Condensed Soup

Is handwriting a thing of the past? Here are the arguments about why it's necessary to conserve it.

Hot take: Cursive comeback could be a civics lesson (Isaac Avilucea, Axios, Jun 30, 2025)

National Archives is Seeking Volunteers Who Have the 'Superpower' of Reading Cursive — Which Only 24 States Still Teach (Danielle Jennings, People, Jan 15, 2025)

The Number of States That Require Schools to Teach Cursive Is Growing (Brooke Schultz, Education Week, Nov 6, 2024)

Why Cursive Handwriting Is Good for Your Brain (Devon Frye, Psychology Today, Oct 2, 2020)

Why Writing by Hand Could Make You Smarter (William R. Klemm, Psychology Today, Mar 14, 2013)

Welcome to the Zaner-Bloser National Handwriting Contest! (Official)

Signature moves: are we losing the ability to write by hand? (Christine Rosen, The Guardian, Jan 21, 2025)

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A bridge in India has been unveiled -- and it features a 90-degree turn, a move you wouldn't even see on Mario Kart. Plus, more architectural "marvels."

7 Engineers Suspended After $2.3 Million Bridge Includes Bizarre 90-Degree Turn (Ashley Fike, Vice, Jul 5, 2025)

The Leaning Tower of Pisa Wasn't Supposed to Lean (Donna Sarkar, Discover Magazine, Mar 13, 2021)

The World's Most Legendary Living Architect Once Designed a Building that Singed Neighboring Houses (Rob Wile, Business Insider, Sep 3, 2013)

Dimming Disney Hall (Chris Coats, LADT News, Mar 21, 2005)

Ask Smithsonian: Will the Leaning Tower of Pisa Ever Topple? (Alicia Ault, Smithsonian Magazine, Mar 9, 2015)

Blue light glasses have been all the rage -- I have a whole stash of cute ones. But it turns out they may not be as essential as I thought.

Smartphones May Affect Sleep — but Not Because of Blue Light (Simon Hill, Wired, Jun 9, 2024)

Do Blue-Light Glasses Help with Eyestrain? (Karen Kwon, Scientific American, Aug 4, 2023)

Is blue light damaging and are filters worth it? (Macular Society, Sep 1, 2023)

Will blue light from electronic devices increase my risk of macular degeneration and blindness? (David Ramsey, Harvard Medical School, May 1, 2019)

Boots Opticians fined £40,000 over misleading blue light advertising (Selina Powell, Optometry Today, May 26, 2017)

Computers, Digital Devices, and Eye Strain (Kiersten Boyd, American Academy of Ophthalmology, Jun 27, 2024)

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Tragedy has struck in Texas. My thoughts are with all of those affected.

Plus, a university in France welcomes the first asylum cohort of American science academics.

Death toll from Texas floods reaches at least 43; dozens still missing (Sergio Flores, Rich McKay, Andy Sullivan, Reuters, July 5, 2025)

More than four dozen dead in devastating central Texas flash floods, over two dozen remain missing (Cara Tabachnick, Melissa Gaffney, Kerry Breen, CBS News, July 5, 2025)

Camp Mystic, a haven for generations of Texas girls, becomes a center of tragedy (Colleen DeGuzman, The Texas Tribune, July 5, 2025)

French university welcomes first US researchers (Le Monde with AFP, June 27, 2025)

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The #2 art thieves just got convicted after stealing Maurizio Cattelan's work "America" -- an 18-karat gold toilet.

UK court finds men who stole $6 million gold toilet guilty (Manuela Lopez Restrepo, NPR)

Behold The Throne: There's a Golden Toilet at the Guggenheim (Merrit Kennedy, NPR)

Donald Trump's Request for a White House Van Gogh Was Swiftly Rejected by the Guggenheim (Devon Ivie, Architectural Digest)

Stolen golden toilets: the strange fate of Maurizio Cattelan's work "America" (Antoine Vitek, Culturez-vous)

One banana, what could it cost? $120,000 - if it's art (Luke O'Neil, The Guardian)

Cattelan's notorious banana finds a home at the Guggenheim (The Art Newspaper)

Hungry art student eats Maurizio Cattalan's banana work (Benjamin Sutton, The Art Newspaper)

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If you've ever wished for a red panda wake-up call (and who hasn't?), bad news -- the Chongqing hotel featuring them has put an end to it.

Plus: this week, Condensed Soup is supporting The Lynx Watch, a nonprofit out of The Lynx bookstore in Gainesville, Florida. The Lynx Watch distributes challenged and banned books widely in Florida.

Chinese hotel told 'wake-up service' of red pandas climbing onto guest beds must stop (Aelia Neath, Independent)

Red Pandas Banned From Doing Wake-Up Calls at Chinese Hotel (Luis Prada, Vice)

Red Pandas (World Wildlife Fund)

15 Fantastic Facts About Red Pandas (Red Panda Network)

Lauren Groff on What It's Like to Launch a Bookstore in the Land of Book Bans (Marie Claire)

The Lynx Watch (The Lynx)

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The exam process to become a Licensed Battlefield Guide at Gettysburg National Park is far more in-depth and complex than you'd expect! And the exam only comes around once in a while. The dedication of the Guides is real.

Licensed Battlefield Guide Tier 1- Written Exam (Gettysburg Foundation)

Frequently Asked Questions About Becoming a Guide (Licensed Battlefield Guide, Gettysburg Tour Guides)

The Hardest Test in History (CBS Saturday Morning - Instagram)

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Model train sets can be so much more involved than a simple loop around a Christmas tree! And the largest (and most expensive) in the world, Miniatur Wunderland, proves it.

'I was shocked': Melbourne man's 'unbelievable' find after buying house (SBS News)

'I'm proud to be called a nerd!' The pop and rock greats who love model railways (Dave Simpson, The Guardian)

Miniatur Wunderland (official)

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As the creator of a 10-minute podcast, I clearly love specific times -- but is it overcompensation? Join me as I try to understand time blindness.

TikTok has had it with people who are 'chronically late.' Is 'time blindness' real? (Charles Trepany, USA Today)

3 Things to Do If a Friend Is Always Late and You Just Can't Take It Anymore (Julie Ries, SELF)

Are you always late? Here's how to be on time (Madeleine Aggeler, The Guardian)

Whether you're multi-tasking or multi-relaxing, it's getting more popular to sit around (or move around) with a good book.

5 Tips for Listening to Audiobooks (Everyday-Reading.com)

Julia Whelan is the Voice in Your Head: Meet the Narrator Behind Everyone's Favorite Audiobooks (Lizz Schumer, People)

Are Audiobooks as Good For You as Reading? Here's What Experts Say (Markham Heid, Time)

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