Interesting Links for 26-01-2026

[andrewducker]

1. United Nations Declares That the World Has Entered an Era of 'Global Water Bankruptcy'

(tags:water environment doom )

2. Why Minnesota Can't Do More to Stop ICE (Democratic lawmakers have few options that wouldn't trigger something like civil war.)

(tags:civilwar usa politics )

3. The Lego Pokémon Line Shows Toys Are Only for Rich Adults Now

(tags:lego pokemon toys business children )

4. LED lighting (350-650nm) undermines human visual performance unless supplemented by wider spectra (400-1500nm+) like daylight

(tags:light vision doom )

5. What the world can learn from Paris's cycling revolution

(tags:bicycles Paris transport cities environment )

6. Can South Cambridgeshire council get its work done in four days?

(tags:work working_hours )

Comments

6

[channelpenguin]

FFS. Almost all the measurements seem to indicate success of a 4 day week, but the public ignorance and hostile attitude is truly appalling. Depressing. Longer hours don't mean more work done, they just don't, but so many folk can't seem to get the concept. The individual stories of repair delaysattached to the article (though depressing) seemed to be too be pretty irrelevant to any assessment of 4 day week effects. Not great, but looks more like understaffing/funding in general - that will not be cured by overworking existing staff (especially if when you do, lots of them regularly quit).

3 ...

[davidcook]

That's a pretty odd take, looking at the Lego online store now I see over 150 sets under $AUD25 (errr, 10ish pounds? I've lost track of the exchange rate these days :) ). It's true though that there are more high-price sets than ever - sometimes just due to the sheer number of pieces, sometimes licensing costs (the "Star Wars" premium is real).
But I don't think kids are lacking in toys!
(and, you know, there are plenty of toys other than Lego around ... )

(disclaimer: AFOL, might be slightly biased :D )

Re: 3 ...

[andrewducker]

I agree there are still sets. But where are the Pokemon minifigs? They'd get snapped up super-fast. Seems ridiculous not to sell kid-related toys to kids! (As well as adults)

4.

[channelpenguin]

I work as much as possible from my "garden office" (table in my front garden) and make sure to get outside for at least half an hour every day no matter what, ideally lots more. I know it makes me feel better. You get IR even in the shade, by the way and IIRC it bounces off leaves n stuff to get you too. Early morning light in particular has been shown before to have positive effects on vision. I hadnt appreciated the metabolic connection, but its quite logical (given the known bad effects of eating outside of species-appropriate times).

It is practically impossible to even buy incandenscent bulbs these days - I inherited a few with this place, but have lost track of them. I have tended recently to get more powerful but more "daylight" coloured bulbs for my desk - wonder if I am on the wrong track there ... hmmm. Indoor cats would be affected too, right? If all their light was LED? Dogs (and dog owners) get out most days, at least.

Re: 4.

[andrewducker]

Yeah, right now I leave home and it's just about dawn, and I come home in the dark.

I would love it if LED lighting was better and had a wider spread of frequencies.

Re: 4.

[channelpenguin]

I always used to do my full lunchtime as outdoor walk when I had to be in an office

Re: 4.

[andrewducker]

I do that when I'm at home. When I'm in the office I take the opportunity to play board games.