002 Pentecost 10: Lovers and Fighters
Making DC beautiful again, the disappearance of bird flu, humans need more nature in their lives
“My soul faints for Your salvation, but I hope in Your word.” ~ Psalm 119
Noise Decoder
Zero tolerance
President Trump invoked emergency powers under the Home Rule Act last week, taking control of Washington, D.C.’s police force for a thirty-day period and deploying the National Guard to protect federal buildings. The President said the move was necessary because crime in the capital had reached “emergency levels.” Critics rushed to paint Trump’s actions as an “authoritarian power play,” insisting crime was actually down. But United States attorney for the District of Columbia, Jeanine Pirro, slammed reporters for implying that a drop in violent crime from pre-pandemic highs is enough, when families are still being affected by carjacking, assaults and theft. A number of DC residents took to social media to express their outrage that the President was likening their city to a haven for criminals (although they failed to convince anyone). Of course, crime is not distributed evenly and small areas of the city account for the majority of murders, for example. For his part, the head of the D.C. police union welcomed the extra help, saying officers are demoralized, understaffed, and fearful of punishing lawsuits. He stressed the temporary nature of the takeover and called for changes to laws that make it nearly impossible for police to do their jobs.
Looking to the cross: Scripture reminds us that “the authorities that exist have been instituted by God” (Romans 13:1), yet at the same time, no earthly power can ultimately secure the peace we long for. True justice and safety are only found under Christ’s reign. So when we see leaders scrambling, cities groaning under crime, and police weary of their work, let it drive us not to fear or cynicism, but to prayer: for wisdom for rulers, for protection for the vulnerable, and for strength for those who bear the sword. And above all, let it stir our hope that one day the King will return to judge with righteousness and establish peace that no lawless man can steal.
When it comes other statistics, mileage may vary:
On the Radar
Life
Birth, Death and Marriage
A new study shows that 120,000 packs of abortion pills were mailed to Americans between July 2023 and August 2024. Most of the pills were sent into states that forbid it or have banned abortion. (The Guardian)
The world of genetic screening of embryos is a wild frontier and it is expanding. (The Genetic Counselor)
Crime and Punishment
Courts, Law and Policing
A Texas woman is seeking damages for the wrongful death of her baby after the father allegedly spiked her drink with an abortion drug. (WNG)
Verbal Jiu-jitsu: using wit to end a fight before it starts. (Modern Met)
Tribes and Tongues
Immigration and Race
Five men were arrested in connection with a human trafficking operation run out of several Nebraska hotels. (Not the Bee)
Beto O’Rourke says Democrats are going to give everyone citizenship when they get back into power. (Robby Starbuck via X)
Health
Medicine and Food
Lat week, the CDC announced “the end of its emergency response to bird flu, citing the lack of reported human cases.” Infectious disease expert opinion believes the announcement is dangerous but at the very least, this shows how politicized the response to pathogens has become. (Undark)
Bill Gates has given his stamp of approval to “butter” made from hydrogen and carbon, which supposedly tastes just like the real thing. (CBS) | Starbucks wants to remove canola oil from its food. (Seattle Times) | And is MAHA coming for your mayo? (The Atlantic)
A three Michelin-star vegan restaurant is going back to serving meat, saying it wants to be more inclusive. Oh, and vegetables don’t appear to be great for business. (Robb Report)
Dry year: American adults self-report drinking less, with more identifying as teetotallers. Most cite concerns over moderate drinking being linked to poor health. (Gallup)
Blowing into a conch shell (or equivalent breathing) may help with sleep apnoea. (The Guardian)
Treasure
Money, Markets and Jobs
A government-run grocery store in Kansas City has closed due to theft and running costs. (Hot Air)
The rise of AI is forcing a return to in-person job interviews, as employers look to avoid being duped by fakes and cheaters. (WSJ)
