If you had to guess where in the EU you would find the most sophisticated and effective recycling system for beverage containers, how long before you’d say Romania? Beating out Scandinavia, Belgium, Germany, and the Netherlands, the Romanian government’s private-public partnership with the logistics firm RetuRO, has led to an incredible 94% collection rate of […] The post Romania Hits 94% Recycling After Launching Largest Return Plan in the World appeared first on Good News Network.

Books book culture Things I Wish I’d Known When Starting a Book Collection Handy advice for overly enthusiastic bookworms (you know who you are) By James Davis Nicoll | Published on December 2, 2025 Photo: Mariia Zakatiura [via Unsplash] Comment 0 Share New Share Photo: Mariia Zakatiura [via Unsplash] I never thought about amassing a personal collection of books. Or rather, I never thought about not amassing a personal collection of books. This is because my parents had assembled their own library, a mix of popular fiction, science texts, history books, rocket manuals, and so on. Therefore it seemed like standard practice, in my mind, that people would assemble their own libraries that I only wondered how to acquire one and with what to fill it1. Acquisition is just the first of the issues one has to tackle. In fact, after more than half a century of slowly accruing and managing my little collection, I have learned of precautions that I certainly wish had been outlined for me way back when. Some of what follows might sound dull or even onerous, but this advice can save you time better spent reading (and perhaps even money)… To start with something that doesn’t matter to me (but might to others): know why you are reading. There are at least two2 approaches to collecting books: to read them or to consider them as an investment. I buy to read. If you buy to resell3, be aware that most books do not become more valuable over time, and also that it can be difficult to predict what will appreciate4. I have no idea how to acquire the necessary assessment skills because I have no interest in acquiring them. Organize sooner rather than later. Organization will help reduce the number of times you accidentally buy the same book twice (I wrote this article on the very morning I discovered that I owned two copies of Michael Kurland’s Pluribus). It will also let you find specific books in your collection without days or weeks of searching5. It really doesn’t matter how you organize as long as it is a system that suits your needs6. Again, start early: it is a lot easier to sort and track a couple of hundred books than it is to organize thousands7. It’s also a good idea to record what you have8. I, uh, will have to do that for my paper books at some point (see above, re: Pluribus). Every time I look at the collection and think about scanning in every book—hand inputting for the ones too old to have bar codes—I get very, very tired and wander off to do something else. If you collect ebooks, get a decent ebook manager. I use Calibre, but I am sure there are equally satisfactory alternatives. If you collect physical books… The thing about physical books is that they have volume and mass, both of which need to be kept in mind. For example, you can optimize shelf space by sorting books by size. A 226 cm column of Ikea Ivar shelving, for example, might fit ten shelves of mass market paperbacks, but only seven or eight shelves of hardcovers. If you mix mass market with hardcovers, you’re limited by the hardcovers. Books also have mass, something that only began to fill me with terror when I discovered the load limit of the average second floor. Many second floors are only rated for 250 kilograms per square meter… if the contractor actually stuck to spec. Now consider that 226 cm tall, ten shelf Ivar stack. Figure there are 30 books per shelf, each massing .3 kilograms. 30 x .3 x 10 = 90 kilograms, on an area of about .3 square meters or about 300 kilograms per square meter. Do not mess with overloading floors. Ideally, an overengineered basement floor is best (except there’s the damp issue, not to mention flooding). Always place shelves next to load-bearing walls, not in the middle of a joist. Be conservative in load calculations or your second-floor library might become your basement library. Which would be bad9, especially for anyone on the first floor. Despite all that, books are great! I don’t regret a moment spent reading books10. That said, even the most bookwormy bookworm should occasionally wander out into the sunshine11, mingle with people, and make friends. An active social life makes it less likely you will forget how to wear trousers! Discussing books with people can be fun! …But more importantly, you’re going to want help every time you have to move. Cases of books are heavy.[end-mark] And here’s where I’ll add the necessary acknowledgment of extreme privilege. ︎Well, three reasons if we count collecting books as physical artifacts. Not to sell, but just because you love them as artifacts. Beyond being inexplicably fussy about cover art, that’s not my jam, but I can see how it could be someone else’s. ︎John Dunning’s Cliff Janeway is a rare book dealer with a talent for stumbling over mysteries. What Cliff sees when he looks at books is fascinatingly different from what I see. ︎I was astonished to see a Traveller Collector’s Edition omnibus of books 1–8 being flogged for over $1000.00 USD. ︎Or in the case of CBC’s Clyde Gilmour, and a certain misfiled album, a decade… which is why Mrs. Gilmour took over filing duties. ︎My parents’ system for cataloging their mysteries was to use a bookish kid as their card catalog. The flaw in that system involves the kid’s propensity for traumatic head injuries and frequent anoxia, both of which turn out to be bad if your goal isn’t neurological bonsai. ︎Or millions. Although at least the library I helped computerize started off mostly organized. Organizing a few million randomly sorted books would be a challenge. ︎A list of books to look for is also good. At least, it’s good for the booksellers who want your money. ︎UW’s Dana Porter Arts Library, like many academic libraries, has attracted an urban legend that the architect forgot the weight of the books, so the library is sinking. Not true. However, I do know of a case on the same campus where a space was commandeered for an unofficial library and where the load was not properly considered. After a few months, the whole structure peeled itself off the wall. ︎At least not since I discovered people would pay me to complain about books. ︎Unless you live in Ontario, in which case replace “sunshine” with “endless bleak winter overcast.” ︎The post Things I Wish I’d Known When Starting a Book Collection appeared first on Reactor.

