Apr 22
Fracking Exec Admits To Targeting The Poor, Trump’s ‘Kill’ Shots, Climate Change is Bleaching Coral Reefs, and More Picks
PICKS are stories from many sources, selected by our editors or recommended by our readers because they are important, surprising, troubling, enlightening, inspiring, or amusing. They appear on our site and in our daily newsletter. Please send suggested articles, videos, podcasts, etc. to picks@whowhatwhy.org.
Krugman & Co. Faulty Reasoning on Globalism, Sanders, Et Al (Russ)
New York Times columnist Paul Krugman has hammered Sanders as unrealistic on foreign trade agreements, and may have helped Hillary Clinton in her NY primary victory. But is he right? This economist says no.
Major Pension Fund Threatens Cuts; Situation ‘a National Crisis’ (Jeff C.)
Pension cuts are possible under legislation passed by Congress in 2014 that allowed financially distressed multi-employer plans to reduce benefits for retirees if it would improve the solvency of the fund. The Central States Pension Fund, which handles the retirement benefits for Teamster union truck drivers, was the first plan to apply for reductions under the new law.
Fracking Exec Admits Industry Targets Poor (Russ)
They can’t fight off the destructive activity like rich people can, with their unlimited legal resources.
Are We Powerless Against Trump’s “Linguistic Kill Shots?” (Trevin)
Although filmed in October 2015, this video interview of Scott Adams, author, blogger, and creator of the comic strip Dilbert, is more compelling now that Trump is much closer to the GOP nomination. Adams makes a convincing argument that Trump’s “way with words” is more than just “random insults and ignorant bluster,” but that he is such a highly-skilled “Master Wizard” of hypnosis and persuasion “deep technique” that he will be unbeatable, even in the general election.
Climate Change Is Bleaching the World’s Coral Reefs (Klaus)
Some of the most beautiful underwater pictures have been taken in colorful reefs around the world. However, a changing climate may be bleaching these treasures of nature.
Blackest Material on Earth. So Black You Can’t Even See it (Milicent)
“Vantablack”. It’s made by Surrey NanoSystems of tightly packed carbon nanotubes — rods of carbon thinner than human hair. Light goes in – but never gets out again. Here’s a video showing just how black it is. Super black paint is used on the Hubble telescope to keep stray light from spoiling the pictures it takes. Will it be used on stealth airplanes? And how about slenderizing little black dresses?
