The Third Slip: Issue 177 - Top of the table, bottom of the barrel
Hello, Slippers! Welcome to The Third Slip - the weekly newsletter that's like the mood of the nation survey. It is representative of a very small sample of the population, it is put together by a team of two amateurs who don't have a clue about real journalism, and it's unintentionally funny because reality can't be this absurd.
This is issue 177. 177, of course, is the CVV number of your second debit card that you've never looked at because it's too much to carry in your wallet, and kind of useless anyway. Much like this issue of The Third Slip which is safely ignored in the fourth default folder of your inbox. Wait, what do you mean you checked and 177 is not your CVV? You wanted facts and all aa? Okay okay, here's the news...
Headline of the week
The cell-fish gene: “Scientists rename human genes to stop Microsoft Excel from misreading them as dates” - Verge
Hold on tight, it's all downhill from here...
Disastrous things: Man-made edition
370 days since the destruction of article 370 : A robotlike approach to a once beautiful place that's been turned into a manmade wasteland with no hope of redemption. But it still has people with heart living in it and we can't see them because it's been isolated from us. Wall E or Valley? Happy one year anniversary of the Kashmir lockdown. Are you not entertained? Don't blink.
Beirut be in rut: What does the God of 2020 give a country already reeling under an economic crisis, political crisis & the virus? Why a random scary blast of course! At least, it turns out it wasn’t a terrorist attack like it looked or was predicted - it was sheer negligence that led to a fire reaching a 6-year-old stock of explosives being detonated. All this, 2 days before the 75th anniversary of the Hiroshima bombings. Here's a journalist’s touching account.
PS: We should probably be worried about the 740 tons of the same explosive stashed away near Chennai port.
Ayyo-dhya: According to South Park, it takes 22.3 years for a tragedy to become funny. In India, it's taken just a tad longer but we're finally here. The bhoomi poojan ceremony for the Ayodhya temple took place this week, and suddenly everyone seems to have forgotten history and principles of natural justice - with everyone, from Priyanka Gandhi to Amul hailing it as a historic achievement. But really, why are people surprised? This is just yet another slap in the face of Muslims and indeed all secularism. A literal slap in the face of a Muslim happened as one refused to say JSR. The two people who assaulted him were arrested, though - and the fact that happened might just be the most positive news of the week. But like the Economist puts it, “Success in Ayodhya is not all it was cracked up to be”
Illustration by Harini Kannan
Disastrous things: Natural edition
Coronadhona: Yeah, we’re talking about the virus. Nothing much to report here. New high numbers. Some Indian deaths are not being counted as Covid19. As France & Germany let guards down, their cases surge as well. And cheerfully, research shows that indoor air could be a potential carrier. Aaaaarrrghhh!
Raining champions: Crazy rains belting across the nation with Mumbai and Kerala badly affected. Mumbai’s rains may be destroying parts of South Bombay, but hey #spiritofmumbai
Touching down: Not dark enough for you? How about we combine the fear of Covid, incessant rains, and death? A flight carrying people coming back home from Dubai crashed in Kozhikode airport resulting in several deaths and injuries. The Kozhikode airport makes very little sense with its ridiculous table-top runway which is always risky. Not to forget, the airport is in Malappuram not Kozhikode. Thankfully, the people of Kerala stepped up, lining up to give blood, while people from nearby villages prepared food all night. You should read all the news pieces from MK Nidheesh.
Despite all the above, the world’s leaders have some pressing matters to focus on...
Nee jerk reaction: Trump is banning TikTok & WeChat after talking about virus deaths in an interview as “it is what it is”
New-clear threat: Risk of nuclear war hasn’t been higher since the Cuban Missile Crisis.
What's up docs?: A Ministry of Defence document that contradicted Dear Leader’s “no Chinese troops came to our territory” statement is mysteriously missing from the website now. Speaking of missing documents, so are Vijay Mallya’s.
(Some) Good news
Cheap shot!: We've crossed 2 million (recorded) Covid cases in India, but last week we recorded the highest single-day recovery as well. Meanwhile, the Gates foundation is spending $150m to make the vaccine available at an affordable price of $3 for vulnerable nations, and there's additional funding for CRISPR research.
Forest slump: Mounted with international criticism & potential sanctions, Brazil’s leaders are finally buckling and grudgingly taking care of the Amazon - the rainforest, not the company. Despite that, fires are continuing. Meanwhile, in India we're going to destroy forests to make way for coal fields. All hail the EIA.
Tip of the Zuckberg: FB finally takes down a Trump post, for Covid misinformation. Also, fact-checking is coming soon to WhatsApp.
A bitter pill: Madras High Court fined Patanjali for Coronil branding and trying to profiteer off fear of the virus. We would say it's a taste of their medicine etc, but this treatment is actually effective.
Mask in the sunshine: Can we appreciate how this Ecuadorian boy put a mask on his dog and then on himself and then rode off on a bike? Aw :’)
How to this it came ra?: Kodak won a contract for making pharmaceutical ingredients. Guess this is what they call a clickbait and switch.
LinkedOut
Harsh Mander on the tragedy of Ayodhya
Serum Institute of India deep dive
A nice counterpoint: Research shows that education in mother tongue is better (so the NEP got that right, and this is Scroll saying that).
1 year of J&K - nothing was achieved except chest-beating
Bishen Singh Bedi giving us some much needed perspective - "With years, this too shall pass"
That’s all for this week. If you’d like, you can get in touch: Instagram (Chuck | Tony), Twitter (Chuck | Tony), email. And again, if you REALLY like us and can afford to, consider supporting us on UPI, Instamojo or Patreon. Until next week, may you love the sound of your own voice echoing off the walls of the bathroom as you get a long uninterrupted shower, the kind that leaves behind an uplifted spirit, a foggy mirror and a silly message scribbled in it. Bye!