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In this column, professional speechwriter Chandler Dean provides partly satirical, partly genuine “How To” advice focused on a hyper-specific subcategory of speeches—from graduation speeches to wedding toasts to eulogies, and all the rhetorical occasions in between.

So it’s happy hour, and your beloved colleague is taking their leave after many years of service to the company. You’ve been tasked with capturing exactly what they mean to you, your team, and anyone who doesn’t really know them that well but showed up because the bill is coming out of your department’s discretionary budget.

So remember the fundamental tenets of the collegial farewell toast:

A republic imperiled Elie Mystal captured the tenor of our times in a single Formerly Twitter post Monday afternoon: On the first ruling, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit on Tuesday thankfully and logically ruled unanimously that former U.S. presidents, Donald “91 Counts” Trump specifically, are not immune from criminal prosecution. “SAVE PRESIDENTIAL IMMUNITY!” the would-be potentate declared immediately on his social network. You first have to have it to save it, Donald. Yes, Trump will appeal to “his” justices on the U.S. Supreme Court, and must by Monday, the Appeals Court ruled. Dahlia Lithwick and Mark Joseph Stern write at Slate: The justices must now decide whether to halt the new ruling—an act that seems likely to push Trump’s criminal trial past the 2024 election—or allow proceedings at the trial court to move forward at a pace that might affect the election’s outcome. In theory, this call is purely procedural; in reality, due to the compressed timeline here, it may well determine Trump’s fate.

It takes some deep work to make me anti-immigration. I figure people should have the ability to change countries: my mother did and so did all my ancestors, often multiple times.

But Canada’s managed it, and if I lived in Australia or Britain I’d feel the same way.

Let’s start with Canada

A dynamic coalition of Jewish scholars, historians, human rights lawyers, and writers has joined together to establish the Jewish Council of Australia. In response to the pressing need for an independent expert body to address antisemitism and racism in Australia, a dynamic coalition of Jewish scholars, historians, human rights lawyers, and writers has joined together Continue reading »

As Sinn Féin’s Vice President becomes First Minister, Northern Ireland is closer to a border poll vote than ever before, argues Emma DeSouza

This is not how I pictured your offices. I always imagine you guys sitting around a big wooden table having tea, and there’s a lake outside. That doesn’t matter. What matters is: I have a show you’re going to love. Antiques Roadhow, but with a twist.

I’m the host. We open on a black screen. We hear nothing. Suddenly, in voiceover, I say: “We are all alone. We are tired of feeling like islands or hunted animals. Come along as we unlock something bigger together.”

Picture’s up, and I’m seated behind a portable table skirted with linen. I’m wearing a black T-shirt that says: SOONER OR LATER, THERE’S A DESOLATE MOMENT OF TRYING TO REDISCOVER WHO WE ARE. LIVE CONSTANTLY IN THAT MOMENT.

These two get it! [Point to any two executives who appear to have the power to green-light a pilot.]

Levelling Up secretary Michael Gove now sets the overarching "strategy and policy" of the previously independent Electoral Commission.

When you were a kid, what was a meal you always looked forward to?

The post Boys! Ragu! appeared first on Zeldman on Web and Interaction Design.

Emilio Ambasz’s pioneering designs begin with a recognition that nature is human-made, paving the way for sustainable shelter

- by Aeon Video

Watch at Aeon

Examining the colonialist roots of U.S. and European support for Israel’s scorched-earth siege.

The post Joe Biden Leads a Western “Coalition of the Killing” in Backing Israel’s Gaza War appeared first on The Intercept.

The initial shock might be over. But you need time and space to ‘ride the wave’ of grief if you are to find a sense of peace

- by Sue Morris

Read at Psyche

Since October 7, Israel has systematically flooded the public discourse on Gaza with a stream of false, unsubstantiated, and unverifiable allegations.

The post Israel’s Ruthless Propaganda Campaign to Dehumanize Palestinians appeared first on The Intercept.

On 29 November, Rula, a widow and mother living in Jenin refugee camp, heard loud sounds and shooting outside of her home. As the sounds grew louder, Rula soon learned that the Israeli army was invading her area of the camp, and was gripped by fear. ‘We couldn’t leave to go anywhere, because we could […]

Black, Hispanic, and high school grad families have seen wealth gains starting in 2016 and continuing through 2022, but wide gaps with higher wealth groups remain.

Whistleblowers and regulators say Boeing’s self-inspection program helped lead to safety problems, including a recent catastrophic door plug malfunction.

Daniel Norris, Elio Cucullo and Vasilis Jacovides When borrowers enter a fixed-rate mortgage, lenders test whether they could continue to afford their mortgage if interest rates were to increase by the time it comes to re-fix. This ‘stressing’ is designed to create additional resilience for borrowers and the financial system. Over the last two years, … Continue reading Mortgage affordability for borrowers who re-fixed in 2023 →