Undressed for success
Israel approves a plan to seize some 70 historic sites in the West Bank, looking to sever Palestinians from any historic connection to the land. / Al Jazeera
Iran-linked hackers are attacking water utilities in the United States only a few years after opponents scuppered Biden-era proposals to ramp up cybersecurity. / The New York Times [$]
Meanwhile, Iranian lawmakers consider a plan to prevent American and Israeli ships from transiting the Strait of Hormuz. / Reuters
The US Treasury is intervening to support the yen and keep pressure off the dollar. / The Financial Times
Interventions to restore China’s Yangtze River seem to have worked well for fish, maybe not the people who fish them. / The Economist
And now a poem for people like you (and us) who care about world events: “Unpacking a Globe” by Arthur Sze. / Academy of American Poets
Black lung disease is back to 1970s levels in Appalachian coal miners, mostly because existing seams are tapped out and quartz has to be cut to reach new ones. / NPR
Investigating an anti-solar influencer’s funhouse view of climate. / Heated
Unrelated: A funhouse version of Wordle, where you shouldn’t type the hidden answer. / Don’t Wordle
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One possible upside to the artificial intelligence revolution: an end to “workism,” where work “needs only to appear impactful rather than actually be impactful.” / Noema
Seven writers confess their crimes and bad habits. / The Dial
Neal Stephenson extols writing by hand. “There’s a reason cursive was invented. Don’t even think about not using it.” / Graphomane
Some thoughts on this year’s list of the country’s best cheap hotels. / Cheapest Destination Blog
“Hotel tchotchkes are 20% souvenir, 80% flex.” A list of things it’s supposedly okay to steal from hotel rooms. / Simon Mills Male on Sunday
See also: Chicago is yet again ranked the worst city for bed bug infestations. / Orkin
A new film explains why Garfield phones are showing up on beaches in France. / Colossal
A drone captures a humpback whale giving birth to her calf. / ABC News
A 54-year-old woman decides to pose nude for her drawing class. “You see me as a middle-aged lady, not worthy of a second glance? Well, you’re looking at me now.” / Oldster