Quick links 4

 As is fast becoming a tradition here is my weekly roundup of writings that caught my eye but didn't get a post of their own at the time:

Faster please: SpaceX has two Starship prototypes on the pad at the same time. I like the dry humor in this part referring to the flight of SN:

'It failed to stick the touchdown and exploded on impact. 

SpaceX is hoping for a better performance by SN9.' 

Hopefully cancel culture won't end up going so far: What Are the Cultural Revolution’s Lessons for Our Current Moment? 

Useful lessons here: Beating Back Cancel Culture: A Case Study from the Field of Artificial Intelligence. This is especially true, 'Don’t back down. Don’t apologize. Don’t make clarifications, and don’t try to appease the mob.' Sadly many so-called conservatives fold faster than an origami champion.  

They really want a population crash, and I suspect thought like this and the forced celebration of alternative sexualities is one prong of their attack: California prof: Heterosexuality is ‘tragic’. 

Worrying developments and an example of how the civil servants carry on regardless of what their political 'masters' want: The EU has tightened its grip over UK defence

I did find time to comment here agreeing and comparing to university in the UK: College doesn't have to be stupid but they like it that way

Possibly the best summary on this topic I've seen so far: Oligarchy in America (also applies to the west in general),

Why is trust in the media so low: The Echo Chamber Era. 

And finally, to finish on a lighter note: Revolutionary Drinking: A Day-Long Experiment in Colonial Boozing

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