12.22.2024

On "bringing a close"…

Biden signs bill that averts a government shutdown and brings a close to days of Washington upheaval

…for three months.

And this I'm supposed to be excited about (whew)?

Every three months (for how long now?) a self-replicating fraught orgy of partisan politics — and all because the Congress is incapable of doing its everlovin' job.

Hiding in plain sight

Newberry Library discovers it holds the largest example in existence of an extremely rare paper type

[The 49-sheet manuscript is] printed on maguey paper, a type made from pounded agave plants that is so rare that only 10 sheets were known to exist: four at the Library of Congress and six at the National Library of Anthropology and History in Mexico City.

The Newberry Library in question is not in Newberry, it's in Chicago.

Oops

U.S. Navy Shoots Down Own Plane as Fresh Strikes Target Houthi Rebels in Yemen

[From coststudy.org

The F-18 is known to cost somewhere between $50 million and $120 million when bought new. Used F-18 models will cost significantly less, although it will be hard to find one below the price of $20 million.]

No word about the missile,

The F-18 aircraft carries a two-person crew. Both bailed out safely, one incurring "minor injuries."

Some skies are not so friendly

When Your $3 Million Cello Gets Bumped From Your Flight

The cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason had to cancel a concert in Toronto last week after an airline refused to let him board with his instrument, even though he had bought a ticket for it.
And no, it wasn't TSA.