[BLOG] Some Thursday links

• Bad Astronomy notes the very odd structure of galaxy NGC 2775.


• Dangerous Minds reports on the 1987 riot by punks that wrecked a Seattle ferry.


• Bruce Dorminey reports on a new suggestion from NASA that the massive dust towers of Mars have helped dry out that world over eons.


• The Everyday Sociology Blog looks at how changing technologies have led to younger people spending more social capital on maintaining relationships with friends over family.


• This forum hosted at Gizmodo considers the likely future causes of death of people in coming decades.


• In Media Res' Russell Arben Fox reports on the debate in Wichita on what to do with the Century II performance space.


• Joe. My. God. reports on the decision of Hungary to drop out of Eurovision, apparently because of its leaders' homophobia.


• JSTOR Daily reports on the debunking of the odd theory that the animals and people of the Americas were degenerate dwarfs.


• Language Hat reports on how the classics can be served by different sorts of translation.


• Robert Farley at Lawyers, Guns and Money considers how Trump's liberation of war criminals relates to folk theories about just wars.


• The LRB Blog reports from the ground in the Scotland riding of East Dunbartonshire.


• Marginal Revolution shares a paper suggesting that, contrary to much opinion, social media might actually hinder the spread of right-wing populism.


• The NYR Daily looks at the nature of the proxy fighters in Syria of Turkey. Who are they?


• Drew Rowsome interviews Sensational Sugarbum, star of--among other things--the latest Ross Petty holiday farce.


• Starts With A Bang's Ethan Siegel explains why we still need to be able to conduct astronomy from the Earth.


• Strange Maps explains the odd division of Europe between east and west, as defined by different subspecies of mice.


• Window on Eurasia notes how Chinese apparently group Uighurs in together with other Central Asians of similar language and religion.


• Arnold Zwicky explores the concept of onomatomania.

[URBAN NOTE] Six Toronto links

• Google has apologized for the negative shade its image search cast on Scarborough with a Twitter thread. Global News reports.


• The National Post looks at the story of the architecturally remarkable Integral House, on sale for $C 21.5 million.


• South Indian Dosa Mahal, a beloved Bloordale restaurant apparently displaced by landlords, has found a new home. blogTO reports.


• The infamous Parkdale McDonald, at King and Dufferin, has officially been closed down, relocated. blogTO reports.


• The Ontario Cannabis Store is experimenting with a same-day delivery program. NOW Toronto reports.


• Lia Grainger writes at NOW Toronto about how poor city planning has resulted in multiple dangerous intersections. (I know of two in my broader neighbourhood.)

[URBAN NOTE] Seven city links: Guelph, Innisfil, Montréal, Asbestos, Québec City, Alberta, Richmond

• Guelph will be holding an open house to see what development will replace the Dolime Quarry. Global News reports.


• The town of Innisfil has extended its Uber subsidy program for people in need of transit. Global News reports
  
• Archeologists in Montréal have found a mass grave of Irish famine victims. CTV reports.


• The Québec town of Asbestos is changing its name so as to avoid the link, in English, with the toxic mineral. CTV reports.


• A subway, alas, would be too big for Québec City. Streetcars would work better. Le Devoir reports.


• Can a hyperloop be built to plug Edmonton together with Calgary? Global News considers.


• Richmond, British Columbia, has unveiled a cultural harmony strategy to help its diverse population get along. The National Post reports.

[PHOTO] Looking west, Dufferin Station