Reality Bytes
Digital Technology
An expert shares tricks to spot AI-generated images. (Ted)
Two AI music sandboxes. (Eleven, Google Deep mind)
Heritage
Arts, History and Sport
President Trump has vowed to make Washington DC “beautiful again” including replacing “aging grass” in the capital’s parks. The President took over the Kennedy Center earlier this year, now taking it upon himself to present the Center’s awards. The liberal art establishment was less than impressed with reports that Trump’s executive order aimed at removing “woke” exhibits from the Smithsonian is becoming a reality: a letter outlining a “comprehensive internal review” was sent to the museum’s Secretary yesterday. Critics called Trump’s plan a “Stalinist” effort to “rewrite history”, which apparently only progressive elites are allowed to do. (USA Today via YouTube, Sky, Spectator, The Hill)
A Muslim Michigan woman has become the first to win a beauty pageant while wearing a hijab. (Not the Bee)
Moby Dick and the history of rope making. (Lit Hub)
The Elements
The Natural World
A British study has found that humans are engaging less with the natural world, “mirroring the disappearance of nature words such as river, moss and blossom from books”. The study’s author encourages parents to foster their children’s natural curiosity about the planet and get outside a bit more. (The Guardian)
A handy website for classifying clouds. (Cloud Gazing) I finally found the name of what these funny ones that appeared at my place a couple of years ago.
BTW If you have some cool cloud pics, send them in!
The Bride And The Counterfeits
Religion and the Church
Over 7,000 Christians were killed last year in Nigeria. (WNG)
Knowledge
Science and Data
A proposed airbag system for airplanes. (Not the Bee)
War and Rumors of War
Conflict and Weaponry
President Trump met with Russian President Vladimir Putin yesterday, with media reporting that little progress was made toward a ceasefire in Ukraine. Trump disputed that assessment, claiming “great progress” had been achieved. More meetings are planned, but with Russia determined to hold annexed Ukrainian territories and Ukraine unwilling to cede any, the path forward remains unclear. (The Guardian, New York Post)
A Chinese navy ship collided with its own coast guard vessel while pursuing a Philippine patrol boat out of disputed waters. Manila has long warned that “dangerous manoeuvres” by Chinese ships could be seen as acts of aggression against its territory. (ABC, The Guardian)
Lithuania says it will begin teaching its population—including school children—how to build and pilot drones. (AP)
Israel is facing condemnation over the deaths of five Al Jazeera journalists in Gaza. Israeli officials say one of the dead was the leader of a Hamas cell. (BBC)
Stories From Far Away
World News
🇨🇴 A Colombian senator has succumbed to injuries, dying weeks after being shot at a political rally. Senator Miguel Uribe was from a political family and was touted as a potential president. His assassination has drawn comparison to political assassinations during the “turbulent decades of the 1980s and 90s”. (BBC)
🇪🇺 Europe is facing destructive wildfires, with four deaths recorded so far. (Reuters) | Parisians are grateful for their newly-cleaned up river, with the Seine now very popular for swimming. (ABC News)
🇨🇷 Costa Rica is considering building an El Salvador-inspired mega prison to cope with outbreak of gang violence. (Yahoo)
🇨🇦 A hiker presumed to be in distress was found to just be singing Nickleback songs loudly to himself. (Vancouver Sun)
🇲🇽 Phew! A woman from an indigenous Mexican tribe has walked 14 hours to race—then won a 50-mile ultramarathon. (Modern Met)
Quickhits
🐙 A timber Cthulhu?
🧅 The mathematical approach to slicing onions
🥾 How to walk up hills without wearing out
👄 The hardest town names to pronounce in each US state
🇦🇺 Cockatoo’s got the dance moves
🇰🇷 South Korea’s Starbucks is cracking down on customers who camp out to study or work, some of whom bring their home office with them, printer and all!
Let us pray. Merciful Lord, cleanse and defend Your Church by the sacrifice of Christ. United with Him in Holy Baptism, give us grace to receive with thanksgiving the fruits of His redeeming work and daily follow in His way; through the same Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
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