Rare white penguin spotted at scientific base in Antarctica NY Post. I suppose the spots made it visible?
The financial system needs more capital and less complexity FT. Why not less of both?
A Famed Analyst’s Final Forecast Is the Fall of the U.S. Economy New York Times. “[T]he people making the goods elsewhere are getting greater and greater control of the means of production [(!)] and therefore greater and greater control of the world economy and therefore greater and greater control of money.”
Climate
Activists splatter ‘Mona Lisa’ with soup in Louvre Museum in Paris ABC
Truth Actually Lapham’s Quarterly. The deck: “A tour through a century of climate-change documentaries.”
#COVID19
Negligence by experts in the early response to COVID-19 British Medical Journal. If negligence it be; it still goes on–
Updated WHO COVID prevention guidance may endanger rather than protect, some experts say Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy. At best, utterly blinkered and moronic, like HICPAC:
“The guidelines suggest using symptoms to screen people,” [Raina Macintyre said via email. “This is seen in health guidelines in many countries—emphasis on symptoms (‘wear a mask if you feel unwell’), when we know a substantial proportion of transmission is asymptomatic, which is a major rationale for universal masking in high-transmission settings.”
Similarly, David Michaels, PhD, MPH, an epidemiologist and professor at George Washington University School of Public Health and a former administrator at the US Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), said the guidelines don’t directly address the modes of COVID-19 transmission.
“I was very disappointed,” he told CIDRAP News, referring to the WHO’s adherence to what he calls “droplet dogma,’” or the misguided belief that SARS-CoV-2 spreads mainly through droplets rather than aerosols. “It hasn’t fully recognized the concept that this novel coronavirus is airborne.
Nor does the document fully recognize that N95 respirators offer better protection against the virus than medical, or surgical, masks.
Looks like John Conly is still embedded….
For elite footballers, the effects of covid-19 linger for months The Economist
China?
Chinese developer Evergrande ordered to be wound up by Hong Kong court FT. A story about Evergrande that dropped from sight.
Japan
COVID-19 cases in Japan increase for the ninth consecutive week Asahi Shimbun
‘It’s not an Oedipus complex’: why Japan’s ‘silver porn’ market is booming Guardian
India
Narendra Modi is celebrating his scary vision for India’s future Vox. The temple in question.
Syraqistan
3 US service members killed, many injured in attack on Al-Tanf military base Anadolu Agency. The deck: “US says attack happened within borders of Jordan, while Jordan says it was on Al-Tanf base in Syria.” Trump tried to get rid of Al-Tanf, but failed. Today, Trump blames Biden, Iraqi resistance group claims responsibility. Iran’s denial. GOP calls for retaliation. Biden vows response at time ‘of our choosing.’ Meanwhile, KC-135s heading eastward:
What Comes Next After Three Americans Were Killed In A Drone Attack In Jordan? The Drive
Violence spirals as Iran’s proxies kill American soldiers The Economist. The deck: “In an election year Joe Biden is under fierce pressure to retaliate.” Commentary:
We always hear about “Iranian-backed militias” allegedly doing things without any firm operational details of how this “Iran-backing” works
— Michael Tracey (@mtracey) January 29, 2024
Yeah. Can’t the spooks have some intern make a yarn diagram?
SITREP 1/28/24: US Troops Suffer Fatalities in Strikes as Escalation Grows Simplicius The Thinker(s)
Pelosi demonstrating fealty (1):
Watch Nancy Pelosi claim that protestors opposing Israel’s genocide in Gaza are spreading “Putin’s message,” and that she wants them investigated for possibly being on Russia’s payroll.
This is what Russiagate has been about since day one: embracing Russia conspiracy theories… pic.twitter.com/YeWsPpLXZX
— Aaron Maté (@aaronjmate) January 28, 2024
Pelosi demonstrating fealty (2):
Here’s Nancy Pelosi seated beside Zionist billionaire Haim Saban declaring that if the Capitol “crumbled to the ground,” Congress would still fork weapons over to Israel
We don’t need the FBI to tell us she’s a vehicle for malign foreign influence pic.twitter.com/H1PninYgLE https://t.co/aQJ5BtzJQv
— Max Blumenthal (@MaxBlumenthal) January 28, 2024
Kafka at the International Court of Justice The Tablet. Case for the defense. But see Francis Boyle:
Francis Boyle on the ICJ Orders “This is a massive, overwhelming legal victory for the Republic of South Africa against Israel on behalf of the Palestinians. The UN General Assembly now can suspend Israel from participation in its activities as it did for South Africa and…
— Sam Husseini (@samhusseini) January 26, 2024
Details Emerge on U.N. Workers Accused of Aiding Hamas Raid NYT. The deck: “Israeli officials have presented evidence they say ties workers at a Palestinian aid agency in Gaza to violence during the Hamas-led attack on Israel.” Israeli officals? Say no more! Commentary:
Taking a cue from the @WhiteHouse‘s own decision regarding @unrwa, I think we should all defund the entire US political class because a few of them are participating in genocide.
