There are two articles (here and here) discussing the latest building to open at University Place – RIVET 26.
Archive for August, 2021
The Most Translated Books in the World by Country
Setting aside religious texts, this feature allows you to scan by country the most translated books. The winner? France – with The Little Prince translated into more than 382 languages. Here are the various sources used to compile this list.
What is ISIS-K?
It is a formidable terrorist group, an affiliate of ISIS; the “K” designation denotes the province – Khorasan – that is its stronghold. This 2018 backgrounder from CSIS should be consulted for its depth and breadth. As this recent CRS report states: “Still, U.S. officials have cautioned that ISKP remains a threat, and recent attacks attributed to the group indicate the same operational resilience it has demonstrated when pressured in the past.”
Other informative features include: What is ISIS-K? (The Conversation); What We Know About ISIS-K, The Group Behind The Kabul Attacks (NPR); and Afghanistan crisis: Who are IS-K? (BBC).
Afghanistan Timelines, and Other Reports
From the Council on Foreign Relations, this timeline contains links that lead to additional information; here is another useful timeline from NPR.
The Congressional Research Service has numerous, recent reports, while both the RAND Corporation and the Center for Strategic & International Studies contain relevant documents as well. The International Crisis Group should not be overlooked nor should UK Parliament Library briefings.
The National Security Archive has many briefing books on Afghanistan.
Review presidential remarks, statements, and proclamations on Afghanistan back to 1929 here.
Consult the thousands of documents pertaining to Afghanistan from the Foreign Relations of the United States series here.
Online Primary Sources: Georgia
The Collections of the Georgia Historical Society (here and here) provide glimpses into Georgia’s past as a colony and a participoant in the Revolutionary War. Letters, travel accounts, biographies are included in these available volumes.
Additiona resources can be found at the Colonial Records of the State of Georgia and Georgia Open History Library.
You have easy access to Georgia’s early newspapers as well. And don’t forget to pay a visit to the digital collections at Georgia State University and the Digital Library of Georgia.
New Jersey’s Population Increases According to 2020 Census Numbers
This initial release of numbers, foreshadowing many future reports, shows that, contrary to what some people have believed about mass emigration from New Jersey, the Garden State actually gained almost 500,000 residents, an increase of 5.7%; other states’ figures reflect either increases or decreases. The most significant increase in population is Texas. These figures will now be used in apportioning the number of representatives each state will have for the next 10 years, as stipulated by the Constitution.
There are many other statistical reports published today; they are all worth a look.
Who Is Kathy Hochul?
In less than two weeks, the Governor of the State of New York. For those who do not know this Buffalo-based politician, here are some facts about her. The New York Times has a profile of her as does New York Magazine.
“Code Red for Humanity” As Climate Change Increases
Dire predictions on the rapid acceleration of climate change are detailed in the AR6 Climate Change 2021: The Physical Science Basis from the IPCC. It has gotten so bad that even if measures are immediately instituted to mitigate the carbon emissions, it will take decades before the planet reaches a new equilibrium. We have little time to correct the downward spiral we are now in. The full report, all 4000 pages – is available here. A more manageable summary – 42 pages – is also online.
Reports from The New York Times and The Washington Post provide succinct overviews of the situation.
2021 World Fantasy Awards Nominees for Short Fiction Online
Here is where you can read them online:
Also, I have found the following nominated novella is available as well:
National Security Reports – July 2021 Update
The Cost of Insider Threats: Global Report 2020 (Ponemom Institute); Day of Rage: An In-Depth Look at How a Mob Stormed the Capitol (The New York Times); National Security (special recurring section of The Washington Post); Department of Defense Additive Manufacturing Strategy; 2021 Final Report (National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence); Nuclear Proliferation and Arms Control Monitoring, Detection, and Verification: A National Security Priority: Interim Report (NAP); and Artificial Intelligence: An Accountability Framework for Federal Agencies and Other Entities (GAO).
Department of Justice Efforts to Counter Ransomware; Domestic Terrorism: Overview of Federal Criminal Law and Constitutional Issues; Strengthening National Preparedness; Asylum Eligibility for Applicants Fleeing Gang and Domestic Violence: Recent Developments; China Naval Modernization: Implications for U.S. Navy Capabilities—Background and Issues for Congress (updated, July 1, 2021); China’s Engagement with Latin America and the Caribbean; Latin America and the Caribbean: U.S. Policy Overview; and Primer on U.S. Immigration Policy (updated July 1, 2021).
Congressman Frank J. Guarini Library Blog 