[BLOG] Some Monday links

[rfmcdonald]

• The Dragon's Tales' Will Baird speculates that life on Mars, which plausibly got started earlier thanks to quicker cooling, was devastated by multiple devastating impacts.


• Far Outliers' Joel examines the 11th century of Constantinople and Venice, a relationship that was shifting as Venice gained strength.


• Geocurrents takes a look at religious diversity in Ethiopia, making the interesting point that in addition to Christian-Muslim conflict there is also conflict between Ethiopian Orthodox Christians and Protestants.


• The Inuit Bikini Monster notes that a cat in Mexico is running for a mayoral position.


• John Moyer makes the point that fantasy literature isn't necessarily escapist, not least because terrible things happen.


• Language Hat notes that, for plausible and understandable reasons, the phrase "a sight for sore eyes" is starting to refer to something bad.


• Marginal Revolution wonders whether traditional dress in the Gulf States is a marker of identity, and to what extent.


• The Power and the Money's Noel Maurer thinks that Edward Snowden made a good choice by seeking refuge in Ecuador, a sufficiently democratic and low-crime Latin American polity.


• Torontoist notes that Toronto city police is trying to work on improving the relationship with Somali-Canadians after the recent raid.


• Towleroad notes that late gay writer John Preston has given the Maine city of Portland a new slogan.


• The Volokh Conspiracy talks about rising nationalism among Burmese Buddhists. Sadly, many commenters talk about how Muslims must be controlled.


• Window on Eurasia notes the ongoing demographic issues of Russia and Belarus.