Tuesday, November 02, 2021

Introducing Unfolding History: Manuscripts at the Library of Congress

 The Manuscript Division is starting their own blog, as their treasure trove of documents is both (a) amazing and (b) endless. This introductory post was written by Josh Levy, a historian of science and technology in that division. There are a lot of stories folded into the collections of the Library’s Manuscript Division, and it’s time to share them in a new way. Those stories come from one of the world’s most extensive archives related to American history. They are found in collections that document our political, social, cultural, military, and scientific pasts. And there are a lot of collections: more than 12,000 of them, which together encompass more than 70 million items. Among them are the personal papers of presidents and artists, judges and activists, generals and poets, scientists and nurses, and transformative organizations like the NAACP and the Works Progress Administration. More are added every year. Unfolding History: Manuscripts at the Library of Congress is a new blog that aims to offer a wider window into those collections. Here, our historians, archivists, and reference librarians will share stories about exciting new discoveries and items that catch their eye…”


Seven Rules For The Culture Wars

In culture wars, both sides like to refer to self-evident sources of ‘the truth’ – such that ‘every sensible person must surely be able to recognize’. But... the formerly reliable solid ground is being replaced by quicksand. - Eurozine


From Press Freedom To Prison Systems, Everything Assange Touches Gets IlluminatedCaitlin Johnstone


US Lawyers Argue Assange Healthy Enough to Be Sent to His Death Richard Medhurst




Ars Technica – Sean Gallagher: “I spend most of my time these days investigating the uglier side of digital life—examining the techniques, tools, and practices of cyber criminals to help people better defend against them. It’s not entirely different from my days at Ars Technica, but it has given me a greater appreciation for just how hard it is for normal folks to stay “safe” digitally. Even those who consider themselves well educated about cyber crime and security threats—and who do everything they’ve been taught to do—can (and do!) still end up as victims. The truth is that, with enough time, resources, and skill, everything can be hacked. The key to protecting your digital life is to make it as expensive and impractical as possible for someone bent on mischief to steal the things most important to your safety, financial security, and privacy. If attackers find it too difficult or expensive to get your stuff, there’s a good chance they’ll simply move on to an easier target. For that reason, it’s important to assess the ways that vital information can be stolen or leaked—and understand the limits to protecting that information…” said 


MAKING A KILLING: THE BUSINESS OF WAR PROFITEERING Intercept 


Should I Stay or Should I Go? The Dilemma of a Conflicted Civil Servant Texas National Security Review (Colonel Smither




WELL, THIS IS THE 21ST CENTURY, YOU KNOW:  New NASA Travel Video: Kayaking on Titan, Skydiving on an Exoplanet.



New Database Reveals Fines for Environmental and Safety Infringements Lag Far Behind Those for Competition and Financial Offenses

Phil Mattera, Corporate Research Project: “Today the Corporate Research Project of Good Jobs First is launching Violation Tracker UK, a free public database that collects over 63,000 cases brought by more than 40 regulatory agencies in the United Kingdom– ranging from the Financial Conduct Authority to the Serious Fraud Office and the Environment Agency. It is modeled on the U.S. Violation Tracker, which now contains nearly half a million cases from over 350 federal, state, and local agencies.”