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.
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Bloom or Bust? Superbloom Spectacle Eludes California After Dry Winter (Maria)
The author writes, “It’s one of the best known rites of spring in California: extraordinary displays known as ‘superblooms’ that coat the hillsides in an abundance of color. Some years the blooms are massive enough to draw tourists from around the world to revel in the fields, such as in 2023 when more than 100,000 people showed up on a weekend to gawk at the poppies in Lake Elsinore, a small city about an hour outside Los Angeles. But this year, not so much. Thanks to a brutally dry winter, the hills around the usual southern California superbloom hotspots have been conspicuously bare. … [Predicting] when the flowers are going to be the best is also becoming murkier with the climate crisis.”
Fighting Back: A Citizen’s Guide to Resistance (Dana)
From The New Republic: “How can ordinary citizens fight back? To scout the best approaches, I canvassed activists, lawyers, scholars, politicians, and union leaders for advice. Some of what they suggest will lie beyond your abilities, expertise, financial resources, or sense of personal safety — in which case, choose something you can do. Just about everyone I spoke to emphasized that there is no silver bullet — no single arena, not even the courtroom, where Trump’s illegal power grab can be stopped. ‘There’s no messiah’ who will ‘sweep in and make everything better,’ said Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers. That’s up to you and me. The good news is there are a lot of us.”
Chinese Military Surrounds Taiwan in Latest Military Drills (Sean)
The author writes, “China sent its army, navy, air and rocket forces to surround Taiwan for drills Beijing said were aimed at practicing a blockade of the self-ruled island. China insists democratic Taiwan is part of its territory and has threatened to use force to bring it under its control. Beijing has increased the deployment of fighter jets and naval vessels around Taiwan in recent years to press its claim of sovereignty, which Taipei rejects.”
When the Physicists Need Burner Phones, That’s When You Know America’s Changed (DonkeyHotey)
From The Guardian: “At international academic conferences recently, one sees an interesting trend. Some American participants are travelling with ‘burner’ phones or have minimalist laptops running browsers and not much else. In other words, they are equipped with the same kind of kit that security-conscious people used to bring 15 years ago when travelling to China. So what’s up? Well, these academics have a finger on the pulse of Trump’s America, and are concerned about what might happen when they return home. They’ve read on Robert Reich’s Substack about the French scientist who was prevented from entering the country because US Border Patrol agents had found messages from him in which he had expressed his “personal opinion” to colleagues and friends about Trump’s science policies.”
Vivian Jenna Wilson on Being Elon Musk’s Estranged Daughter, Protecting Trans Youth, and Taking on the Right Online (Laura)
From Teen Vogue: “In many ways, Vivian Jenna Wilson is a lot like any other 20-year-old girl. The Los Angeles native spends hours a day on Discord with her friends; loves reading, RuPaul’s Drag Race, and Chappell Roan; and she runs late — two full hours late, to be specific, for our scheduled Zoom meeting. Also like many 20-year-olds, she has a complicated relationship with her father. But not everybody’s dad is the richest man in the world — a man who spent the last few years consolidating power, becoming one of the most prolific posters on a social media platform he purchased, and suddenly, one of the most powerful figures in the US government. Wilson is, whether she likes it or not, the daughter of Elon Musk.”
This Muggy City Keeps Cool With Minimal AC. Here’s How (Gerry)
The author writes, “[Aun] Abdullah’s company developed the layout of Palava City, a 5,000-acre experimental community northeast of Mumbai, to take advantage of India’s westerly winds. The breezes keep people cool outdoors so they can walk or bike instead of hopping into polluting cars and buses. The homes don’t need as much air conditioning. One study found that the development’s maximum temperature is consistently 2 to 3 degrees Celsius (3.6 to 5.4 degrees Fahrenheit) cooler than in nearby cities, including Mumbai. The community, which began construction in 2008 and is being developed in phases, aims to not only slash its planet-warming emissions to zero but also to provide a road map for communities facing the pressures of more extreme weather.”
The Defiance of Coyotes (Bethany)
The author writes, “It’s easy and safe to admire wolves, or polar bears, or any other species we’ve nearly wiped out. These animals might be a threat to us one-on-one, but the fact remains: they’re only here because we decided to allow it. Their existence serves as a pleasurable reminder of both our power and our mercy. Coyotes, on the other hand, do not require our permission to exist. They stand as a permanent reminder that our power is not infinite, that there are things beyond our control.”