Lebanese Media: Iran About to Launch Another 'October 7' Or Something

Get ready to buy an overpriced neck pillow at the airport – you're gonna need it.

A nice conclusion to a pretty rare sequence!

Comedy Central’s Jon Stewart welcomed The New Yorker staff writer Elizabeth Kolbert to Monday’s taping of The Daily Show to promote her new book and prophesy impending doom on the environment. As Kolbert tells it, all the things that have come to define civilization have contributed to this impending catastrophe, and Manhattan itself is at risk if nothing changes. Stewart led Kolbert with a half-decent question, “What is it about—because if you are an environmentalist, so, if you think, ‘Okay, global warming is real and it is caused by human activity,’ is it realistic to think—because what we have been told over the last 35 years is, human activity is the cause and we've just got to reduce human activity, but that seems to go against 10,000 years of human activity, which is, I like that easier, faster, smaller, tastier, deader. So, how do we square those things?     Kolbert replied, “Well, I think that that, you could argue that’s the question of our time, but I will answer that question with a story, which I first heard from a climate scientist on the top of the Greenland ice sheet.” If Stewart wanted Kolbert to reconcile human nature with the demands of climate action, Kolbert’ story made it obvious that she thinks the former needs to change: And if you think about your geological history, so, New York about 10,000 years ago looked a lot like Greenland, right? Where we are sitting now was under about a mile of ice. The ice retreated, we entered this period of unusual climate stability, and we know this from a lot of different lines of evidence, including the ice on Greenland. We entered this period of climate stability. We invent what we call civilization, we invent agriculture, writing, towns, cities, we become sedentary and set in our ways, and what do we use these 10,000 years to do, to invent ways to disrupt the climate? Kolbert also claimed, “Now, if you are thinking about what you need to do when you are—inherit very fortunately— a period of unusual climate stability would be to try to keep it that way. But we have gone—chosen to go in the opposite direction with all the evidence mounting, mounting evidence of the risks that that entails, and once again, that is a fascinating thing to do but not exactly what you would recommend.” Stewart then quipped, “See, what I hear from that story is, if we keep this up, we could turn Greenland into Manhattan.” A more solemn Kolbert warned, “That is absolutely true. Keep it up, but there's 20 feet of sea level rising. So Manhattan will not be here.” We are currently in the last month of 2025, but according to people like Kolbert, New York should have been underwater 10 years ago. If Stewart and Kolbert want to know why nobody takes anti-civilization environmentalists seriously, that would be a good place to start. Here is a transcript for the December 1 show: Comedy Central The Daily Show 12/1/2025 11:29 PM ET JON STEWART: What is it about—because if you are an environmentalist, so, if you think, “Okay, global warming is real and— ELIZABETH KOLBERT: I can guarantee you that. STEWART: — It is caused by human activity,” is it realistic to think—because what we have been told over the last 35 years is, human activity is the cause and we've just got to reduce human activity, but that seems to go against 10,000 years of human activity, which is, I like that easier, faster, smaller, tastier, deader. So, how do we square those things? KOLBERT: Well, I think that that, you could argue that’s the question of our time, but I will answer that question with a story, which I first heard from a climate scientist on the top of the Greenland ice sheet. STEWART: You were standing with him on the top of the Greenland ice sheet. KOLBERT: Yes. Yes. Yes. And if you think about your geological history, so, New York about 10,000 years ago looked a lot like Greenland, right? Where we are sitting now was under about a mile of ice. The ice retreated, we entered this period of unusual climate stability, and we know this from a lot of different lines of evidence, including the ice on Greenland. We entered this period of climate stability. We invent what we call civilization, we invent agriculture, writing, towns, cities, we become sedentary and set in our ways, and what do we use these 10,000 years to do, to invent ways to disrupt the climate? Now, if you are thinking about what you need to do when you are—inherit very fortunately— a period of unusual climate stability would be to try to keep it that way. But we have gone—chosen to go in the opposite direction with all the evidence mounting, mounting evidence of the risks that that entails, and once again, that is a fascinating thing to do but not exactly what you would recommend. STEWART: See, what I hear from that story is, if we keep this up, we could turn Greenland into Manhattan. KOLBERT: That is absolutely true. Keep it up, but there's 20 feet of sea level rising. So Manhattan will not be here.

