Butterflies accumulate enough static electricity to attract pollen without contact (press release) University of Bristol
Killer Whales Sink Yacht in Med: ‘Knew What they Were Doing’ Daily Beast
When private equity buys a hospital, assets shrink, new research finds WaPo
Private Equity Professionals Are “Fighting Fires” in Their Portfolios, Slowing Down the Recovery Institutional Investor
Top BlackRock executive benefits from unusual ‘points-style’ bonus pay FT
The Olympics
COVID-19 hits Paris Olympics: Athletes forced to withdraw and mask up AP. “Team Canada’s chief medical officer Mike Wilkinson, said his team ‘continued to implement many of the infection prevention protocols that proved successful during the Covid pandemic including hand washing, sanitisation and good hygiene practices.'”
U.S. Olympic Swimmers David Johnston, Luke Whitlock Test Positive for Covid-19 in Paris Swim Swam
Olympics Triathlon Goes Ahead In River Seine After E.Coli Cliffhanger Deadlinel
* * * “Main character energy”:
The most "Main Character Energy" I've ever seen in my life from Kim Ye-ji (Republic of South Korea) casually breaking a world record and winning the gold medal #Olympics2024 #Paris2024 pic.twitter.com/mlTGZQappE
— The Something Guy 🇿🇦 (@thesomethingguy) July 30, 2024
* * * Quote of the Day, Olympic Edition: “They’re Enjoying Themselves at Our Expense, and They Expect Us to Applaud?” China Digital Times
Olympic ‘Last Supper’ scene was in fact based on painting of Greek gods, say art experts Guardian
Climate
Permafrost thaw accelerating climate change, studies warn BNE Intellinews
The Rush to Shore Up the Power Grid Against Hurricanes, Heat and Hail WSJ
NIFC: When all the West is on fire at once, this is who deals with it Wildfire Today
Decolonisation, dependency and disengagement—the challenge of Ireland’s degrowth transition Center for the Understanding of Sustainable Prosperity
These 17th-century drawings of the sun by Kepler add fire to solar cycle mystery Space.com
Syndemics
Cruisers contracting COVID-19 during summer surge as healthcare recommendations change FOX35
China?
China’s factory activity contracts for third straight month FT
China’s cash-strapped small banks face limitations amid shake-up, with no easy fix South Cnina Morning Post. Commentary:
4/4
banks or into national-level banks?), the state in which it leaves bank balance sheets, and the ways in which financial responsibilities will be divided up, will all matter hugely to the evolution of China's long, difficult economic adjustment.— Michael Pettis (@michaelxpettis) July 31, 2024
China’s Tianqi contests Chilean regulator’s move to hand over lithium reserves to state S&P Global
Ahead of the Times: Flag-Waving Communication and Japan’s Dōjima Rice Exchange Nippon.com
India
How A Lawyer Used Race & Caste To Get American Citizenship Madras Courier
Africa
Volume and Shape New Left Review
Dear Old Blighty
Thugs hijacked Southport and families’ grief, MP says BBC
Misinformation about Southport attack suspect spreads on social media Guardian
New Not-So-Cold War
Talking Ukraine on “The Duran” (video) John Mearsheimer
Ukrainian society is inclined to make concessions (Google translation) Vzglyad
SITREP 7/31/24: Die Welt Reveals Dire NATO Camp Outlook for Ukraine Simplicius, Simplicius the Thinker
Would the U.S. Consider Assassinating Putin? Foreign Policy
* * * Neo-Nazi Azov Battalion profile quietly removed from Stanford extremist group list Noir. Commentary:
Nazified extremists like Azov are useful as motivated killers for warfare, but a frankenstein's monster when you need to switch to ceasefire/peace mode. Azov way too big now (and just one of many extreme-right military formations) to put back in the bottlehttps://t.co/zMjziZ5C3c
— Mark Ames (@MarkAmesExiled) July 30, 2024
* * * * * * Ukraine businesses furious over government-proposed tax hikes to fund fight against Russia Kyiv Independent
Lithuania condemns Hungary’s decision to ease entry conditions for Russians and Belarusians: it threatens EU security Ukrainska Pravda
Russia to legalise cryptocurrency in attempts to circumvent sanctions Ukrainska Pravda
South of the Border
Fresh protests in Venezuela as anger grows at disputed election result BBC. Commentary:
BREAKING: Venezuela’s opposition and US media outlets claim there was "fraud" in the election based on an exit poll from US government-linked firm Edison Research.
