It is winter in South America, but several countries are having summer-like heat waves:
the Guardian
‘Winter is disappearing’: South America hit by ‘brutal’ unseasonal heatwave
Buenos Aires records hottest start to August in 117 years, Chile sees highs towards 40C and Bolivia, Paraguay and Brazil also bake
Phoenix’s extreme heat withers saguaros, trademark cactus of desert landscape:
the Guardian
Phoenix’s extreme heat withers saguaros, trademark cactus of desert landscape
Cactuses are commonly assumed to be made to endure scorching heat, but even they have their limits, as has been shown recently
 If saguaros survive in the 21st century, I suppose it will be in places distant from their current range. But how will they get there? It takes years for a saguaro to start to reproduce.
New South Wales is considering adopting an "anti-discrimination" law that would prohibit condemning people for crimes if the crimes are motivated by religion:
the Guardian
NSW gay conversion opponents may have to be careful what they say under new anti-discrimination law
Some legal experts are concerned changes to the law could curtail freedom of speech
 That would give religious people more rights than everyone else.
Non-kinky sex has become unusual in mass culture and there is a tendency to sneer at it:
the Guardian
Kinks, BDSM and even torture porn are everywhere. Why has vanilla sex disappeared from our screens? | Larissa Hurt
TV should reflect a wide range of preferences – but the rise of extreme sex scenes is offering a worryingly narrow view, says freelance writer La...
US citizens: call on state legislators to expand and facilitate voting by mail:
Vote at home
Voting at Home by Mail is easy. It increases voter participation, saves money, promotes equity, and has multiple security features. Vote by Mail ba...
Tropical mosquitos that carry West Nile virus have been found living in Finland:
the Guardian
Virus-carrying tropical mosquitos found in Finland as climate heats
Culex modestus, already in UK, can carry West Nile virus causing flu-like symptoms and even death
Australian Greens push Labor to release declassified climate crisis report "full of explosive truths" about security threats global heating will cause:
the Guardian
Greens push Labor to release declassified climate crisis report ‘full of explosive truths’
Transparency would help MPs ‘weigh up predicted wars, water shortages and supply chain collapses against every new coal and gas approval’
 The Labor government is much less bad than the previous right-wing government, which was totally in the planet-roaster camp. But it still supports the planet roasters in some important ways.
(satire) Republicans Explain Why The Insurrectionist is Innocent:
The Onion
Republicans Explain Why Trump Is Innocent
Following the former president’s third indictment, The Onion asked Republicans to explain why Donald Trump is innocent, and this is what they said.
US citizens: call on Federal regulators not to authorize betting on elections by rich people and companies:
Tell Federal Regulators: Don’t let Wall Street Bet on Elections
A Wall Street firm wants to turn our elections into a day at the racetrack, where investors can rake in massive profits by betting on which party t...
Understanding the American Revolution's politics as driven by a desperate need to unite for strength despite major differences and disagreements between the regions:
The Intercept
United by Necessity: How the American Revolution Averted Civil War
Historian Eli Merritt argues the fear of civil war compelled the 13 Colonies to unite during the struggle for American independence.