Facts and Opinions is on a reduced publishing schedule until after Labour Day in September, when our regular columnists and schedule will return.
What Comes After Colombia’s Peace Deal? By Annette Idler Analysis
What will happen after the Colombian government and the guerrilla group FARC finalized a peace deal, ending the long-running war? An official end to war with the FARC is only the start of the road to peace.
Mudlarks and History on the Thames By Neal Hall Photo-essay
A torch on his head, Jason Sandy scours the nighttime London foreshores of the Thames river, searching for objects that could offer a glimpse of life in the British capital hundreds of years ago.
Confirmation Bias: The Death of Truth By Tom Regan Column
My first real exposure to people not wanting the truth, but only hearing what they want to hear, happened 25 years ago. My friend Deb Amos, NPR’s well-known and extremely talented Middle East reporter, had been invited to speak to an elderly Jewish group in Boston about her experiences in Israel and Palestine. Then an interesting thing happened.
Findings:
Literary fiction by the likes of Salman Rushdie, Harper Lee and Toni Morrison helps improve readers’ understanding of other people’s emotions, according to new research – but genre writing, from authors including Danielle Steel and Clive Cussler, does not. The Guardian reports.
This week’s announcement that a newly-discovered planet, Proxima b, may be habitable and (relatively) near by has space researchers, futurists, scientists of all stripes and fantasists hoping for an escape from earth excited. Already, a robotic mission is planned. See Wikipedia’s page for details.
Reader-Supported Facts and Opinions is employee-owned and ad-free. We survive on an honour system. Thanks for your interest and support. Details.