We know very little about bigfin squid due to the depths of its home (around 4,800 metres deep). One of its most intriguing mysteries is surprisingly not its large, heart-shaped fins, but instead its spindly arms. They’re unusually long, trailing behind the squid, and are bent like puppet strings. Scientists speculate their length may have been adapted to help catch prey, much like a long net or a “living spider web”. Others describe it in a more romantic light; “it carries out an ethereal existence—daintily drifting in the inky abyss”. Read full article here
Culture
The Priest in the Arena
The phrase “man in the arena” has been popularized in recent years, but a lesser known, more dangerous archetype is the “priest in the arena”. This figure is responsible for a process called theocratic capture, where an institution surrenders to a cult demanding unaccountable authority, fueled by claims to privileged knowledge. These cults often target powerful institutions and attempt to monopolize conversations with scaremongering tactics and hostile treatment of allies. It is important to identify and stop theocratic capture before it can gain control. Read full article here
Merv
May 29, 2023
