Dear patient readers,
Links are a little light at launch today due to the need to say at least a little about the blockbuster RKF, Jr. suit against Google for YouTube censorship. See the accompanying post. We should add more goodies by 8 AM EDT at the latest.
Korat Candle Procession 66 event upstaged by scene-stealing cat Thaiger (furzy)
‘Cuddling’ is just what the doctor ordered for a 200-pound walrus calf rescued this week in Alaska Associated Press
Fritz the hippo is on a watermelon sugar high (Video) New York Post (furzy)
Welcome to Slowjamastan! The desert micronation with no Crocs and no taxes Guardian (furzy)
The sad death of the Australian backyard MacroBusiness
#COVID-19
Not up to the minute, but makes the point clearly:
If you have relaxed them, it is time to ramp up precautions.
Cases rising: https://t.co/6AXfaJye2p
— Yaneer Bar-Yam (@yaneerbaryam) August 2, 2023
Climate/Environment
Scientists Relocate Coral to Cooler Water as Ocean Warms YouTube (furzy)
MIT Boffins Build Battery Alternative Out of Cement, Carbon Black, and Water The Register
After Government Cyanide Bomb Poisons Boy, Family Pushes Ban Intercept (furzy)
China?
Seen just now in Zhalai Nuo’Er, on the Chinese border with Russia.
This is actually very interesting. I’ve now been on China’s borders with quite a few countries (Russia, Mongolia, N. Korea, Myanmar, Laos, etc.) and it’s a common pattern: the culture of the bordering country is… pic.twitter.com/LDnXlyTOsP
— Arnaud Bertrand (@RnaudBertrand) August 4, 2023
BlackRock, MSCI probed for investments in China Asia Times (Kevin W)
China wants to limit minors to no more than two hours a day on their phones CNN (Kevin W). !!!!
Niger
Niger is Fourth Country in Sahel to Experience Anti-Western Coup Defend Democracy
European Disunion
Now English is becoming a threat to democracy Aftonbladet (Micael T). Machine translation, original here.
Stories are now emerging about German plants closing due to energy-induced deindustrialisation. https://t.co/WFfI2L8Omy
— Philip Pilkington (@philippilk) August 5, 2023
Berlin’s global woke offensive conceals Germany’s self-inflicted decline. — The German political elite no longer wants to conquer the world with battle tanks, but with venomous moralism. Eastern Angle (Micael T). This does make the behavior of Annelina Baerbock seem a tad less ridiculous.
Austrian Leader Proposes Enshrining the Use of Cash In His Country’s Constitution Associated Press/blockquote>
New Not-So-Cold War
Russia says tanker hit in Ukrainian attack near Crimea BBC (Kevin W)
WHY IS THE WEST SO WEAK (AND RUSSIA SO STRONG)? THE ROLE OF HUMAN CAPITAL AND WESTERN EDUCATION Gaius Baltus (Peter E)
Three Polls On Support For The War In Ukraine Moon of Alabama
Our interview with Noam Chomsky: Propaganda in the Ukrainian War pic.twitter.com/qXKOD1nXqp
— Glenn Diesen (@Glenn_Diesen) August 4, 2023
EU state will order Russians to leave RT (Kevin W). Note ethnic Russians are >24% of the population of Latvia, so this move is likely to incite harassment of Russian-descent Latvian citizens. Also note some Russian citizens own property in Latvia…..
‘Fighting two enemies’: Ukraine’s female soldiers decry harassment Guardian (Dr. Kevin). I do not mean to seem to be defending Ukraine here, but my impression is that this problem is endemic when women soldiers are working side-by-side with, and more important, housed in near proximity, to male soldiers.
UKRAINIAN WEIGHTLIFTER REFUSES TO SHAKE HANDS WITH IRANIAN pic.twitter.com/QdptZGTm7i
— The_Real_Fly (@The_Real_Fly) July 31, 2023
Old Blighty
Kent councillor suspended from Labour after watching Jeremy Corbyn film MR Online. Anthony L: “It’s the rage in Real Democracies!”
Let private and third sectors cut NHS waiting lists, says Steve Barclay Guardian (Kevin W)
Syraqistan
With Marines on Persian Gulf vessels, is Biden risking war with Iran? Responsible Statecraft
Saudi Arabia extends oil production cut even as US gas prices hit nine-month highs CNN. While Saudi Arabia generally wants higher oil prices, MbS does not like Biden, so if oil prices are high in the runup to the election, IMHO the impact on the Biden campaign would be a welcome side effect.
