Engaged Reading Time - Issue #74
Sorry for missing the last few days. Sometimes self-care comes first.
Journalists: if you signed up here for journalism content, you’re in the wrong place. Try here instead.
This is three great reads a day - and none of them will be about Covid-19.
Francis Fukuyama Postpones the End of History
The guy who argued in the late 80s that history was over was wrong.
And he's even more wrong now, especially about why he was wrong then.
But the way in which he's wrong is really quite interesting. Despite being, y'know, wrong.
The Weirdly Enduring Appeal of Weird Al Yankovic
If you've never encountered the musical parodies of Weird Al, well, you've missed out. Lorna and I used to listen to his albums on long drives before we spawned.
This is a seriously long read, but interesting, moving and absorbing all at the same time. Part profile, part memoir - beautifully written.
Australia’s Secret Rescue of Ancient Trees Offers an Insight Into Evolution
Remember when epic bushfires in Australia seemed like the biggest threat? Good times!
Anyway, this story tells the tale of some trees that outlived the dinosaurs, why they were saved - and why they matter. Fascinating.