A distinct vibe shift when it comes to China

“With its awe-inspiring skylines and abundant high-speed trains, the country serves as a symbol of the earnest and urgent desire among many Americans for something completely different from their own realities."

Pretty In Pink by The Psychedelic Furs

The Orchestra Of Mirrored Reflections - Walking Black Hole

The Orchestra of Mirrored Reflections' album 'Surfin’ Kali Yuga' serves as a survival guide for the spiritual ice age, using saxophone to convey sorrow and Zen philosophy, offering a chronicle of learning to surf the collapse with grace.

Why Modern Chinese is Just ‘English with Hanzi’ - by JingYu

This article explores the phenomenon of Europeanization in modern Chinese, where Western syntactic and rhetorical patterns have been adopted, making Modern Chinese resemble English written in Hanzi. The transformation began with 19th-century missionaries and continued with Japan's Meiji Restoration, which introduced Western concepts into Chinese vocabulary. The May Fourth Movement further pushed for a rewiring of the Chinese brain to adopt Western logic, leading to a creole language that combines Han Dynasty characters with Western grammar. However, this shift has resulted in a language that is more bureaucratic and less poetic, prompting some to advocate for a return to Classical Chinese for its purity and independence from pronunciation.

Searching for Birds

This interactive story explores the relationship between humans and birds through data, visuals, and illustrations. It highlights how Google search trends can reveal which birds capture our attention and curiosity, with a focus on the Snowy Owl's appearance in Central Park, New York, in January 2021. The story categorizes birds into general types and species, showing that while there are over 700 North American and Hawaiian bird species, only a few have significant search interest. It also discusses the role of 'spark birds' in igniting interest in bird identification and the use of digital tools in modern birdwatching. The analysis reveals a correlation between bird sightings and search interest, though there is a disconnect with actual population sizes. The story concludes by emphasizing the importance of paying attention to birds and how they can bring joy and curiosity into our lives.

Progressives - Saadat Hasan Manto Translated by Matt Reeck

Digital culture and entertainment insights daily: The feeling of the old world fading away

CAKE - Love You Madly (Official Video)

Surfin' Kali-Yuga by The Orchestra of Mirrored Reflections

Zimbabwe lithium mining boom fuels a dangerous black market for locals - Rest of World

The surge of Chinese investment in Zimbabwe's lithium mines due to the EV boom has left many locals feeling exploited and left behind. Despite the economic growth and job creation, residents report displacement, environmental degradation, and unsafe working conditions. Many locals have turned to illegal mining, risking their safety for a chance to benefit from the lithium boom.

India requires AI labels, 3-hour takedown of unlawful social media posts - Nikkei Asia

Literary Hub » The Best Book Covers of the Last Decade

This article from Literary Hub highlights the best book covers from the last decade, as chosen by book cover designers. The list has grown over the years, with 173 different covers mentioned in 2025. The most admired covers include 'The Nursery' by Szilvia Molnar and 'The Memory Police' by Yoko Ogawa, among others.

A Website To End All Websites | Henry From Online

This article discusses the decline of the internet's original purpose and how it has become dominated by large corporations. The author proposes that hand-coded, personal websites can help reclaim the internet by promoting autonomy, creativity, and ownership. The article provides tips for building a personal website and encourages readers to join the IndieWeb movement.

Walkman.land

WalkmanLand pays tribute to the pocket tape devices of yesterdays: the Walkmans. These analog machines are considered one of the devices that have most influenced the behaviour of people in modern societies. We want to collect all the once commercially available models under one

The rise of industrial software | Chris Loy

“Large language models are a steam engine moment for software. They collapse the cost of a class of work previously fully dependent on scarce human labour, and in doing so unlock an extraordinary acceleration in output.”

time to come together by Sepalot & Blu

In Search of a Revival by The Olympians

Love Is Not Enough by Converge

Bloodied Teeth by Mors Verum

Burning Days (2022)

Started watching Museum of Innocence (2026) but found out this and finished watching magnificent movie.

Human Bondage - Spoonful (Psych Rock from India, 1974)

In the Grand Scheme of Things by Finley Quaye

Pakshee - Raah Piya (Official Video)

This official music video for 'Raah Piya' by Pakshee showcases the band's unique fusion of Jazz, Funk, Pop, and Rock with Hindustani and Carnatic vocals, presented in Hindi and Malayalam.

兀突骨 / 不滅ノ魂 - Anima Immortalis (Music Video)

兀突骨, known as the '残虐王 of Kawagoe,' has released their 7th album '不死 - Immortality,' featuring the music video for '不滅ノ魂 - Anima Immortalis.' This album, themed around the romance of samurai, showcases their signature extreme sound with a blend of catchy guitar riffs and majestic choruses. It includes 11 tracks, with a focus on both brutal and melodic elements, marking a new direction for the band.

Om Namah Shivaya by Krishna Das

Idyll by sungrave

Fraudulent | The Marauders

This album by The Marauders explores themes of authenticity and the nature of music, questioning whether the music is genuine or merely a crafted illusion. The lyrics delve into the idea of masks and the masks behind the music, leaving listeners to ponder the essence of the art.

Rocket Lab Prepares To Launch Latest Hypersonic Test Mission for Defense Innovation Unit

Rocket Lab Corporation, a global leader in launch services and space systems, announced its upcoming hypersonic test mission for the Department of War’s Defense Innovation Unit. The mission, named Cassowary Vex, is set to launch no earlier than late February from Virginia Spaceport Authority’s Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport. This mission, the fourth hypersonic test in under six months, aims to restore the nation’s hypersonic test capabilities, providing unmatched commercial capabilities up to Mach 20.

The Colour of Money: Why Red/Blue Paintings Sell for More

This article from ReadOn explores how the color of paintings, particularly red and blue, can significantly influence their market value. Research indicates that paintings with dominant blue or red colors command higher prices at auctions. The article delves into the psychology behind these color preferences, noting that red evokes intensity and blue conveys dignity and intellect. The implications of these findings extend to marketing, where luxury brands often use red and blue to signal premium quality.