Sunday Reads...
- Greg McNeilly
- May 3
- 5 min read
An irregular roundup of thought-provoking reads. Most made me go “hmm…”
QUOTE OF THE DAY:
“When a people lose their religion, they do not merely lose a set of beliefs; they lose the framework within which their whole life was lived, and they are left exposed to every wind of doctrine, every passing enthusiasm, and every tyranny that promises order.” - Hilaire Belloc
DANGER: U.S. national debt over 100% of GDP.
Memento mori : 60 Minutes brings us another must-watch Ben Sasse conversation:
Study: Data confirms short-term videos (reels, etc) are destroying brain and focus.
Tablets: Another study shows how damaging to young developing brains screens have become.
Belfast was revisited with bombings.
The internet’s influencers are flush with freaknicks notes on this piece.
“Chonkers,” the sea lion that apparently people are obsessing over.
Unpacking “political violence” in America today.
More on political violence here.
These are the tweets of a would-be political assassin - somewhat common sentiments from the Left. Apparently, he dropped video games for politics.
The more “educational credentials” you have, the higher the probability you are likely supportive of political violence, begging so many questions!
A sampling of Left-wing political violence.
Another government teacher advocating violence.
Jeffries digs in as the cheerleader for political violence.
Murray: There is a reason the latest shooter’s manifesto sounds familiar.
And how Obama makes the nation’s divide worse.
WSJ: The Year of the Molotov Cocktail.
Meanwhile, left-wing conspiracy theories go off the rails.
Checking the hype on “longevity” research claims.
In defense of smoking.
More k12 government teachers are alleged to be sexually assaulting their students.
$ 1,000,000,000 in donations by government teacher unions to left-wingers.
Gone to the Birds: An all-in-one resource for all things birds.
Revisiting Rand’s Anthem, a novel with a timely message.
U.S. universities are flooded with anti-Jewish hate funded from foreign lands.
NASA: A resource to write your name with satellite imagery.
The science behind hosting the best dinner party.
Playing with fire? Ibogaine - coming soon.
k12 grade inflation - your students know less than you think.
When Barney Frank is a centrist, something is fundamentally wrong with the American Left.
The US has recently discovered substantial lithium reserves.
No Kings. In a disgusting display, the “King” of England addressed a joint Congressional session. The actual words from the moral midget known as “King Charles.”
Mapping foreign investment here.
The top 30 “songwriters” in America are noted here.
The trailer for the next season of Ted Lasso is here.
A reflection on our love of sloths.
A proposal for how to regulate robotaxies.
Are U.S. gold coins full of Colombian cartel gold?
Is “Kinship” the enemy of progress? Answer argued, here.
Like your modern life? Thank the shipping container.
Love your “baby gays.” Now you know about Q-tips.
The growing business of psychedelic retreats.
EPA Administrator Zeldin schools a Member of Congress.
An interactive guide to worldwide fertility rates.
SNAP: In one state, allegedly, SNAP recipients drive 14,000 luxury brand cars.
LA Mayor’s ad draws a stark contrast between the political class and the “ruled.”
Alleged Michael Jackson victims are still seeking justice.
Contagion: The simple awareness of subjective criteria for “mental disorders” is correlated with their increased diagnosis, research notes.
Positive: DOE imposes caps on student loans - still too high IMHO - but a step towards curbing “higher credentials” pursuits.
Aesthetic: From Rodin back to Michelangelo, the form that connects.
Charts: The most important charts in the world.
The secret to success? Monotasking.
Alabama moves past the separate but equal era of segregation with the latest SCOTUS ruling.
When science bends a knee to political ideology, truth loses.
Splashy, the backstory of the Kentucky Derby’s fashions.
What could go wrong? Efforts to bring back the Blue Antelope.
AI:
Maine's Governor vetoed a prohibition on data centers.
Google dumps $40 billion into Anthropic.
AI investment is unlikely to resolve the taxpayer-backed debt that the government has saddled the nation with.
The AI-backlash mounts - in the heartland.
Anthropic: The jobs AI will disrupt first: Greater educational attainment and experience.
Blistering: Profile of “Scam” Altman by Ronan Farrow.
During the trial, OpenAI was accused of stealing.
AI scripted the creation of biological weapons and unleash them in public places.
Meanwhile, AI is accelerating patient outcomes.
Ignoring the Jevons Paradox, two economists suggest that AI will eliminate the job market.
NYT: Silicon Valley braces for underclass status.
Another test where AI beats ER doctors.
CHINA & RUSSIA, IRAN & TERROR:
The Islamic regime has caused billions in war damage.
A run-down on the Iranian regime’s failures.
Trump put Putin in his place during a recent phone call.
Islamist sex-trafficking makes rare (because common practices are often ignored) headlines in the U.K.
China continues to threaten the Philippines.
Subjects of the CCCP are apparently lonely.
COURTS:
SCOTUS previously approved California’s new maps, and now approves Texas.
SCOTUS declines to hear a case that could have protected parental rights against transexual abuse of their students.
Virginia Supreme Court blocks motion to certify the redistricting referendum, allowing the legal process to proceed.
SCOTUS rules that Americans can move past segregation and racism and draw color-blind congressional maps - one step closer to MLK’s dream.
ECONOMY:
POLS BEHAVING BADLY:
Dems
California Democrats are backing even higher taxes on the wealthy.
The third would-be Trump assassin is a government “Teacher of the Month.”
A Democrat Islamist running for office vows to take political opponents to the mud and “choke them out.” “Centrist Democrats” remain silent.
Gross: Biden officials funneling unqualified loans to Planned Parenthood, funded by the taxpayers, and attempting to hide it, apparently.
Senator Grasley dumps documents detailing numerous Clinton and Clinton Foundation misdeeds that the DOJ ignored.
Turley: Are murder and micro-looting (a.k.a. theft) now mainstream Democrat values?
Mamdani is looking to welch on public employees.
Fauci aide indicted for conspiracy against the U.S.
Reynolds: Democrats’ enemies list and abuse of power a threat to American democracy.
Michigan Senate candidate apparently hates her own state and region.
Wow: A literal tattoo’d Nazi is on track to be the Democrat nominee for U.S. Senate. All of those predictions about it feeling like 1938 somehow knew. If the Swastika isn’t enough to suggest the Democratic Party isn’t all right, read Schumer’s backed candidate’s online statements.
Vote fraud: Democrat candidate allegedly lives in one state, votes in another.
Reps
Comey's indictment is likely unconstitutional, argues Turley. And fail in the court of public opinion.
Trumps tarriff tax hike continues to harm.
Ex-congressman’s lobbying efforts go undisclosed.
TRAVEL:
Six countries you can walk across in one day.
Chase the BBQ trail.
The most interesting building in each state.
15 years of the Sushirrito.
