Helping you to make sense of an uneasy week
While a horrified world watches events unfold in Ukraine, much action is taking place behind the scenes to exert concerted pressure in all the right places. It’s far from clear how things are going to play out. This uncertainty and state of war is likely to go on for some time to come. Scroll down for some articles that can help you make sense of what is happening in Europe and the world, as well as the dark scenes that unfolded outside Parliament in New Zealand on Wednesday. Another eventful week in other ways too, as the Omicron wave takes off in New Zealand. Scroll further down to some other links that offer you some respite and resources.
Thursday morning dog walk
Did you know there are dozens of different types of smiles, each distinct in both appearance and intended message? On #ShareASmileDay, learn more about the science of smiling: https://t.co/iL0XNzC2gE
Ukraine
Yuval Noah Harari argues that what’s at stake in Ukraine is the direction of human history
Concerned about the war Ukraine? You’re not alone. Humanity’s greatest political achievement has been the decline of war. That is now in jeopardy.
Yuval Noah Harari: The war in Ukraine could change everything
In case you’d prefer to watch something instead, Yuval Noah Harari provides important context on the Russian invasion, including Ukraine’s long history of resistance, the specter of nuclear war and his view of why, even if Putin wins all the military battles, he’s already lost the war.
Growing up near Heathrow Airport, I remember being 8 years old and wondering what I would feel in the gap between seeing a nuclear flash and being obliterated by the blast radius when it reached me. Having to work to soothe my 8-year-old self today
What Putin's Invasion Has Already Changed
When Russia invaded Ukraine, the West’s assumptions about the world became unsustainable.
There’s lots more below the paywall for subscribers and you’ll also get access to my 30,000 Days project too. Thanks to my paid subscribers who make all this possible.
Institute for the Study of War
In this 2019 report, Nataliya Bugayova breaks down the trajectory of Russian foreign policy after the fall of the USSR. She argues that the US mistakingly believed that a brief period of non-assertive foreign policy from the mid-1980s to mid-1990s was the new norm for Russia. This site also updates daily on what is going on in terms of military movements in Ukraine - use sparingly.
A lot of people try to make sense of the current crisis with maps, so why don't we talk a bit about why the approach of the majority of media in this regard is not the best. And why it might actually (inadvertently) represent the way Putin wants us to think. (Source: Guardian) 1/ https://t.co/uv6FsOXZ4v
6 Books to Read for Context on Ukraine
Recommended by the New York Times, we have The Gates of Europe, Conflict in Ukraine, Absolute Zero, Midnight in Chernobyl, Red Famine, and The Orphanage. Click for a synopsis of each book, and check your library to borrow for free.
We have a small window ...
The #IPCC released its latest #ClimateReport today, #ClimateChange 2022: Impacts, Adaptation & Vulnerability
“The scientific evidence is unequivocal: #climatechange is a threat to human wellbeing & the health of the planet,” – @poertner_hans
➡️ https://t.co/sz89t4EKHj
🎥 ⬇️ https://t.co/Ol0GCPFvu7
Wellington protest burns out
‘This is a moment’: New Zealand reckons with aftermath as smoke clears on violent protests
What happened, and how can we make sense of it?
Now the parliament protest is over, New Zealand must ask itself what lay behind it | Sarb Johal
Hot off the press, here’s a piece I wrote for The Guardian: “The vaccine mandates protests are both the symptom and the mask.”
Geopolitics in space
NASA official says U.S.-Russian partnership continues on space station
NASA said that joint activities on the International Space Station are continuing amid Russia’s attack on Ukraine, including preparations for the return of NASA astronaut Mark Vande Hei to Earth on a Russian Soyuz spacecraft March 30. If you’ve watched For All Mankind on Apple TV+ you’re going to find this fascinating …
Behaviour insights
Looking at old photos invariably lifts my mood - I have my photos app on my iPhone serving me up memories from my archive every day. But this act doesn’t just lift your mood: viewing nostalgic photographs can decrease activity in the brain’s pain centers.
Burning the midnight oil undermines intrinsic motivation.
New data: working nights and weekends isn't just exhausting. It also reminds you that you could be doing something better with your time.
Setting boundaries is key to protecting engagement and promoting quality work. https://t.co/SNHL1UQjMv
Stronger Muscles in 3 Seconds a Day
Men and women who briefly contracted their arm muscles as hard as possible once daily increased their biceps strength by up to 12 percent in a month. This adds to an growing evidence base you can make outsize gains taking even the smallest (intense) morsels of exercise. I made this free for you to read.
The Original Hybrid Workers Can Teach Us How to Do It Right
It’s amazing what lessons are already out there, if only we could learn from them. Over 50 years ago, they trialed “part-time telecommuting.” The pandemic-driven model has problems, but early adopters think they can be fixed. Read how.
Google's New Soli Radar Tech Can Read Your Body Language—Without Cameras
Google is using radar to help computers respond to your movements, like turning off a TV if it senses you’ve dozed off.
we need a shazam for people because i never remember who anyone is and it doesn’t help that everyone always remembers who i am because i’m an icon
What I'm listening to
Sherlock Holmes - The Adventure of the Speckled Band
Originally broadcast in 1945, this is something completely different and transports me to another world. Don’t do what I did though and listen to this at night, trying to fall asleep. It slightly spooked me out.
Vic Books For Breakfast - First review of Finding Calm
I was very nervous listening to this first review of my book. And I didn’t feel any better when I heard they really didn’t like my first sentence. But all ended well as they loved the rest of it, saying it was one you could come back to again and again in the years to come, “ … highly, highly recommended.” Get yourself a coffee and have a listen.
Wondering how does this species survive in the wild.. https://t.co/p64xFrh08b
That’s it from me this week. Don’t forget to share my newsletter if you’ve found it useful, and you can make a small donation here if you feel inclined - you can even subscribe to do that repeatedly if you’re feeling super generous. Thank you!
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The only constant is change. —Heraclitus
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