Given the overwhelming evidence that activist efforts are failing to halt the accelerating rush to extinction precipitated and maintained by dysfunctional human behavior, it is worth reflecting on why this is happening.

BANGKOK, Thailand -- Several people died, hundreds were missing and
6,600 left homeless Tuesday (July 24) after a partially constructed
dam collapsed in southern Laos, dumping more than 1 billion gallons (5
billion liters) of churning water onto villages below, official
reports from the communist country said.

The collapse of the partially constructed hydroelectric dam on Monday
(July 23) night in Attapeu province was described as an accident
caused by heavy rain.

The 1 billion gallons (5 billion liters) of water which roared out
equals 2 million Olympic-sized swimming pools, according to one
report.

"The incident was caused by a continuous rainstorm which caused a high
volume of water to flow into the project's reservoir," the dam's
Thailand-based Ratchaburi Electricity Generating Holding reportedly
said in an English-language statement.

Rainwater "fractured" the "Saddle Dam D" and "leaked to the downstream
area," it said.

The dam's other investors include South Korea's Korea Western Power

Discover music from some of Central Ohio’s best indie artists through Listen Columbus, a free local music streaming service available 24/7 to anyone with an Internet connection. The Upper Arlington Public Library offers this service at www.listencolumbus.org.

The Upper Arlington Public Library launched Listen Columbus in 2016 as a way to highlight the local music scene, give exposure to Columbus-area musicians, and provide music fans with a free entertainment option. The Listen Columbus collection currently features over 35 albums from musicians recording, living and touring in Central Ohio.

Listencolumbus.org also includes a local music news blog. The Listen Columbus Facebook page shares news and events from local musicians of all kinds.

The Upper Arlington Public Library is currently seeking additional musicians to add to Listen Columbus. Bands and individuals can visit www.listencolumbus.org about to learn how to apply.

Everyone's talking about election hacking these days. In the country's latest reprise of "the Russians are coming," we're all in turmoil about Putin's interference in U.S. elections.

However, don't you find it highly ironic politicians on all sides are so worried about "Russian hacking," while virtually none of them is addressing much more significant forms of election rigging? I'm talking about the criminal fixes arranged by the U.S. officials themselves?

More specifically, these include the retention of the outdated electoral college itself, outrageous gerrymandering of voting districts, super delegates at nominating conventions, voter suppression's many forms (from voter IDs to felony disenfranchisement laws), Koch brother funding of candidates' election campaigns (as in Citizens United), and the use of highly hackable computerized technology that miscounts and discounts millions of votes each election cycle. (No wonder so many of us decide on election day, "Why bother?")