Why comedy is not universal BBC
Elusive Amazonian monkey seen alive for first time in 80 years Independent
Shark-detecting drones to patrol Australian beaches Reuters
How green roofs can protect city streets from flooding The Conversation
Popular in high school? You may be miserable as an adult, study says Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Safe spaces and ‘ze’ badges: My bewildering year at a US university Spectator
Imperial Collapse Watch
Nuclear Missile Overhaul Falls to Small Pool of Contractors WSJ
Robert E. Lee at West Point The American Conservative. Chuck L: “A memo to the superintendent.”
Chinese scientists say they’re close to trials transplanting pig organs into humans SCMP
Why a dumb phone is a smart move FT. I concur.
I was an Exxon-funded climate scientist The Conversation
Volkswagen Engineer Gets Prison in Diesel Cheating Case NYT. But look at the length of the sentence…and consider the time’ll almost certainly be served at Club Fed.
New Cold War
How do you say ‘whoops’ in Russian? Podesta Group retroactively files more DOJ disclosures for pro-Putin work Washington Examiner. UserFriendly: “I for one am shocked, shocked!!!”
Brexit
Brexit: Keep single market for transition period – Labour BBC
No ‘constructive ambiguity’. Labour will avoid Brexit cliff edge for UK economy Guardian
UK must pay Brexit bill, says Angela Merkel Politico
Brexit: Big business and banks are dominating formation of Brexit warns report Independent
Brexit’s transition deal sits top of the agenda for business FT
Now we know most international students go home after their courses – the vilification must end The Conversation
The Asian American battle over college admissions Asia Times
Police State Watch
Court: Locating suspect via stingray definitely requires a warrant Ars Technica
India
India Supreme Court: privacy a fundamental right Jurist
After Right to Privacy Ruling, Focus Must Now Be on Creating Robust Data Protection Laws The Wire
How a small clinic in Coimbatore grew into one of the biggest charitable eye hospitals in India Scroll.in
With Pneumococcal Vaccine Patent, Pfizer Wins on Many Counts The Wire
Class Warfare
The first men to conquer death will create a new social order – a terrifying one New Statesman
The Stock Market Doesn’t Matter Jacobin
US Opioid Use Linked To Unemployment, Researchers Say International Business Times
Online pet pharmacy fires back at short-seller’s accusation that it’s exploiting opioid epidemic MarketWatch
Many Poor Kids in Baltimore Are Testing Badly Because They Can’t See AlterNet
The Great Escape? Par for the Course. Marshall Project
How Do We Prevent Banks From Funding Oil Pipelines? Aim Big and Keep Showing Up Truthout
Ruby Ridge, 1992: the day the American militia movement was born Guardian
Syraqistan
Endtimes in Mosul LRB (martha r) Patrick Cockburn. Behind a paywall, but well worth a read if you can access this — LRB often allows free access for a limited period following registration.
Yemen: Cholera death rates soar in rebel-held areas Al Jazeera
War on Cash
A Sinister War on Our Right to Hold Cash Global Research
China?
My prediction: the coming collapse of China’s Ponzi scheme economy SCMP
In China you now have to provide your real identity if you want to comment online Quartz
Hurricane Harvey
A Texas newsroom predicted a disaster. Now it’s close to coming true. Columbia Journalism Review
Trump’s ‘Great Job’ Praise for Emergency Chief Evokes ‘Brownie’ Bloomberg
As residents survey damage, Harvey drenches Texas CNN
Three Texas prisons evacuate for Hurricane Harvey Houston Chronicle
Harvey’s Second Act Could Drive Up Economic Damage for Texas Bloomberg
Retired General: ‘Our Bases and Stations on the Coast Are Going Underwater’ DeSmogBlog
Trump Transition
Trump’s monument plan still shrouded in secrecy The Hill
Trump administration introduces green card hurdle Politico
Trump gives new meaning to the Friday night news dump, enraging his critics WaPo
Shut Down the Government, and This Time, Investors Will Care NYT. Gretchen Morgenson.
The Arpaio Pardon Encapsulates Trump’s Identity Politics FiveThirtyEight
Mnuchin Backpedals on Tax Loophole That Helps Billionaires Truthdig
Fallout grows as Trump continues attacks on fellow GOP members Politico
Antidote du jour:
See yesterday’s Links and Antidote du Jour here.
