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August’s Supermoon Kicks Off Four Months of Lunar Spectacles (Maria)
The author writes, “The first of four supermoons this year rises [this] week, providing tantalizing views of Earth’s constant companion. Stargazers can catch the first act Monday as the full moon inches a little closer than usual, making it appear slightly bigger and brighter in the night sky. … August’s supermoon kicks off a string of lunar spectacles. September’s supermoon will coincide with a partial lunar eclipse. October’s will be the year’s closest approach, and November’s will round out the year.”
Palm Beach To Review Legal Options, Including Closing Club, Over Mar-a-Lago Road Shutdown (Sean)
From The Palm Beach Post: “What, if any, legal options does Palm Beach have to deal with the indefinite closure of a busy road near former President Donald Trump’s prominent property — and could one option include closing his Mar-a-Lago Club? The Palm Beach Council on Tuesday, Aug. 13, directed town staff to research what might be able to be done about the July 20 shutdown of South Ocean Boulevard between the Southern Boulevard traffic circle and South County Road to protect Mar-a-Lago and Trump in the wake of the July 13 attempted assassination of the Republican nominee for president.”
JD Vance Is No Pauper — He’s a Classic Example of ‘Poornography,’ in Which the Rich Try To Speak on Behalf of the Poor (Gerry)
From The Conversation: “JD Vance has climbed to his current position as former President Donald Trump’s running mate, in part, by selling himself as a hillbilly, calling on his Appalachian background to bolster his credentials to speak for the American working class. ‘I grew up as a poor kid,’ Vance said on Fox News in August 2024. ‘I think that’s a story that a lot of normal Americans can empathize with.’ … But there’s a bit of a shell game going on when it comes to Vance’s poverty credentials.”
The Outrageous Case of a Journalist Charged With a Hate Crime for Recording a Gaza Protest Action (Laura)
The author writes, “In an egregious violation of press freedoms and First Amendment-protected activity, a New York City video journalist was arrested on felony hate crime charges [this month] for allegedly being present during and documenting a pro-Palestine protest action. According to the charges, Sam Seligson, a credentialed independent videographer, filmed a small group of people last June graffitiing the homes of the Brooklyn Museum’s director, president, and two other museum officials with pro-Palestine, anti-Zionist slogans.”
One Case of Mpox Clade I Reported in Sweden (Mili)
From the Public Health Agency of Sweden: “A person who sought care at Region Stockholm has been diagnosed with mpox caused by the clade I variant. It is the first case caused by clade I to be diagnosed outside the African continent.”
Seven Foods With Surprising Health Benefits (Russ)
The author writes, “When it comes to healthy eating, you have the basics down. You fill your grocery cart with whole-wheat bread, chicken breasts, fresh veggies and berries. While these are all nutritious staples, you may be missing out on other good-for-you foods. Why? Even savvy consumers can hold on to outdated diet ideas, says Natalie B. Allen, a registered dietitian and clinical associate professor at Missouri State University in Springfield. Or you may not be familiar with certain foods, such as kimchi or sourdough bread. Want to shake up your usual rotation? Experts say consider adding the following foods to your meals and snacks.”
A Nazi Villa So Tainted Berlin Can’t Give It Away (Dana)
The author writes, “The former estate of Joseph Goebbels, the Nazi propaganda minister, is too expensive to keep and perilous to sell. No one knows quite what to do with it.”
