor at the Verge, Kevin Nguyen. He had his own website with some folks we went to college with, the now-aptly-named Bygone Bureau. I wrote a few pieces for them, and he often linked to your original articles as examples of what they were interested in, and style of writing they were seeking to emulate.
Any TMN-adjacent anecdotes to share? I was incredibly jealous of the mini-offspring website you folks briefly had called "The Staff Recommends," which recommended various books to people. I thought it was such a neat idea, and I remember the interface as being very clean. The way you designed it really highlighted the phrase "The Staff Recommends," which I stole for a series of short poems about an eponymous "staff," and their various life recommendations (eating a second breakfast pastry, dumping the problematic partner, embracing the unknown, etc.)
Thank you to Brandon and all our Sustaining Members! If you haven't already, please find out why we're asking for your support and consider becoming a Sustaining Member or making a one-time donation to TMN and the Tournament of Books.
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