Sunday Reads...

An irregular round-up of interesting reads.  Most of these made me go "hmmmmm," none of them imply concurrence:
 
Quote of the Day:
"The first principle is that you must not fool yourself—and you are the easiest person to fool." -Richard Feynman

• The downward slope of “creatives” with age is studied.
• Counter-narrative: How foreign travel undermines a U.S. President’s domestic support is studied.
• Studying China’s “Wolf-Warrior Diplomacy” impact.
• The moral hazard of large government programs – like ACA – gets studied.

• The art of “venting” gets studied.
• Research suggests a direct link between media consumption and mental health.
• The correlation between childhood health and adult political ideology.
• The converse relationship between partisan allegiance and charitable contributions.
• For the cartographer-inclined, a thread of amazing maps.
• A new study confirms that credibility erosion (largely self-inflicted) in “science” is a real thing.
• More research (and here) confirms s that Tik-Tok is used as a propaganda and offensive weapon by the Communist Party of China.
• The ever-green promise of “desalination” as an energy source gets another look.
• Wage transparency is correlated with wage suppression.
• A study signals caution for using generative AI with students.
• The Curse of the Michelin “Star.”
• Intertemporal Empathy Declines
• “We all read like hell…”. How Ireland became a literary powerhouse.
• Research suggests that female-on-female bias is a contributor to inequality.
• New research confirms that people are seeking conformity over standing out.
• A conversation on phones and children.
• The economics of marijuana legalization:  “In states with legal marijuana, self-reported usage rose by 28%. Meanwhile, substance use disorders increased by 17%. Chronic homelessness went up by 35%, a possible sign that marijuana use leads to a downward financial spiral and perhaps job loss for many users. Arrests increased by 13%, although reported crime did not increase.”
• A new report on the “cognitive combat” waged against America by China and Russia.
• Georgetown Law Professor outlines Washington politicians attacking the liberal order fundamental to the American Republic.
• Another “narrative” on biodiversity debunked.
• The Tyranny of the Penny?  I find them enchanting.