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REQUIRED READING
The West Must Defeat Russia
(The Atlantic) by Anne Applebaum - Ukraine, the United States, and the European Union have achieved something remarkable: Working together, they have not only preserved the Ukrainian state, but stood up to a bully whose nihilism harms the entire world. Putin backs far-right and extremist movements in Europe, provides thugs to support African dictatorships, and colludes with China, Iran, Venezuela, and other autocracies. From the beginning, Putin hoped the war would demonstrate that American power and American alliances can be defeated, not only in Ukraine but everywhere else. He still does, and for this purpose the war remains useful to him. Read also, Would you sell them out? A question for American lawmakers about Ukraine (by Timothy Snyder, Substack)
READ MORE:
Why our willingness to let animals suffer is pure bigotry (TLS)
The secret to finding love after 60 (WSJ)
Newsom 2024: Could the California governor be a rival to Joe Biden? (The Guardian)
WTF New York Times? Are you really going to do to Biden what you did to Hillary Clinton in 2016? (Lucian Truscott IV, Substack)
Sudanese genocide ‘verging on pure evil’ sparks nary an outcry because no Jews are involved (The Guardian)
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Can Art Thrive in NFT World? Rockwell Museum Thinks So
(ATU) STOCKBRIDGE, Mass. - Norman Rockwell’s art has seemingly been everywhere. It adorned The Saturday Evening Post and Boy’s Life covers. His illustrations were splashed across ads for Coca–Cola and inside beloved children’s books. His art hangs in a number of prestigious museums and was even displayed in the White House during Barack Obama’s presidency to celebrate Ruby Bridges. And now, Rockwell’s work is entering a new frontier: non-fungible tokens, or NFTs. Norman Rockwell’s art has seemingly been everywhere. It adorned The Saturday Evening Post and Boy’s Life covers. His illustrations were splashed across ads for Coca–Cola and inside beloved children’s books. His art hangs in a number of prestigious museums and was even displayed in the White House during Barack Obama’s presidency to celebrate Ruby Bridges. And now, Rockwell’s work is entering a new frontier: non-fungible tokens, or NFTs.
READ MORE:
Samantha Bee brings her ‘Joy of Sex Education’ tour to Mahaiwe (Berkshire Eagle)
With a new (old) album, a tour with (old) new songs, and a giant new book, Bob Dylan remains a neverending juggernaut (by Seth Rogovoy, Forward)
Doug Jones, nationally known film programmer and critic, remembered for his time leading Images Cinema (B Eagle)
Saugerties eyes Woodstock ’94 anniversary celebration (Daily Freeman)
Karl Ove Knausgaard’s thought experiment (New Statesman)
NEWS FROM THE BERKSHIRES
After 32 Years, Yellow House Books Remains a Beloved Institution in Great Barrington
(Berkshire Edge) GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. - Bonnie Benson didn’t dream of entering the book business, she “fell into it.” After studying composition in music school, she headed for Berkeley, Calif., where she started selling objects at the Berkeley Flea Market in between jobs. Over time, her focus grew more and more on used books; after a couple of years, that was all she sold. After 15 years of curating and selling her book collection on the west coast, Bonnie and her late husband Bob shipped a truckload of books to Great Barrington, Mass., and unloaded them into a quaint yellow house on Main Street. In 1991, they opened the doors of Yellow House Books to the Southern Berkshire community. 32 years later, Yellow House Books remains a beloved institution in Great Barrington’s small business community.
READ MORE:
GE doles out $63M to ‘Rest of River’ towns (Berkshire Eagle)
Housatonic Water Works claims to have reduced level of cancer-causing chemicals in drinking water (Berkshire Edge)
Alford resident James “Fergie” Chambers, leader of Berkshire Communists group, “endorsed violence against Israel,” saying there is no “compelling evidence that civilians were deliberately targeted” in Hamas terror attack on October 7; Simon’s Rock students co-sponsor anti-Israel rally (B Edge)
Stockbridge shutters bid to expand propane facility (B Edge)
A major Lenox road project and downtown improvements will cost nearly $4 million — if voters sign off on spending (B Eagle)
NEWS FROM THE HUDSON VALLEY
Two Pop-Up Cannabis Shops Open in Hudson Until End of Year
(ATU) HUDSON, N.Y. - Two marijuana businesses have opened pop-up cannabis shops in this city of 5,900, but the establishments are only legally able to operate until the end of the year. Legacy Dispensers in Colonie and Gotham Dispensary in Manhattan opened the shops in late October under a state program designed to allow cannabis cultivators to unload product that has stacked up as the state struggles to open enough dispensaries to sell it.
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Democrat Liberati-Conant wins Columbia County DA (HV360)
Dems Herman, Howard sweep to victory in Columbia County judge race (HV360)
Noble wins his third four-year term as Kingston’s mayor (Daily Freeman)
NY Republicans shoot down GOP effort to slash Amtrak budget (HV360)
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Roll Call: Founding Members
Anne Fredericks
Anonymous (5)
Erik Bruun
Benno Friedman
Richard Koplin
Steve and Helice Picheny
Rhonda Rosenheck
Elisa Spungen and Rob Bildner/Berkshires Farm Table Cookbook
Julie Abraham Stone
Mary Herr Tally