Dostoyevsky on Animal Rights and the Deepest Meaning of Human Love
“Love the earth and sun and the animals,” Walt Whitman wrote in his timeless advice on living a vibrant and rewarding life — advice anchored, like his poetry, in that all-enveloping totality of goodwill that makes life worth living, advice at the heart of which is the act of unselfing; poetry largely inspired by the prose of Emerson, who had written of the “secret sympathy which connects men to all the animals, and to all the inanimate world around him.”
A quarter century after Leaves of Grass, Fyodor Dostoyevsky (November 11, 1821–February 9, 1881) took up this bright urgency in his final novel, The Brothers Karamazov (public library | public domain) — one of the great moral masterworks in the history of literature.
Dostoyevsky — who felt deeply the throes of personal love — contours the largest meaning of love:
Continued here  S11Sliding Toward a New Cold War
Joe Biden’s national-security aides were recently at work on a secret mission—how to get the President safely in and out of Ukraine’s capital, ahead of the anniversary of Russia’s invasion—when they got word of a problem closer to home: a suspected Chinese spy balloon had been spotted in U.S. airspace. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who was preparing to board a flight to Beijing, called off his trip and, on February 4th, as the world watched, an F-22 shot down the balloon off the coast of South Carolina, where it sank, like a strange emblem of this precarious moment.
The United States shot down three more floating objects in the following days, then announced that there was no sign that any of them were connected to China. By that point, though, the machinery of confrontation was in full gear. In a radio interview, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, Democrat of New York, speculated that the balloon was “a test to see what the U.S. would do,” and ventured that China’s leader, Xi Jinping, is “bent on a world war.” Nikki Haley, a Republican contender for the Presidency in 2024, signalled her backing for something close to regime change, telling supporters that “Communist China will end up on the ash heap of history.” China cast the uproar as a sign of America’s decline. Its most senior diplomat, Wang Yi, described the balloon shoot-down as “borderline hysterical, and an utter misuse of military force.”
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� S27Data Science and the Art of Persuasion
Despite heavy investments to acquire talented data scientists and take advantage of the analytics boom, many companies have been disappointed in the results. The problem is that those scientists are trained to ask smart questions, wrangle the relevant data, and uncover insights—but not to communicate what those insights mean for the business. To be successful, the author writes, a data science team needs six talents: project management, data wrangling, data analysis, subject expertise, design, and storytelling. He outlines four steps for achieving that success: (1) Define talents, not team members. (2) Hire to create a portfolio of necessary talents. (3) Expose team members to talents they don’t have. (4) Structure projects around talents.
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S12'Suzume' Review: 'Your Name' Director Makoto Shinkai's Most Daring, and Caring, Movie Yet
Makoto Shinkai is the master of melancholic anime, a man whose huge box office successes have drawn descriptions (like many before him) of being the next Miyazaki. Like the Ghibli master, Shinkai has made a career out of telling stories that blend the ordinary with the extraordinary. His films mourn Japan's past while preparing for an increasingly bleaker future.
After Your Name and Weathering With You both used natural disasters as backdrops to stories of young cosmic love, Shinkai is ready to get at the source of his most prominent inspiration for the past eight years. His latest, Suzume, serves as a confrontation of the lingering trauma and grief caused by the Great East Japan Earthquake of 2011. The result is Shinkai's most ambitious, caring, and mature film since 5 Centimeters per Second.
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� S13The Wildest Sci-fi Movie On Netflix Reveals a Real-Life Ethical Dilemma
As Cassius Green climbs the corporate ladder, nothing can prepare him for what he’ll find at the top.
Green, the main protagonist in director Boots Riley’s satirical debut Sorry to Bother You, works as a telemarketer at the fictional company RegalView. But as time goes on, he finds himself rising through the ranks and being promoted to the prestigious role of “power caller.”
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S14Camel and Shark Blood Could Help Treat Elusive Human Diseases
A handful of animals make a pared-down version of these pathogen-fighting proteins of our immune system.
Every four months, pathologist Aaron LeBeau scoops into a net one of the five nurse sharks he keeps in his University of Wisconsin lab. Then he carefully administers a shot to the animal, much like a pediatrician giving a kid a vaccine. The shot will immunize the shark against human cancer, perhaps, or an infectious disease, such as Covid-19. A couple of weeks later, after the animal’s immune system has had time to react, LeBeau collects a small vial of shark blood.
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� S28How Effective Managers Use Information Systems
Advances in computer-based information technology in recent years have led to a wide variety of systems that managers are now using to make and implement decisions. By and large, these systems have been developed from scratch for specific purposes and differ significantly from standard electronic data processing systems. Too often, unfortunately, managers have little say in the development of these decision support sysems; at the same time, non-managers who do develop them have a limited view of how they can be used. In spite of these drawbacks, the author found that a number of the 56 systems he studied are successful. And the difference between success and failure is the extent to which managers can use the system to increase their effectiveness within their organizations. Thus, the author suggests that this is the criterion designers and managers should jointly ascribe to in exploiting the capabilities of today’s technologies.