Artificial intelligence now offers “Chatbot Jesus,” personalized prayers, AI-generated sermons, and even virtual pastors charging monthly fees. Some see these tools as a lifeline for shrinking congregations. Others claim they offer new ways to evangelize.The church must speak plainly: We are not called to relevance. We are called to righteousness. Scripture commands believers to “test all things; hold fast what is good.”People are not abandoning faith because the church lacks modern technology. They are leaving because they are starving for truth in an age of deception.Technology itself is neither holy nor wicked. The printing press, radio, livestreaming, and Bible apps have all served ministry. AI that organizes calendars, translates languages, or answers simple questions is just another tool.Crossing a biblical lineTrouble begins when technology imitates divinity. An app that invites people to “talk with Jesus” steps into territory Scripture reserves for the living God alone. Jesus said, “My sheep hear My voice” (John 10:27). Only the Lord speaks with the authority of Matthew 24:35: “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.”No chatbot can make that claim.The danger becomes obvious when apps offer simulated “conversations” with Judas or Satan. God forbids consulting spirits, mediums, or conjured voices (Leviticus 19:31; Deuteronomy 18:10-12). Why would the church encourage digital re-creations of what Scripture calls an abomination?Convenience or relevance cannot override explicit biblical commands.You can’t outsource the Holy SpiritSome pastors now admit they use AI to help write sermons. Others market “avatar” versions of themselves. But ministry has never centered on polished prose. It has always centered on God’s power — His breath, His Spirit, His Word.Paul wrote, “My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power” (1 Corinthians 2:4).You cannot automate the power of God. You cannot outsource the voice of the Holy Spirit. You cannot download anointing.A sermon is not literary content to be refined by software. It must be birthed in prayer, wrestled through in Scripture, and delivered in obedience. As Jesus said, “Apart from Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). That includes preaching.Tech won’t save usAxios reported that up to 15,000 churches may close this year and that 29% of Americans now claim no religion. That trend calls for actual spiritual renewal, not AI simulations of Jesus.People are not abandoning faith because the church lacks modern technology. They are leaving because they are starving for truth in an age of deception. The early church grew because believers “continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship … and fear came upon every soul” (Acts 2:42-43). They witnessed repentance, signs, wonders, and transformation — none of which machines can produce.True revival begins where the early church began: holiness, unity, prayer, obedience, and the power of the Holy Spirit.A distortion of ChristFalse voices proclaiming truth are not new. The only novelty is that they are now automated. The central danger of “AI spirituality” is doctrinal corruption. What sources shape these chatbots? What ideology trains them? If systems learn from shallow teaching or progressive theology divorced from Scripture, they will preach a distorted Christ.When AI “hallucinates” — and all current systems do — it can hand users outright lies.Jesus warned, “Beware of false prophets … you will know them by their fruits” (Matthew 7:15-16). Paul warned that if anyone preaches "any other gospel … let him be accursed” (Galatians 1:8). From Genesis onward, the devil has counterfeited God’s voice. AI can and will preach an "other gospel" if it draws from anything other than Scripture.RELATED: God-tier AI? Why there’s no easy exit from the human condition gremlin via iStock/Getty ImagesBelievers must remain discerning. “Do not be deceived” (1 Corinthians 15:33). “Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit” (Colossians 2:8). Those who build their faith on machine-generated counsel risk building a house on sand rather than the Rock (Matthew 7:24-27).A servant, not a shepherdTools can organize schedules and streamline communication. They can assist brainstorming. But preaching, prayer, prophecy, discipleship, deliverance, and counsel belong to the life of the Spirit — not the cold logic of machines.Technology must remain a servant. It must never become a shepherd. Only the good shepherd, Jesus Christ, leads His people.Jesus said, “I am the door of the sheep,” “I am the good shepherd,” and “I lay down My life for the sheep” (John 10). No AI pastor and no “Chatbot Jesus” can claim any of that.Revival will not come from faster processors or stronger large language models. It will come when God’s people “humble themselves," pray, seek His face, and turn from their wicked ways (2 Chronicles 7:14).The world does not need a digital imitation of Jesus. It needs the real Jesus — the one who, as Hebrews 13:8 tells us, “is the same yesterday, today, and forever.”

She stands for everything we shouldn’t want an immigrant to be.

OMG, NOT THAT! Canadian Is BIG MAD at Wayne Gretzky for Taking Pic With Trump and X Has BRUTAL Thoughts

Chuck Schumer Falls All OVER Himself Bragging About His MAGA Bomb Threats ... There's Just 1 BIG Problem