Glass Wings Blog

The Glass Wings mailing list and blog is for general idle chit-chat about things we find interesting, especially humor, animation or other subjects relevant to the Glass Wings web site.

UN warns of looming sand crisis as population and city growth lead to surging demand

Thu, 19 May 2022 11:35:28 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-04-28/un-warns-of-looming-sand-crisis-as-population-cities-grow/101021160>

"A United Nations report calls for urgent action to avert a "sand crisis" —
including a ban on beach extraction — as demand surges to 50 billion tonnes a
year amid population growth and urbanisation.

This is where we live: has Australia been a good neighbour in the Pacific?

Thu, 19 May 2022 11:34:18 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://theconversation.com/this-is-where-we-live-has-australia-been-a-good-neighbour-in-the-pacific-182040>

"I was once asked “why should Australians care about what happens in the
Pacific? and my response was (or started with) "This is where you live”.

Anticipating a side effect makes it more likely you’ll experience it – this could contribute to vaccine hesitancy

Thu, 19 May 2022 11:33:36 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://theconversation.com/anticipating-a-side-effect-makes-it-more-likely-youll-experience-it-this-could-contribute-to-vaccine-hesitancy-180331>

"The COVID pandemic has highlighted several interesting features of modern
medical practice – most recently the “nocebo” response, which may account for a
significant number of side effects people experience following vaccination.

Finland’s Position Is One of the Big Surprises of the Ukraine Invasion

Thu, 19 May 2022 11:32:41 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://taru-anniina.medium.com/finlands-position-is-one-of-the-big-surprises-of-the-ukraine-invasion-481dd16ffb54>

"For decades, my country has had to walk a fine, fine line between USSR/Russia
and Europe. How do we become a developed country and a part of Europe, without
angering these guys on the eastern border that could just come back and invade

Being a Queer Parent is Terrifying Right Now

Thu, 19 May 2022 11:32:00 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://judedoyle.medium.com/being-a-queer-parent-is-terrifying-right-now-a634fafacee9>

"I’ve run out of things to say about myself during therapy. This is not to say
I don’t still need it. I now spend my sessions talking about one and only one
thing: My kid, who is preparing to enter kindergarten. Specifically, I talk

Net zero by 2050 will hit a major timing problem technology can’t solve. We need to talk about cutting consumption

Wed, 18 May 2022 18:57:03 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://theconversation.com/net-zero-by-2050-will-hit-a-major-timing-problem-technology-cant-solve-we-need-to-talk-about-cutting-consumption-181951>

"Many climate activists, scientists, engineers and politicians are trying to
reassure us the climate crisis can be solved rapidly without any changes to
lifestyle, society or the economy.

A warrior for Indigenous women and girls

Wed, 18 May 2022 18:56:27 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://www.aljazeera.com/features/longform/2022/4/27/a-warrior-for-indigenous-women-and-girls>

"As the sun set over Rome, Lorelei Williams calmly observed the steady stream
of tourists who flocked into the Colosseum, where warriors once fought to the
death before tens of thousands of spectators.

New Zealand unveils plan to tackle climate crisis by adapting cities to survive rising seas

Wed, 18 May 2022 18:53:55 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/apr/27/new-zealand-unveils-plan-to-tackle-climate-crisis-by-adapting-cities-to-survive-rising-seas>

"The New Zealand government has released new plans to try to prepare the
country for the catastrophic effects of the climate crisis: sea level rise,
floods, massive storms and wildfires.

The Long View

Wed, 18 May 2022 18:52:49 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

https://www.tor.com/2022/04/27/the-long-view-susan-palwick/

"A university student seeks special accommodations for her new support animal,
causing havoc all around her."

Wiener Cello Ensemble 5+1: Bolero

Wed, 18 May 2022 18:51:22 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aUeysGoPFTk

"Wiener Cello Ensemble 5+1 performs:
Maurice Ravel: Bolero"