The Queens(land) gambit: a brief history of chess in Australia
The new Netflix miniseries The Queen’s Gambit has received rave reviews around the world. Surprisingly for a chess-themed show, it received a warm reception by the global chess community, which is usually highly critical of portrayals of tournament chess in…
Canada’s new climate plan: Q&A about Bill C-12
On Nov. 19, Environment Minister Jonathan Wilkinson unveiled what was billed as a “Net-Zero Emissions Plan.” What we got is most emphatically not a plan, but it is a piece of legislation that demands Canada set targets and develop plans…
Drones, detection dogs, poo spotting: what’s the best way to conduct Australia’s Great Koala Count?
Federal environment minister Sussan Ley this week announced A$2 million for a national audit of Australia’s koalas, as part of an A$18 million package to protect the vulnerable species. The funding might seem like a lot – and, truth be…
57 años después del asesinato de Kennedy, las pistas en México se agotan
La mayoría de las teorías de conspiración que rodean el asesinato del expresidente estadounidense John F. Kennedy han sido refutadas. Kennedy no fue asesinado por un dispositivo de gas activado por extraterrestres o por el padre del actor Woody Harrelson.…
In China, nearly 1 million people have reportedly already gotten a coronavirus vaccine
While countries around the world anxiously await the arrival of a vaccine for the coronavirus, a growing slice of the Chinese population has reportedly already been vaccinated. In an interview last week with the Sichuan Daily, the chair of the…
Dissecting the megapopularity of the Frozen movies with a 5.25-year-old
Seven years ago, on November 22, 2013, a lone voice, crying in the wilderness, issued a proclamation that would enthrall a planet’s children with its honeyed tongue. “Let it go,” urged the voice. “Let it go! Can’t hold it back…
College basketball is back
A new season of college basketball begins Wednesday, and the goal is clear: March Madness must be played. Why it matters: On March 12, 2020, the lights went out on college basketball, depriving teams like Baylor (who won our tournament…
Heartwarming Photos of 90s Raver Couples, Then and Now
When you’re gyrating through the vivid kaleidoscope of an acid house rave, finding your future life partner is likely the last thing on your mind. Sure, “love is the drug”, but also, drugs are the drug, meaning that late-night smoking…
CFTC’s New Rules Cause Coinbase to Stop Offering Crypto Margin Trading
Cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase is disabling its margin trading product in order to comply with the new rules set by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). CFTC’s Rules Affecting Margin Trading Offerings Coinbase’s chief legal officer, Paul Grewal, explained in a…
Steve Jobs Believed 1 Career Choice Separates the Doers from the Dreamers (and Leads to Success)
Business magnate, investor, and tech pioneer Steve Jobs passed away in 2011, age 56. He made a big impact in his lifetime, and his legacy lives on. Jobs is remembered not only for the continued advances in the fields of tech…
ARIA Awards: Sampa The Great Delivers Epic Takedown Of Racism In The Music Industry
Channel 9Sampa the Great performs at the ARIAs on Wednesday night. Sampa the Great called out systemic racism in the music industry on Wednesday night during her ARIA Awards performance filmed in Botswana. The Melbourne-based artist, who was born in…
Officials’ engagement with China especially important in tense times: Morrison
Scott Morrison has encouraged federal public servants to engage with their Chinese counterparts, saying these are important connections particularly given the tensions in the bilateral relationship. Answering a question during a virtual forum on Wednesday with federal bureaucrats, Morrison said…
Great Holiday Gifts, 2020 Edition
For the past three years I’ve posted holiday gift ideas and the response has been very positive. It seems we all have those hard-to-buy-for people and a few extra suggestions are always welcome. So I once again went into my…
Five Reasons You Should Delete Telegram from Your Phone
This article originally appeared on VICE Germany. Telegram is a Dubai-based messaging app with a rebellious image and 400 million users. The app’s founder, Pavel Durov, once seen as the Russian Mark Zuckerberg, fled his native country in 2014 after…
