The Public Life of a Public Librarian

Revealed: Europe’s water reserves drying up due to climate breakdown
Exclusive: UCL scientists find large swathes of southern Europe are drying up, with ‘far-reaching’ implications
Rachel Salvidge
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/nov/29/climate-crisis-depleting-europe-groundwater-reserves-analysis

Analysis
They tried to overturn the 2020 US election. Now, they hold power in Trump’s Washington
Rachel Leingang
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/nov/29/2020-election-deniers-trump

‘Nature’s original engineers’: scientists explore the amazing potential of fungi
Unique properties of fungi have led to groundbreaking innovations in recent years, from nappies to electronics
Linda Geddes
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2025/nov/29/fungi-scientists-innovations

At least 460 killed in south-east Asia floods and landslides, reports say
More than 300 people killed on Indonesia’s Sumatra island with 162 reported dead across Thailand
Donna Ferguson and agencies
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/nov/29/indonesia-and-thailand-flooding-death-toll-tops-350-as-rescuers-struggle-to-reach-worst-hit-areas

Meera Sodha’s recipe for Christmas aubergine and rice timbale
A stunning but simple festive vegetarian centrepiece for the whole table to enjoy
Meera Sodha
https://www.theguardian.com/food/2025/nov/29/christmas-spiced-aubergine-timbale-cream-cheese-fruit-nuts-recipes-meera-sodha

Interview
‘If I was American, I’d be worried about my country’: Margaret Atwood answers questions from Ai Weiwei, Rebecca Solnit and more
Introduction by Lisa Allardice
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2025/nov/29/if-i-was-american-id-be-worried-about-my-country-margaret-atwood-answers-questions-from-ai-weiwei-rebecca-solnit-and-more

Cats became our companions way later than you think
Helen Briggs
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cq8dvdp9gn7o

Lightning detected on Mars for the first time, scientists say
Fiona Nimoni
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0q5w13e58zo

And with tomorrow’s [today's] menu at the top of mind, did you know that Minnesota produces more turkeys than any other state? WCCO shares how we got there. Via MinnPost
https://www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/news/minnesota-turkey-production-thanksgiving/

Speaking of turkeys, it's Turkey Day here in the USA. Happy Thanksgiving.

How to be a good party host (or guest)
From picking your guests (always add a random) and your outfit, to coping with drunks and nudity, this is what you need to know
Zoe Williams
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2025/nov/26/how-to-be-a-good-party-host-or-guest

‘Stay tuned’: new Anne Rice film could foretell release of unpublished work by late author
Documentary series of Interview with the Vampire writer available to stream with potential for further releases
Ramon Antonio Vargas in New Orleans
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2025/nov/27/anne-rice-author-anthology

Netflix crashes within minutes of releasing Stranger Things series five
Viewers unable to watch episodes of long-awaited final series on TV when the streaming service briefly froze
Rachel Hall
https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2025/nov/27/netflix-crashes-stranger-things-series-five

Review
Stranger Things season five review – this luxurious final run will have you standing on a chair, yelling with joy
The kids growing up might have changed this show’s appeal, but they manage to go out in a flame-throwing, bullet-dodging blaze of glory – while still being more moving than ever before
Jack Seale
https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2025/nov/27/stranger-things-final-season-five-review-netflix

‘We like it a lot’: how Romania created the largest deposit return scheme in the world
In the two years since the system was launched, beverage-packaging collection and recycling has risen to 94%
By Andrei Popoviciu in Bucharest, Romania
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/nov/27/we-like-it-a-lot-how-romania-created-the-largest-deposit-return-scheme-in-the-world

‘I didn’t even know this type of attack existed’: more than 200 women allege drugging by senior French civil servant
In a case echoing the Pelicot trial, dozens of women allege they were given hot drinks mixed with a diuretic to make them urinate. Three of them speak out here
Angelique Chrisafis in Paris
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/nov/26/women-allege-drugging-by-senior-french-civil-servant

'Extraordinary discovery' at Orkney Neolithic site
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c7836wvx4q4o

Novel scientific method proves pit circle near Stonehenge was man-made, say researchers
Archaeologists use multiple types of geophysics equipment to analyse ‘extraordinary structure’
Steven Morris
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2025/nov/27/novel-scientific-method-proves-pit-circle-near-stonehenge-was-man-made-say-researchers

Scottish fashion designer Pam Hogg dies
Steven McIntosh
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cm28v743mpyo

From Paul Krugman: https://youtu.be/tJE3KDxTbWI?si=vKYHnCMiS0nDelby