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S24'The Mandalorian' Season 3 is Defying a Terrible TV Trend
It’s become pretty unoriginal by now to say that TV has become the new movies. Big stars don’t just get their starts in television anymore, they return to the small screen for major roles. And plenty of new TV shows are actually just eight-hour-long films broken up into binge-able chapters. But does that mean individual episodes of television need to be as long as movies too?
Depending on who you ask, the answer might be yes. HBO’s The Last of Us debuted with an 85-minute-long pilot. And plenty of episodes of House of the Dragon pushed past the usual 60-minute runtime. But if you’re tired of this trend, then we’ve got some good news about The Mandalorian Season 3.
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� S4S16This Robotic Exoskeleton Could Give You Superhuman Balance
Robotic boots providing superhuman reflexes can help your balance. Our new study shows that the key to augmenting balance is to have boots that can act faster than human reaction times.
When people slip or trip, their reactions to regain balance are far slower than some machines can act. For humans, and other animals with legs, it takes time for biological sensors to send signals to the nervous system and then turn on muscles. Robots can act much faster, using wires instead of nerves to send their signals.
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S35S15You Need to Watch the Most Misunderstood Horror Reboot Before it Leaves Netflix This Week
Keeping a horror franchise alive for nearly 30 years is easier said than done. Even beloved franchises like Friday the 13th and Nightmare on Elm Street have struggled to maintain pop cultural relevance, while Halloween spent years on ice before it became popular again. Arguably, the only horror series to maintain both quality and relevancy throughout its long lifespan is the Scream franchise.
In the 27 years since it began, the beloved self-aware series has remained one of the most popular and consistent in the genre’s history. Its most recent installment, 2022’s Scream, proved that it could continue even after the death of Wes Craven, who directed the first four entries. Craven, for his part, ended his directorial career on a memorable note with Scream 4.
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S10Lori Lightfoot Makes Her Case to Chicago
Lori Lightfoot, the mayor of Chicago, was down in the polls and scrapping for votes. Three weeks before the election, with eight opponents aiming to deny her a second term, she stepped out of a black S.U.V. on North Leavitt Street, her security detail in the lead. There to greet her were two men beating Yoruba dùndún drums and smiling broadly. They led her in an ebullient procession up a narrow set of stairs to a party space in a converted red-brick factory, where nearly a hundred people cheered.
Lightfoot approached a microphone and spoke without notes, recounting her administration’s investments in the long-neglected heart of Black Chicago, stretching south and west from downtown. She is widely blamed for the city’s high crime and low morale, and is frequently assailed for what critics call her imperious tendencies. But she said that she would “never apologize for bringing wealth and opportunity to Black and brown families that had been locked out for far too long.” Without her, she warned, those communities would “slide back into thirty more years of not having a seat at the table.”
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S18Is Natural Wine Better For You?
Thus far, humans haven’t succeeded in finding a healthy spin on imbibing. Sadly, any health benefits of red wine are outweighed by the negative effects of alcohol on the human body. Some lagers may nourish the gut microbiome — except alcohol pummels those same microbes.
Yet another libation holds an iffy status as quasi-healthy booze: Natural wine, perhaps for its name alone, may well be the kale of alcoholic beverages. Humans have concocted natural wine for at least 6,000 years, eventually distilling the process into commercial winemaking. Naturally, if you will, the question of whether one method is superior arises.
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S5S1930 Years Ago, Nintendo Launched a Brilliant Franchise -- And Also Its Most Troubled
Nintendo is defined by its franchises. The company has produced an array of classic series like Super Mario, Mario Kart, The Legend of Zelda, Kirby, and Pokémon, as well as newer ones like Super Smash Bros., Animal Crossing and Splatoon. We associate these games with a level of excellence (and a bit of reverence) not found on other platforms. When Star Fox dropped on the SNES 30 years ago, gamers didn’t think about legacies or decades-long franchises. They wanted something cool and fun. And on those metrics Star Fox delivered.
It boasted a “Super FX” chip on the box which, for its time, absolutely was super. It allowed true rendering of 3D objects on the console for the first time. Previous titles like Pilotwings and F-Zero had a 3D feel that came from painstakingly animated pixels. Star Fox was different, and everyone who played it knew it was a look at the future of video games.
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S2250 Cheap Things Selling Out On Amazon That Are So Freaking Weird & Cool
If you’re looking to add some items to your space that are useful, unexpected, or just freaking cool, look no further. Whether you’re hoping to grab some kitchen tools that solve ultra-specific problems, snag ingenious products to get more organized, or get your hands on clever tech accessories, there’s something here for you below.
Better yet, all of these products are affordable, with many priced below $20. So go ahead and click “Add to Cart” before they sell out.