Israeli extremists attempt to storm Catholic church and monastery Catholic News Agency (Anthony L)
Imperial Collapse Watch
US lawmakers, governor wish Coast Guard happy birthday using images of Turkish ships Anadolu Agency
Technical Visit to the United States and Guantánamo Detention Facility by the Special Rapporteur on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms while Countering Terrorism UN Human Rights Special Procedures (guurst)
U.S. quest for minerals leads to a remote nation surrounded by adversaries Politico (Kevin W). Mongolia. Insanity.
Trump
The Electric Kool-Aid Trump Indictment Matt Taibbi
Prosecutors ask judge to issue protective order after Trump post appearing to promise revenge Associated Press (furzy)
DeSantis Dismisses Trump’s 2020 Election Theories as False New York Times (furzy). Quelle surprise!
Biden
Part 2 of our interview with Devon Archer is over an hour long and is out this morning.
Check out Part 1 if you missed it. https://t.co/HyjB7YzN7a
— Tucker Carlson (@TuckerCarlson) August 4, 2023
2024
Exclusive: DeSantis’ biggest donor says he won’t give more money unless changes are made Reuters (furzy)
Obama biographer who revealed ex-president’s ‘gay fantasies’ and ‘cheating’ behind Michelle’s back brands him ‘as insecure as TRUMP ‘ and warns ‘lazy’ ex-leader would be ‘terrible’ on SCOTUS Daily Mail
Dianne Feinstein has surrendered decision-making on legal matters to her daughter, but the 90-year-old is still one of the most powerful lawmakers in the country Business Insider (Kevin W)
Mexican cartels exploit US government’s CBP One app Washington Examiner (guurst)
Twitch streamer’s ‘huge giveaway’ sparks police response at Union Square in NYC CNN (furzy)
Our No Longer Free Press
Wikipedia Co-Founder Condemns It: “Most Biased Encyclopedia” in History SYSTEM UPDATE (BC)
Woke Watch
Doing the Work:The Protestant ethic and the spirit of wokeness Ian Buruma, Harpers (Anthony L)
AI
What Can You Do When A.I. Lies About You? New York Times. BC:
People need to grow up and learn the limits of this type of technology. It is impossible to prevent incorrect information coming out of a tech that is essentially only (a very good) auto-complete engine. AI does not remove the responsibility of human’s in the loop, and if there is no human in the loop, then who cares what some AI said?
If your neighbor asks a Magic Eightball if you stole their Amazon package, and then decides to act relying solely on that information, then you should be able to sue your neighbor if they defame or damage you erroneously. However, suing the manufacturer of the Magic Eightball is ridiculous. It’s also like suing your weather app when your event is ruined because there was a storm on a day that it said would be clear.
How bonds ate the entire financial system Financial Times (Kevin W). Ahem, private equity is far and away the biggest source of fees not only to major financial firms but also the most prestigious and influential law firms in the US and UK, and the big international consulting firms too.
The Bezzle
Former Minnesota Governor Jesse Ventura Plans To Launch His Own Marijuana Brand As State’s Legalization Law Takes Effect Marijuana Moment (Mark G).
It’s not just Disney losing customers—nearly 2 million people stopped subscribing to Warner Bros. Discovery’s streaming service Yahoo! (Kevin W)
Amazon Clinic now offers video doctor visits in all 50 states The Verge. Kevin W: “Your health in Amazon’s hands. What could possibly go wrong?”
On ethics and economics Lars P. Syll (UserFriendly)
Class Warfare
Remote work is killing productivity, the experts and CEOs say—except it just surged the most in nearly 3 years Fortune (Kevin W). ZOMG, this is what yours truly predicted with work from home, once the bugs were ironed out. A lot of office time is devoted to meetings which are largely time sinks but serve for management to assert authority. Another in-office time sink is gossip and politicking. The second time-waster does not go away with work from home but is reduced.
Google Offers Employees On-Campus Hotel ‘Special’ To Lure Workers Back To the Office CNBC
Global Graduate Outlook Survey 2023 CFA Institute. Micael T: “….”finance has replaced healthcare and medicine as the top-ranked profession in terms of career prospects.’ Killing the host, killing the host.”
$30: The Entrance Fee to America’s Museums Keeps Rising New York Times. This is far from the most important injustice suffered by the poor and even the middle class, but it is a disgrace that museums are not free. Look at the messages: Poor people do not deserve free access to beautiful things and spaces. Poor people are not capable of appreciating high culture.
Antidote du jour (Robert H). It is way too easy to anthropomorphize cats, but that facial expression looking at a big heap of what no self respecting cat would regard as food…
See yesterday’s Links and Antidote du Jour here.
