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.

Supermoons are boring – here are 5 things in the sky worth your time

Wed, 11 Sep 2024 03:54:47 +1000

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

<https://theconversation.com/supermoons-are-boring-here-are-5-things-in-the-sky-worth-your-time-236416>

"A supermoon may sound exciting, but it’s a modest coincidence.

As the Moon orbits Earth, its distance from us varies from 357,000 to 407,000

Crashes, blackouts and climate tipping points: how can we tell when a system is close to the edge?

Wed, 11 Sep 2024 03:54:07 +1000

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

<https://theconversation.com/crashes-blackouts-and-climate-tipping-points-how-can-we-tell-when-a-system-is-close-to-the-edge-236683>

"According to the infamous myth, groups of lemmings sometimes run off cliffs to
their collective doom. Imagine you are one of these rodents: on a sunny day you
join your companions in a joyous climb up a mountain beneath clear skies,

The great Australian water grab

Wed, 11 Sep 2024 03:53:04 +1000

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

<https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-08-19/northern-territory-water-cotton-mataranka-springs-four-corners/104187666>

"At the desert oasis of Bitter Springs, tourists float lazily through water so
clear it reflects the piercing blue sky.

Some New Zealand homes are becoming uninsurable because of natural disasters – but all may not be lost

Wed, 11 Sep 2024 03:51:31 +1000

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

<https://theconversation.com/some-new-zealand-homes-are-becoming-uninsurable-because-of-natural-disasters-but-all-may-not-be-lost-235771>

"After a series of natural disasters – from the Canterbury earthquakes to
Cyclone Gabrielle – real doubt hangs over the insurance options available to
some New Zealand homeowners.

Push to allow pets into Australian workplaces, as report shows human benefits to office companion animals

Wed, 11 Sep 2024 03:50:43 +1000

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

<https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-08-12/push-to-allow-pets-at-work-benefits-to-office-companion-animals/104159246>

'Henry James credits his rescue dog Billie for helping him build valuable
connections in the office.

Long COVID has cost the Australian economy billions in lost work hours, new research says

Wed, 11 Sep 2024 03:49:45 +1000

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

<https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-08-19/long-covid-billions-economic-loss-australia/104234434>

"Long COVID cost the Australian economy almost $10 billion in lost labour hours
in 2022, according to new research.

"Disenshittify or Die"

Tue, 10 Sep 2024 20:13:31 +1000

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

<https://pluralistic.net/2024/08/17/hack-the-planet/#how-about-a-nice-game-of-chess>

"What the fuck happened to the old, good internet?

I mean, sure, our bosses were a little surveillance-happy, and they were

Florida is building the world's largest environmental restoration project

Tue, 10 Sep 2024 20:11:32 +1000

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

<https://www.bbc.co.uk/future/article/20240815-floridas-everglades-reservoir-will-clean-the-states-water>

'In February 2023, a large digger broke ground on a multi-billion dollar
project that has been decades in the making: building a reservoir the size of
Manhattan Island.

What's in your Covid Emergency Kit?

Tue, 10 Sep 2024 20:10:09 +1000

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

https://www.patreon.com/posts/whats-in-your-110263473

"With a nonexistent covid response from leadership and healthcare systems,
we’ve been tossed into the churn to fend for ourselves. It’s a brutal time for
all of us. We’re on our own, scrabbling for accurate information, comparing

These zigzag walls help keep buildings cool during heat waves

Tue, 10 Sep 2024 20:09:22 +1000

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

<https://www.fastcompany.com/91173849/these-zigzag-walls-help-keep-buildings-cool-during-heat-waves>

"Extreme heat is probably costing you money: In one recent survey, seven out of
10 Americans said their electricity bills had gone up as heat waves get longer
and more intense. But better design can help buildings stay cooler without