Interesting Links for 30-05-2026

[andrewducker]

1. Clinicians raise concerns over gender-affirming healthcare evidence reviews in open letter to NHS England

(tags:UK bigotry healthcare LGBT transgender )

2. There are dozens of trees planted across America whose seeds went to the moon

(tags:moon nature trees viaDanielDWilliam )

3. Please Use AI

(tags:ai life poetry )

4. Opposing the EHRC guidance - UNISON needs your voice

(tags:unions LGBT transgender UK )

5. Oscar-winning 'Star Wars' editor Marcia Lucas dies at 80

(tags:StarWars obituary )

6. High Density Living, 2000 Years Ago: Inside the Roman Apartment Building

(tags:history housing rome )

Comments

[cmcmck]

6. We visited Ostia Antica which was ancient Rome's port and still has insulae buildings up the third and fourth floor level.

[andrewducker]

Very cool! Thank you for sharing.

#6

[mellowtigger]

Clearly, I still don't disparage capitalism enough. It always has new lows to exploit. Proverb: The more things change, the more they stay the same. :/

The insulae became a lucrative business. Marcus Licinius Crassus, a Roman general and notorious real estate mogul, exploited the city’s frequent fires and building collapses. According to the first-century biographer Plutarch: “He proceeded to buy slaves who were architects and builders,” snapped up fire-damaged buildings from panicked owners at “a trifling price,” and then used his slaves to rebuild them and profit. “In this way the largest part of Rome came into his possession,” Plutarch noted. Crassus was allegedly the wealthiest man in Rome.

Re: #6

[sigmonster]

There are some differences over time. I would be surprised if the wealthiest man in the USA died in combat fighting Iranian forces.

Re: #6

[bens_dad]

“He proceeded to buy slaves who were architects and builders,”

We don't have slave architects, but a generation or two ago professionals were almost always partners in their businesses. There are more and more doctors, dentists and pharmacists employed by chains. We could be heading back that way...