Edison works with CIA-linked US state propaganda and was active in Ukraine, Georgia, & Iraqhttps://t.co/HsHglYbUtF
— Ben Norton (@BenjaminNorton) July 29, 2024
Lula and Biden call on Venezuela to release full presidential election results France24
National Lawyers Guild electoral observers praise Venezuelan election process MR Online
Syraqistan
Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh is killed in Iran by an alleged Israeli strike, threatening escalation AP
Israeli Attack Kills Hamas Leader in Tehran: F-35 Precision Strike Suspected Military Watch
Israel carries out rare strike on Beirut that it says killed Hezbollah commander AP. Commentary:
It's telling Israel (allegedly) can conduct pinpoint operations thousands of kilometers away to a capture target with precision, yet just two kilometers from home, they use 5-ton bombs on families to eliminate minor threats.
PS the hostages are still in Gaza. https://t.co/mfmWZ3l8Ki
— Etan Nechin (@Etanetan23) July 31, 2024
More:
Israel just bombed Beirut, killing civilians including at least two young children of 6 and 10 years old, in what it claims was a strike against a Hezbollah commander. It's very simple: All of Tel Aviv is a legitimate target to strike to take out Israeli commanders. All of it pic.twitter.com/XsKlYVDl86
— ☀️👀 (@zei_squirrel) July 30, 2024
* * * ‘More horrific than Abu Ghraib’: Lawyer recounts visit to Israeli detention center 972 Magazine. Sde Teiman. Long thread of commetnary:
The military police had come to arrest nine of the soldiers – apparently all reservists – who serve at the camp. They were wanted for their involvement in the gang rape of a prisoner who was subsequently taken to the camp’s infirmary with severe rectal injuries.
— Mouin Rabbani (@MouinRabbani) July 30, 2024
A day of chaos in Israel as far-right protesters storm military bases Axios. “[A] Hamas operative who was detained at the facility was rushed to a hospital after bleeding from one of his intimate parts of his body.” Commentary:
I feel stupid and ashamed. In May, an expose came out on CNN detailing the abuses in Sde Taiman. Then, the NYT released their own article on it. Both were backed up with Israeli sources, crossed with Palestinian ones.
I dismissed them because my government sources and Israeli…
— Shaiel Ben-Ephraim (@academic_la) July 29, 2024
Biden Administration
The Non-Compete Revolution Begins Wealth Management
Supply Chain
Red Sea crisis hits volumes at port of Piraeus Seatrade Maritime News
Trump’s radical reforms could put a spanner in US supply chains Seatrade Maritime News
Digital Watch
OpenAI endorses Senate bills that could shape America’s AI policy TechCrunch
W3C says Google’s cookie climbdown ‘undermines’ a lot of work The Register
Instagram to allow users create their own chatbots through AI studio Business Standard
Zeitgeist Watch
Imperial Collapse Watch
US needs more nuclear subs, mobile ICBMs and tactical nukes: Heritage report Breaking Defense
Catholic group Opus Dei accused of recruiting children FT
Class Warfare
For Big Companies, Felony Convictions Are a Mere Footnote WSJ
WhatsApp Mutual Aid Grassroots Economic Organizing
The problem of busy work activism Chloe Humbert, Teams Human
Florida HOA Decides It’s Above State Law, Won’t Let Residents Park Trucks at Home The Drive
What Is Left Of The Mind 3 Quarks Daily
Antidote du jour (Adrian Pingstone):”
And a bonus (AM):
AM writes: “The third generation of the exotic escapee goose family in Roger Williams Park is doing well. They are cousins, I think. The slightly larger one is about 2 and a half weeks older than its 3 younger relatives. The other adults were nearby – a total of 10. One missing. Hopefully still around.”
See yesterday’s Links and Antidote du Jour here.
KAMALA!
(melody borrowed from Camelot from the musical Camelot by Frederick Loewe and Alan Jay Lerner)
Yahoo! Yahoo! Joe Biden isn’t here!
And Kamala’s been given the all clear!
Celebrity comes not from what you know, dear
Please try to keep up with the changing plot
In politics we’re putting on a show, dear
Hey Kamala!
Your words must not pour out like from a blender
You can’t sound like you’ve caught what Biden’s got
Don’t drop one hint that you are a pretender
Hey Kamala!
Kamala! Kamala!
You’ve been our second string so far
But now Kamala! Kamala!
You’ll be our guiding star
Some kid just tried his hand at gunning Trump down
It’s great that he just nicked poor Donald’s ear
Reports say had he got a more accurate shot
You’d have a simpler time of it this year
Hey Kamala!
Kamala! Kamala!
We’ll show you how to use your claws
Listen Kamala! Kamala!
