Journal 73

This week — the work of web hacktivists, Cuba’s weekly internet deliveries, Carl Icahn’s political machinations, a physicist modelling terrorist activity, and a tweetstorm of pieces covering recently pardoned sheriff Joe Arpaio.
If you only read one thing — The Guardian on an underground Christian church awaiting the Rapture in 1980s Iran is worth the time.
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Yearning for the end of the world // The Guardian // Life
The story of life as a member of an underground church in 1980s Iran, waiting for the end of days and the promised Rapture.
The Weekly Package // Harper’s // Society
A look at the way in which many Cubans get access to the international culture that is officially denied to them — a weekly delivery of films, TV and other content on a USB stick.
Carl Icahn’s Failed Raid on Washington // The New Yorker // Politics
An eyeopening piece on the billionaire financier’s pugilistic approach, and his political machinations during the Trump presidency.
A Physicist Who Models ISIS and the Alt-Right // Quanta // Science
An interview with a scientist using adaptive modelling techniques to predict extremist activity.
The Catch 22 of Hacktivism // Nautilus // Technology
Hacktivists use open source technology and publicly available information to investigate political and military activity — this piece looks into the problems their activities throw up.
Bonus // A tweetstorm from the Phoenix New Times linking to their past coverage of Joe Arpaio, the former Arizona sheriff controversially pardoned by President Trump this week.
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