We're taking next week off for the holidays, so enjoy this final edition of Tidings for 2025. We'll be back in January with more newsletters and some exciting updates about Seabird. In the meantime, join us on the app or web for more links or to share your own favorite stories with signup code "WaitIsOver". On to this week's sampling of reads recommended by the Seabird community...
"Some people go to the mountains to find themselves; I wanted to be found by a puppy." A reporter volunteers as human quarry to train aspiring avalanche rescue dogs in Canada.
Canadian Geographic | Sarah Everts
A visit to Milton Keynes, the planned English community where friendly robots have free run of the place.
New York Magazine | Joanna Kavenna
Why is modern English prose so much easier to read than writing from earlier centuries? Shorter sentences are the go-to explanation, but here's a case for the contributions of more logical syntax and a shift toward conversational style.
Works in Progress | Henry Oliver
"[...] I enjoyed two unexpected, interconnected revelations. The first was that the opening pages of Swann’s Way are beautiful and captivatingly trippy. The second was that I did not want to die, whenever that day comes, having made an IG reel with a throwaway punchline about Proust, but not having actually read any Proust."
Blackbird Spyplane | Jonah Weiner and Erin Wylie
A deeply personal literary appreciation for Tolkein's Lord of the Rings trilogy and other works.
The New York Times | Michael D.C. Drout
A case for taking simple steps to shore up unemployment insurance to address potential labor displacements caused by AI.
The Argument | Martha Gimbel
On Hitler: "I think he was a great leader, to be honest." On Jewish people: "I would say a force for evil." On the ideal next president: "There’s this guy. He’s a streamer. His name is Papa Gut." The Manhattan Institute hosts a focus group of young Republicans.
City Journal | Jesse Arm
Takeaways from interviews with 37 ordinary Americans who raised alarm about the dangers of the Trump presidencies from the very beginning.
The New Republic | Toby Buckle
An in-depth analysis and rebuttal of the Trump administration's shifting justifications for bombing alleged drug boats, taking more than a hundred lives without trial or due process.
The Watch | Radley Balko
An infectious disease physician explains why Denmark's vaccine policy is an outlier from other wealthy countries and a poor model for the United States.
STAT | Jake Scott
Is it any slight against James Cameron's Avatar movies if we think of them as animated creations?
Slate | Sam Adams
Conspiracy theories, ominous artworks, a hidden speakeasy, animal therapists: just a few of the things you may encounter if your holiday travel takes you through Denver International Airport.
Condé Nast Traveler | Charlie Sosnick
In Oregon news: reporting on an effective program for helping those exiting prison find work, now imperiled by budget cuts.
Bolts | Danielle Dawson and Wesley Vaughan
For getting into the spirit of the season, from 2021: Ayn Rand writes Rudolph.
McSweeney's | Jennie Egerdie
End the year with award-winning bird photos, including some impressive seabirds.
121 Clicks | Venkat Prakash
That's it for this year! The links in our newsletter were all shared first on Seabird, our minimalist platform simply designed for recommending worthwhile links. Learn more about us here and join to discover and share articles like these every day. Your recommendations may appear in a future edition of Tidings. Thank you for reading and we'll see you in 2026.
