*The ferocious heatwave that is gripping much of the US south and west has highlighted an uncomfortable, ominous trend — people are continuing to flock to the cities that risk becoming unlivable due to the climate crisis.*

Egypt still repressively prohibits street photography, even by tourists.

The project to build a giant telescope with a 30-meter mirror on Mauna Kea is advancing but has been delayed for a new environmental impact study.

Indigenous Hawai'ians demand that we stop the project, but they cite only their emotions as reasons why, with no rational basis. They demand we obey their feelings, but there is no reason we should.

People who appreciate science look forward to advancing our knowledge of the history of the universe. The desire to understand the world is also emotional, but there is a clear and rational aspect to it as well.

I hope to live long enough to appreciate some of the discoveries that this telescope will give us.

*"The climate crisis will continue to escalate and get worse as long as we stick our heads in the sand and prioritize profit and greed over people and planet," said … Greta Thunberg.*

The OLIGARCH act would establish a graduated tax on wealth.

I think it is a good idea, except for its use of median household wealth as a measuring unit. What if further impoverishment reduces the median household wealth in the US to a negative number?