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S9The Life and Death of a Ukrainian Photographer
Maksym Levin, a Ukrainian photojournalist in his early forties, woke just before nine at a military base outside Kyiv. It was Sunday, March 13, 2022, the eighteenth day of war. The morning was overcast, and a light snow coated the ground. Russian troops had advanced within fifteen miles of the capital. Levin checked his phone. His girlfriend, Zoriana Stelmakh, had texted an hour and a half earlier: “Good morning, kitten.”
Stelmakh had made Levin promise to check in every three hours whenever he was on assignment. Using an app on her phone and a tracking device installed in Levin’s Ford Maverick, she monitored his coördinates in real time.
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S17New Lord of the Rings Movies Are Coming -- But Is That a Good Idea?
Warner Bros. and Embracer have reportedly kept Peter Jackson "in the loop every step of the way."
Well, this certainly is an unexpected journey for the Lord of the Rings franchise: Warner Bros. Pictures, along with Swedish video game company Embracer Group, will be bringing the intricate and richly detailed fantasy world of J.R.R. Tolkien back to the big screen.
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S29How to nap | Psyche Guides
Whether it’s to recover after a late night or to boost your learning abilities, there’s a science to napping effectively
is a post-doctoral fellow in the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine at the National University of Singapore. Her work focuses on how napping can be tailored to benefit cognition and wellbeing for different age groups.
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S3S33How to Answer "Tell Me About a Time You Failed" in a Job Interview
While no one expects job candidates to have perfect records, you also don’t want to give prospective employers reasons for doubt. So how should you answer this common behaviorial interview question?: “Tell me about a time you failed.” In this piece, the author outlines eight tips and offers advice on what to say (and what to avoid). If you respond to the question in a way that highlights your resilience and commitment to learning and progress, your interviewer will likely remember how you prevailed, not how you failed.
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S7Niger is Africa's fastest growing country - how to feed 25 million more people in 30 years
Niger, a landlocked country in the dry Sahel region of Africa, struggles to feed its 25 million people. It currently ranks 115th out of 121 countries on the Global Hunger Index, and the number of people not getting enough to eat has increased from about 13% of the population in 2014 to 20% in 2022.
Things could deteriorate even further as Niger confronts a “perfect storm”. The country has one of the highest population growth rates in the world, with few signs of slowing down. Its fertility rate – at an average of seven children per women – is the highest in the world.
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S23'The Last of Us' Episode 7 Goes Somewhere the Original Game Never Did
The next stop for The Last of Us’ central duo should be Salt Lake City. However, plans have suddenly derailed for Joel and Ellie. Along with watching how the major obstacles of the present unfold, fans will be treated to more flashbacks in Episode 7 of The Last of Us.
Following the dramatic ending of Episode 6, Ellie finds herself with more responsibility than perhaps she’s ready for. But first: how did she get here? Joel’s backstory has been on full display since the first episode of The Last of Us. Now, it’s time to spotlight the mysteries of Ellie’s background, including her days in the FEDRA academy, the events that led to her discovered immunity, and her relationship with Riley, a character fans of the video game will instantly recognize from the Left Behind expansion.
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S8Ghana needs more astronomers, astrophysicists, aerospace engineers and astronauts -- how to develop them
Research in this field offers a way to study Earth’s environment, atmosphere and climate through remote sensing and Earth observations such as satellite data. And it’s an opportunity to explore other planets for alternative natural and energy resources.
Some African countries, like South Africa, Morocco and Senegal, have already established themselves as major players in planetary and space science. There have beensome pan-African attempts to develop and promote planetary and space science.
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S32How I Became a Morning Workout Person
In theory, I’ve always been a “morning workout” person: I’ve listened to inspiring TED Talks on the benefits of exercise, read articles about why moving before work is better for your brain, and spent countless evenings with my eyes glued to morning workout routine YouTube videos, vowing to go running as the sun comes up just like the vloggers.
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S30Pricing and the Psychology of Consumption
For example, suppose that Mary and Bill join a health club. Bill pays $600 on enrolling; Mary selects the $50-per-month plan. Who’s more likely to renew their membership? Mary. Every month, she’s reminded of the cost—so she works out more, to get her money’s worth. And members who frequently work out tend to renew.
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S31How Snapple Got Its Juice Back
Even now, mere mention of Quaker Oats’ acquisition of Snapple causes veteran deal makers to shudder. For good reason. In 1993, Quaker paid $1.7 billion for the Snapple brand, outbidding Coca-Cola, among other interested parties. In 1997, Quaker sold Snapple to Triarc Beverages for $300 million, a price most observers found generous. The debacle cost both the chairman and president of Quaker their jobs and hastened the end of Quaker’s independent existence (it’s now a unit of PepsiCo).
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S345 Signs that a Layoff Is Coming
The unfortunate truth is that layoffs may not be slowing down given the uncertain economy. If you’re new to the workforce, the thought of losing your job with little or no warning likely feels incredibly scary, especially if you’re experiencing an economic downturn for the first time in your life. Here are five signs to look out for:
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