DEAR READERS,
The week in random review By Zach Hagadone Reader Staff
quotable
“I have one life and one chance to make it count for something. I’m free to choose that something. … My faith demands that I do whatever I can, wherever I can, whenever I can, for as long as I can.” — former-President Jimmy Carter, 98, who it was announced Feb. 18 would suspend continued medical care and “spend his remaining time at home with his family” in hospice.
‘gobblefunk’
Just as Roald Dahl’s work seems to be enjoying yet another popular revival, with the smash-hit Matilda the Musical, the late-iconic British writer’s oeuvre is under scrutiny for including material considered harmful to young readers. Puffin, which publishes Dahl’s work, has apparently hired “sensitivity readers” to identify where and why some of the author’s prose is derogatory, racist or otherwise too distasteful. That’s caused a big uproar, with U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak weighing in on Feb. 20: “When it comes to our rich and varied literary heritage, the prime minister agrees with the BFG that we shouldn’t gobblefunk around with words. I think it’s important that works of literature and works of fiction are preserved and not airbrushed. We have always defended the right to free speech and expression.”
deeper meaning
In a fascinating article published in January in Jewish Currents, historian Bench Ansfield digs into the 20th-century significance of the term “burnout” — specifically, in its original context, which was to describe the practice of landlords “burning out” low-rent properties in order to collect on the insurance. In Ansfield’s piece, titled “Edifice Complex,” they explore how the term’s evolution to describe the feeling of exhaustion experienced by 21st-century workers illustrates a fundamental reality of the economic system. “[T]hose torched buildings had generated value by being destroyed,” they wrote. “... [D]epletion, even to the point of destruction, could be profitable.” That said, applying “burnout” to the psychological state of overworked employees hides the term’s deeper history as “the disposability of targeted populations under racial capitalism — a dynamic that, over time, has ensnared ever-wider swaths of the workforce.” Find the article at jewishcurrents.org/edifice-complex.
The sun also rises (on Earth)
According to a recent piece in The Smithsonian — picking up on coverage in The Independent — researchers in China have broken the record for sustaining a nuclear fusion reaction at the country’s Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak. Also known as “the Chinese Artificial Sun,” the project has been running since 2006, geared toward developing energy technology that could replace coal and natural gas by copying the internal mechanisms of the sun: “merging atomic nuclei to generate large amounts of energy into electricity.” Scientists were reportedly able to superheat plasma to 126 million degrees Fahrenheit (five times more intense than the core of the sun) and maintain the reaction for more than 17 minutes.
Yowza, that was a fun storm that blew through earlier this week. Sometimes we take for granted that it’s still winter this time of year. Unfortunately I was unable to sneak away from work to get some fresh powder runs in at Schweitzer. Hoping you all left me some turns when I head up after delivering the paper today. This week marks the second and final week of Sandpoint’s annual Winter Carnival. Check out Pages 14-15 for a complete rundown of Winter Carnival events, including the always popular K9 Keg Pull down Cedar Street in front of Eichardt’s Pub. Whenever a cold snap hits like this, don’t forget to check on any elderly neighbors or family members who might need your assistance. Sometimes offering to make a quick trip to the grocery store or helping with a simple task around the house can mean the world for someone who might not be able to handle it on their own. Wishing you all calm in a high-winds world.
– Ben Olson, publisher
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www.sandpointreader.com Publisher: Ben Olson ben@sandpointreader.com Editorial: Zach Hagadone (Editor) zach@sandpointreader.com Lyndsie Kiebert-Carey (News Editor) lyndsie@sandpointreader.com Cameron Rasmusson (emeritus) John Reuter (emeritus) Advertising: Kelsey Kizer kelsey@sandpointreader.com Contributing Artists: EzyDog (cover), Ben Olson, Lyndsie Kiebert-Carey, Otto Kitsinger, Jim Howes, Donna Musacchia, Chris Park Allison Tucotte Photography, Bill Borders Contributing Writers: Zach Hagadone, Ben Olson, Lyndsie Kiebert-Carey, Lorraine H. Marie, Brenden Bobby, Clark Corbin, Audrey Dutton, Lauren Necochea, Mark Sauter, Marcia Pilgeram, Jen Jackson Quintano Submit stories to: stories@sandpointreader.com Printed weekly at: Tribune Publishing Co. Lewiston, ID Subscription Price: $165 per year Web Content: Keokee The Sandpoint Reader is a weekly publication owned and operated by Ben Olson and Keokee. It is devoted to the arts, entertainment, politics and lifestyle in and around Sandpoint, Idaho. We hope to provide a quality alternative by offering honest, in-depth reporting that reflects the intelligence and interests of our diverse and growing community. The Reader is printed on recycled paper using soy-based ink. Leftover copies are collected and recycled weekly, or burned in massive bonfires to appease the gods of journalism. Free to all, limit two copies per person.
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This week’s cover photo comes courtesy of EzyDog! Februrary 23, 2023 / R / 3