Barr’s Resignation Letter Perfectly Reflects His Entire Career ; Body Camera Video Shows Police Handcuff Innocent, Naked Woman During Wrong Raid ; and More Picks 12/16
Bill Barr’s Resignation Letter Perfectly Reflects His Entire Career (Dan)
From Esquire: “Twice, I have seen William Pelham Barr ascend to the office of Attorney General of the United States. That is two times too many for one lifetime. Twice now, as of Monday evening, I have seen William Pelham Barr leave the office of Attorney General of the United States. In many ways, that’s been worse. Not that it’s not good that he’s gone, it’s just that his leaving always seems to bring with it a carload of questionable decisions.”
‘You Have the Wrong Place’: Body Camera Video Shows Moments Police Handcuff Innocent, Naked Woman During Wrong Raid (Dana)
The author writes, “For the first time, police body camera video reveals what an innocent woman said happened to her nearly two years ago: police officers wrongly entered her home with guns drawn and handcuffed her naked as she watched in horror. Last year, Anjanette Young filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request for the video to show the public what happened to her that day. CBS 2 also filed a request for the video. But the Chicago Police Department denied the requests. Young recently obtained the footage after a court forced CPD to turn it over as part of her lawsuit against police.”
COVID-19 Creates Hardship and Heartache Along the Canadian Border (Reader Steve)
The author writes, “The short bridge over the St. Croix River from downtown Calais to Canada stood ghostly quiet on a dreary afternoon, looking more like an abandoned railroad trestle than the bustling international link it has been for decades. Lines of cars were nowhere to be found this recent day. Customs officials at either end, in Maine and New Brunswick, had little to do. And the eerily empty sidewalks of this small border city led past door after door of shuttered storefronts. Such is life in the age of COVID-19 at the US-Canada border, where tough entry restrictions on both sides have kept families apart, choked local commerce, and upended the social habits of people who live in different countries but call each other neighbors.”
Offshore Submarine Freshwater Discovery Raises Hopes for Islands Worldwide (Mili)
The author writes, “Twice as much freshwater is stored offshore of Hawai’i Island than was previously thought, according to a University of Hawai’i study with important implications for volcanic islands around the world. An extensive reservoir of freshwater within the submarine southern flank of the Hualālai aquifer has been mapped by UH researchers with the Hawai’i EPSCoR ‘Ike Wai project. The groundbreaking findings, published in Science Advances, reveal a novel way in which substantial volumes of freshwater are transported from onshore to offshore submarine aquifers along the coast of Hawai’i Island.”
This Prefab Tiny Home Is Designed to Be Nearly Indestructible (Sue)
From Dwell: “One of the newest prefab homes to hit the market pairs small-space living with a highly durable shell. Created by the Argentinian company Grandio, the Hüga House is wrapped with reinforced concrete panels and steel cage doors that easily open and close to protect each end. The home’s utilitarian exterior—which contrasts with its surprisingly bright interior—was specifically designed to withstand a variety of climates, from snowy Quebec to hurricane-prone Florida.”
Three Tech Companies Are Locked in a Bitter Battle to Capture Your Attention With the World’s Best Immersive Van Gogh Experience (Dana)
From Artnet News: “Call it a transcontinental battle of illuminated Van Goghs. Starting next year, audiences on both shores of the US, as well as in the heartland, will be able to immerse themselves in lush, Instagram-friendly environments created through high-resolution, glowing digital renditions of works by masters such as the famed Post-Impressionist, courtesy of no fewer than three different companies.”
