Let’s laugh: Can humor ease tensions in polarized times? MPR (Large chuck)
Strange things happen to wolves infected with a notorious mind-altering parasite Science Alert (Chuck L)
The Sublime Fault of Charles Taylor The Chronicle of Higher Education (Anthony L.)
Here Are the Monstrous Architects: Joshua Komaroff and Ong Ka-shing on ‘Architectural Horror’ Los Angeles Review of Books (Anthony L.)
The teacher tried his best to stop the children from using mobile phones, but he quit his job out of frustration. The Wall Street Journal (Paul R.)
Farm workers at high risk of bird flu infection but testing is lacking KFF Health News
#COVID-19 (Novel Coronavirus Disease)
New COVID-19 variant becomes dominant in Canada CTV
COVID-19-related neurological symptoms in Parkinson’s disease: Ferroptosis suspected? Nature
China?
3nm semiconductor chips #China soon!
And there are no EUV machines, which the US banned the Netherlands from selling to China.#Huawei And SiCarrier (a Chinese company) has also obtained a patent. This process will take a bit more time and money, but who cares? https://t.co/em8oz7Spgs
— SL Kanthan (@Kanthan2030) May 29, 2024
Chinese student expulsions spark chaos from Yale to University of Virginia Bloomberg
This is a very interesting study by King’s College London on China coverage in the UK media.https://t.co/Jeny5fVWLE
Unsurprisingly, the study found that coverage of China was consistently negative across all mainstream media, with “positive coverage being almost nonexistent.”
— Arnaud Bertrand (@RnaudBertrand) May 29, 2024
Climate and Environment
Global sales of gas-emission SUVs to hit record high in 2023, data shows Guardian
Anti-waste researchers urge companies to ditch brightly colored plastics The Guardian. This has probably been known since the beginning of plastic recycling, so why all the fuss now and why act like this is a new issue? I’ve long resented supposedly eco-friendly brands using plastic packaging, packaging that isn’t white or clear.
Africa’s heatwaves
Senegal Matam Min 32.4 Max 47.2
Mari Elimane Min 35.7 Max 47.0
Algeria Guezham Min 34 Max 46
Abnormal 40.7°C in Tamanrasset at 1,377m above sea level, breaking May record
Middle East: 48C Oman and United Arab EmiratesWhat about the cold season in South Africa?
37°C in Namibia pic.twitter.com/5LBdB4CwPE— Extreme Temperatures Around the World (@extremetemps) May 26, 2024
Severe drought in Zambia threatens to push millions into hunger, minister says The Guardian. Similar reports have been published in other publications in Morocco and Zimbabwe. Floods damage crops in Kenyas.
Pakistan heatwave sees temperatures exceed 52 degrees Reuters
(1) North American heat wave – record heatwave continues🌡️
Hottest night on record Nicaragua: 29.0 Puerto Cabezas
The hottest May night in Colombia: 29 Providencia
Hottest May night in Grenada: 28.5 points Salines
29 Roatan Honduras
Mexico
29.2 Monclova
28.6 Coatzacoalcos
28.2 Tampico
27.9 Iran pic.twitter.com/AGCWBRdSka— Extreme Temperatures Around the World (@extremetemps) May 26, 2024
European Separation
National foundation supporting vulnerable young people provides attractive apartments for employees’ children Hem & Heila (Michael T.)
The hashtag #JeChieDansLaSeineLe23Juin hits X: Hidalgo is going to swim in the Seine, and maybe Macron will join her! 4-4-2. (Michael T)
Gaza
Israeli and Egyptian forces exchange gunfire on border amid airstrikes on Rafah refugee camp Military Watches
Colonel Douglas MacGregor: Rising tensions on Israel’s border Judge Napolitano, YouTube. McGregor argues that this is a serious issue and that Egyptians on the streets are giving up on the war.
Israel-Hamas war: No ‘major ground operation’ in Rafah — US DW: If you believe this, I have a bridge to sell you. There are reports that there are tanks in Rafah.
Rafa Tent Massacre Daniel Larrison
Spying, hacking and blackmail: Israel’s nine-year ‘war’ on the ICC exposed The Guardian. If you actually read the footnotes in the ICJ South Africa case, you know that South Africa initially sent multiple diplomatic notes to the ICC asking them to sit back and take action regarding war crimes in Gaza. They then filed an ICJ case and used that ICC petition as part of the evidence to inform Israel that a dispute existed. Now you can see why the ICC didn’t respond initially.
Surveillance and interference: Israel’s secret war against the ICC exposed 972 (guurst). From ICC Research Partners.
Turkish energy giant withdraws from Israel amid Gaza protests: Middle East News
A new cold war
Alexander Mercouris said on Tuesday that these systems are modular in design, that initial damage reports seem to have been exaggerated, and that they will be fully restored within hours. He further said that there were no signs of alarm among Russian officials, such as the cancellation of meetings, emergency conferences, or Putin’s return to Moscow. However, these are defense assets and are not part of the SMO.
“Ukrainian forces have now attacked Russia’s second major nuclear strategic early warning radar in Orsk.
This radar is pointed towards the Indian Ocean and partially overlaps with the radar fan of the already damaged Armavir radar.
The first indicator is the amount of… pic.twitter.com/xoP7TkNr8S
— Mats Nilsson (@mazzenilsson) May 28, 2024
Russia’s Electronic Warfare is Becoming More Effective, Changing the Tide on the Frontlines – Report Military Watches
Patrick Lawrence: The US Endgame in Ukraine — War Without End, Amen Consortium News (Kevin W)
What Ukraine hardliners forget about the war American Conservatives
🇷🇺Vladimir Putin:
“Regarding the attacks, frankly I don’t know what the NATO Secretary General is saying.
When he was Prime Minister of Norway, we discussed and dealt with difficult issues regarding the Barents Sea and other issues. And in general, we… pic.twitter.com/822Hdpoarb
— Sonny Tan (@nxt888) May 28, 2024
Caucus
Georgia’s EU membership ambitions under threat from controversial new law RFE/RL. Bwahaha.
Empire Collapse Watch
Masters of War: In Search of a New World Order in Munich Harpers (Anthony L)
These factors may be behind the shockingly high suicide rate in the military. Science Alert (Chuck L)
Biden
RFK Jr. Super PAC Chairman to Publish Tell-all Book by Mother of Hunter Biden’s Baby CNBC: I’m not sure this will move the needle with voters, but it will infuriate the Biden campaign.
Trump
De Niro slams De Niro in Trump trial Matt Taibbi
Immigration
US immigration: How many people are coming to the US and where are they coming from? Angry Bear
Coalition rallies at state capitol to pressure FirstEnergy to break up WOSU (Carla R). Community Activities!!
Wall Street Settles Fastest Trades in a Century Bloomberg
artificial intelligence
Noam Chomsky: ChatGPT’s false promises The New York Times. (Memo by Anthony L., 2023)
Basil
Class struggle
Liberalism as a way of life Damon Rinker. Anthony L: “Oh My God I Only Worship You”
Every privileged person should get a prize. Times Higher Education (Anthony L)
You can force employees back to the office, but not your best employees. RTE (Paul R)
David Graeber’s Magical Quotes Compact Magazine
Today’s antidote. Art S: “My little pond hasn’t had anything bigger than aquatic beetles for years. This spring it’s frogs!”
And bonus:
It remains to be seen how this species survives in the wild. pic.twitter.com/otSxTBxWld
— Buitengebieden (@buitengebieden) May 27, 2024
See yesterday’s link and Antidote du Jour here.