— Dan Kervick (@DanMKervick) January 28, 2024
Interview on Iran’s Press TV discussing the brouhaha over several UNRWA employees’ involvement in the Hamas attacks of 7 October Gilbert Doctorow
Iran launches three satellites amid rising tensions with Western powers Al Jazeera
New York Times Puts “Daily” Episode on Ice Amid Internal Firestorm over Hamas Sexual Violence Article The Intercept
Biden administration discussing slowing some weaponry deliveries to Israel to pressure Netanyahu NBC. Maybe if we sent him a sternly worded letter?
Growing number of apps help automate pro-Israel activism online WaPo
Where Is Hamas Getting Its Weapons? Increasingly, From Israel. NYT. Unexploded ordnance (!).
Has International Law Survived, or Has the Western Political Class Killed It? Craig Murray. Murray comments:
The worst twitter suppression I have ever seen.
844 reposts, including some from accounts with millions of followers.
But X has only shown this to 29k people in total.
I have 154k followers.
Most reposts showing under 5 views! Even from big
accounts. https://t.co/SOjbQuroJp pic.twitter.com/0xsHoArZpx— Craig Murray (@CraigMurrayOrg) January 28, 2024
The Lucky Country
Deadliest six months on Australian roads since 2010 leaves industry demanding answers Guardian. ‘Tis a mystery!
Australia must consider bringing back conscription as ‘all-out war’ with Russia looms, expert says News.com
Dear Old Blighty
Britain says it has no plans for conscription, after top general says the UK may need a citizen army AP
European Disunion
Brussels threatens to hit Hungary’s economy if Viktor Orbán vetoes Ukraine aid FT
Hungary far-right would lay claim to neighbouring region if Ukraine loses war Reuters. Trans-Carpathia.
New Not-So-Cold War
Ukraine war latest: Kyiv would win faster if allowed to hit deep inside Russia with Western weapons, Navy commander says Kyiv Independent
Ukraine’s Zelensky warns of World War 3 risk as he seeks Western support against Russia South China Morning Post
Amidst Preparations for Long Ukraine War, Peace May Come Quickly Tony Kevin, Pearls & Irritations. “Peace, when it comes, may come quickly. Meanwhile, expect both sides to continue to talk big publicly of their being ready for a long war. In Russia’s case, it is true.” Big if true (author bio). Worth a read.
Ukraine’s hopes for victory over Russia are slipping away WaPo
Bertie Wooster in Murmansk London Review of Books. The Allied intervention in the Russian Civil War of 1918-20.
2024
A vote for Trump is a vote for chaos Noah Smith, Noahpinion
Our Famously Free Press
I Am Going to Miss Pitchfork, but That’s Only Half the Problem Ezra Klein, NYT
Why We Need Public Journalism Boston Review
Healthcare
Epidemiology has a causality problem Adam Kucharski, Understanding the unseen
Toward the eradication of medical diagnostic errors Eric Topol, Ground Truths
More (And More) Meat: How Doctors Treated Diabetes Before Insulin Therapy Literary Hub
The Bezzle
$40 billion worth of crypto crime enabled by stablecoins since 2022 Ars Technica
2024
The border’s political value is crushing talks on policy The Hill
A city of 710,000 struggles to cope with 40,000 migrant arrivals NBC. Denver (but the headline figure isn’t supported in the story).
House Republicans release impeachment articles against Mayorkas amid push to remove him over the border ABC
Digital Watch
X blocks searches of Taylor Swift to combat explicit deepfakes The Hill. And when the “deepfake” is in fact real? Hunter Biden’s laptop all over again.
Zeitgeist Watch
Icon of the Seas: World’s largest cruise ship sets sail Sky News. I didn’t know they made Petri dishes that big.
Sports Desk
England secure one of greatest Test wins as Tom Hartley spins out India with seven wickets Sky Sports
Second Test as it happened: Windies claim first win on Australian soil in 27 years Sydney Morning Herald. “Windies” = West Indies:
[embedded content]
Musical interlude:
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Supply Chain
New Lithium Discoveries Can Secure America’s Clean Energy Future The National Interest
Imperial Collapse Watch
America’s Strategy of Ambiguity Is Ending Now Foreign Policy. Hmm. I’m not sure many outside The Blob view our foreign policy as “ambiguous,” especially not the objects of our imperial attention.
Software troubles delay F-35 fighter jet deliveries … again The Register
Class Warfare
Trader Joe’s Attorney Argues National Labor Relations Board Is ‘Unconstitutional’ HuffPo
Skeletons in the Closet Air Mail. The deck: “The culture wars have come for Skull and Bones, Yale’s most prestigious—and mysterious—secret society.”
Austin experimented with giving people $1,000 a month. They spent the no-strings-attached cash mostly on housing, a study found. Business Insider
Scientists have found a new kind of magnetic material The Economist
Antidote du jour (via):
Bonus Antidote:
See yesterday’s Links and Antidote du Jour here.
