Hottest. Year. Ever.

1. Hottest year ever 2014 was the hottest year since record-keeping began in 1880, according to NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. [Vox / Brad Plumer] The Japanese Meterological Agency has reached the same conclusion. The fourth major global temperature tracking group, the Met Office Hadley Centre in the UK, hasn't reported yet. [Vox / Brad Plumer] All four datasets rely on a mixture of measurements taken on land and sea, and with satellites. [Carbon Brief / Roz Pidcock] Temperatures have risen a little more slowly over the past 16 years than the 20 before that; we're not really sure why, but the trend is still upward, and concerning. [Vox / Brad Plumer] 2014 was much hotter than average on the West Coast, but colder than normal in the South and Midwest. [Washington Post / Philip Bump] That West Coast spike contributed to California's serious ongoing drought. [Vox / Brad Plumer] In other global warming news, Pope Francis has forcefully endorsed the scientific consensus that human activity is the main cause of global warming and urged world leaders to make a final deal at this December's Paris climate change summit. [Vox / Brad Plumer] Senate Democrats are planning to offer an amendment stating that global warming is real and human-caused, to get Republicans on the record on the issue. [Mashable / Andy Freedman] 2. Misc. Batteries are getting much cheaper — and we can expect electric cars to follow suit. [Bloomberg View / Noah Smith] One simple way to lower the sexual assault rate: increase the alcohol tax. [ NY Mag / Annie Lowrey] If we get rich enough to work way less, will that mean more creativity and progress outside of work — or just more TV watching? [The Atlantic / Greg Ferenstein] Thomas Piketty: the European left's only hope is a Eurozone parliament with real power. [Potemkin Review / Antoine Dolcerocca and Gokhan Terzioglu] 3. Verbatim "I obviously try to build as many cities as I can, that’s two points." [Green Bay Packers tight end Justin Perillo on Settlers of Catan, to WSJ / Kevin Clark] "If you read the article, you’ll note there’s a big 'if' before my not giving of said shit." [Medium / Evan Williams] “It’s hard for an ape to drive something in the ocean extinct.” [Douglas McCauley to NYT / Carl Zimmer] "How far are you willing to push the Pareto principle?" [Marginal Revolution / Tyler Cowen] "'I love everything about Chinese culture,' Li ardently says. 'Everything?' I ask. 'Everything,' he responds in a sure voice. 'Even the Great Leap Forward? Even the Cultural Revolution?' Li closes his notebook without saying a word and leaves the room. I think he’s mad." [Die Zeit / Angela Köckritz] Read the latest Vox Sentences here!

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