The Art of the Fail
| PNUT GALLERY |
Twitter may be the online playground for presidents and trolls but it can now also give hope to young men who might want to date Sports Illustrated swimsuit models. Tennis player Eugenie Bouchard lost a random Twitter bet when the Patriots won the Super Bowl and honored it by taking the lucky winner to an NBA basketball game. #luckydate |
| IN A NUTSHELL: MUST READ |
Speed Dating and Sauerkraut?: The G20 Kicks Off in Germany: On Thursday, the foreign ministers of G20 member countries kicked off the annual summit meetings in Bonn, Germany. For two days, the 20 ministers will be scrambling to engage their global counterparts on wide-ranging issues from free trade to terrorism to climate change. US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson was highly sought after on Thursday and held meetings with the United Arab Emirates, Great Britain, Saudi Arabia, and Russia. It is not just the election of Donald Trump that has rendered G20 leaders anxiety-ridden. Global unrest and insecurity have been have on the rise for a long time, and nationalist and protectionist movements around the world are calling into question long-held beliefs. The 2 days of meetings will nonetheless be laser-focused on US foreign policy, as for many governments it is the first chance to interface directly with the new American administration. A Disruptive Style Leaves National Security Matters in Limbo: President Trump’s search for Michael Flynn’s replacement as National Security Adviser may be teaching Trump that “You’re fired!” is now not nearly as much fun to say. Trump was hoping to hire Robert Harward, a retired vice admiral and former Navy SEAL, for the job. But Harward waved off the administration’s entreaties, citing family and financial issues. While Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis travels to Asia and Europe to reassure America’s traditional allies, the country’s national security and intelligence apparatus is in disarray as many critical leadership positions are unfilled. This is compounded by a president inexperienced in national security matters who gave Steve Bannon, a political appointee, a position on the National Security Council. A Dirty Fight at EPA: The National Security Adviser isn’t the only position keeping Trump awake at night. Scientists, environmental lawyers, and experts at the EPA have been calling their senators to try to persuade them to not support Scott Pruitt, Trump’s nominee for head of the EPA. These EPA employees find Pruitt anathema given his longstanding history of criticizing the EPA. Pruitt has enough votes to be confirmed but faces an open rebellion at the EPA if he succeeds in getting the job. |
| NUTS AND BOLTS: SHOULD READ |
CEO Mark Zuckerberg of “theWorld.com” Writes to the Facebook Hoi Polloi: Zuckerberg, the unelected but undisputed corporate chieftain of the world’s largest online community of 1.86 billion users, wants Facebook users to feel safer, more informed, and more civically-engaged. Here’s what people think Zuckerberg should have addressed but didn’t. If companies use Facebook like Uber then Zuckerberg’s goal will not be achieved. Trump’s Stunningly Sensible Decision: After Trump’s initial choice for labor secretary withdrew his nomination, Trump selected Alexander Acosta, a law school dean, former assistant attorney general, and potentially the first Hispanic in his cabinet. A professor at Acosta’s school remarked that he “was actually stunned that Donald Trump would make such a sensible choice.” |
| KEEPING OUR EYE ON |
An Imperfect Storm in India: Deaths from air pollution have dramatically increased in India, as it now surpasses China in the number of premature deaths caused by particulate matter. The increase in air pollution is attributed to the country’s rapid industrialization, population growth, and an aging populace that is more susceptible to the effects of air pollution. Meanwhile, China’s decrease in deaths from air pollution is the result of government intervention on emissions levels. India, however, has yet to enact substantial public policy aimed at reducing pollution. This, coupled with weak environmental regulations and a court system unable to enforce the laws that do exist, means that for now this unfortunate trend continues. |
| LOOSE NUTS |
China’s Dating Shows Are Not Like The Bachelor: China’s newest dating show, simply called “Chinese Dating,” calls in the contestants’ parents to approve or disapprove of potential suitors. Modern-day marriage arrangement? Sort of. A group of eligible men and women are faced with 5 sets of parents, whose treasured offspring are backstage and watching the show on monitors. Only the contestants approved by the parents get to meet their children. (Sounds like the Montagues and Capulets.) Zhang Tianshu, a 25-year-old woman who appeared on the show in January, got good results. All her previous boyfriends were disliked by her parents, causing conflict in the family. Zhang said the man from the show was the first time she dated someone both she and her mother like. Thinking this sounds ridiculous, outdated, anti-feminist, and anti-love? You’re right. But there are many men and women around the world, from all different countries and cultures, who might relate. More Thoughtful Content to Consume
Public Service Announcement Roughly 800,000 children are reported missing each year in the United States, or roughly 2,000 per day. Contact The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678) if you think you have seen a missing child. —- |