You must get more applause
Don’t ramble on until you find you’re tongue-tied
Your words must make some sense that people hear
If voters boycott you’ll lose your only shot
They’ll back whomever can assuage their fear
Hey Kamala!
‘Leonid Ragozin
@leonidragozin
Azov Movement’s Dmytro Kukharchuk (currently battalion commander at the 3rd detached assault brigade) calls for executing those who “consciously or unconsciously” promotes enemy agenda. Various Azov personalities have been recently expressing outrage at the authorities in Ukraine tentatively lifting the taboo on discussing peace talks and territorial concessions.’
Should it be mentioned that this is the same unit that right now is going around Europe to raise funds, host information evenings and recruit new people? They can’t be all bad if the EU gave them the green light to do so because, you know, EU values-
https://www.brusselstimes.com/1155091/ukraines-azov-battalion-cancels-controversial-recruitment-session-in-brussels-tbtb
This is going to be an issue for years, maybe decades. They have access to so much money and weapons right now, and no doubt the CIA is helping.
Effing brilliant.
Shaiel Ben-Ephraim at 6 PM yesterday tweets about his shame and stupidity at having believed his government’s claims that what international media says about Israel are the lies of antisemites. 4 hours later he’s tweeting “hats off” and “redemption” at Israel bombing Beirut. Not sure what to make of Mr Ben-Ephraim.
I wonder what he was tweeting when Israel was under bombardment by the Iranians not long ago. Was there any signal in the bomb shelter that he was probably hiding in?
Kamala, you’re in the run now
Running after somebody, you gotta get him somehow
I think you’ve got to slow down before you start to blow it
I think you’re headed for an Alf Landon beat down, so be careful not to show it
You really don’t remember, was it something that he said?
Are the voices in your head calling, Kamala?
Kamala, don’t you think you’re fallin’?
If everybody wants you, why isn’t anybody callin’?
You don’t have to answer
Leave them hangin’ online, oh oh oh, calling Kamala
Kamala (Kamala), I think they got your number (Kamala)
I think they got the puppeteer (Kamala) that you’ve been living under (Kamala)
But you really don’t remember, was it something word salad you said?
Are the voices in your head calling, Kamala
A ha ha, a ha ha, Kamala, how’s it gonna go down?
Will you meet him on the debate stage, or will you catch him on the rebound?
Will you harry us for money, make a presser in the afternoon?
Feel your innocence slipping away, don’t believe it’s comin’ back soon
And you really don’t remember, was it something that he said?
Are the voices in your head calling, Kamala?
Kamala, don’t you think you’re fallin’?
If everybody wants you, why isn’t anybody callin’?
You don’t have to answer
Leave them hangin’ online, oh-oh-oh, calling Kamala
Kamala (Kamala), I think they got your number (Kamala)
I think they got the puppeteer (Kamala) that you’ve been living under (Kamala)
But you really don’t remember, was it something word salad you said?
Are the voices in your head calling, Kamala?
Gloria, by Laura Branigan
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZXx0pWpszKg
It’s a blast from the past…I can remember hearing this one as a young kid. The voices in her head… something something “Trump weird”…yeah let’s run with weird for $200, Alex.
2012. Guns and religion.
2016. Deplorable, or learn to code.
2020. Our Democracy.
Putin speaks. Is anyone listening? ( Shout out to Bishop Berkeley).
https://x.com/OlgaBazova/status/1818583872923119997?t=frfl3YBC5EqI7_SjoyOjAQ&s=19
‘The Something Guy 🇿🇦
@thesomethingguy
The most “Main Character Energy” I’ve ever seen in my life from Kim Ye-ji (Republic of South Korea) casually breaking a world record and winning the gold medal #Olympics2024 #Paris2024’
Absolutely zero ***** given. She must have practiced this a thousand times, even in her sleep. My digital hat is off to Kim Ye-ji. Speaking of the Olympics, the French had a brilliant idea-
‘As part of Paris’s commitment to a greener Olympics, it was decided that air conditioning would not be installed with officials instead promising that the athletes rooms would be kept cool through a geothermal water system pumping cold water underneath the buildings. The Paris Games is aiming to reduce its total carbon emissions to half the level of previous Olympics.’
Well a heat wave has hit Paris and the athletes are sweltering causing them to go buy fans and air-cons for their rooms. Those small rooms sound like ovens. But not all rooms apparently. Certainly not for the French national team-
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/article/2024/jul/30/hot-air-con-paris-2024-denies-claims-of-two-tier-games-in-searing-olympic-village-rooms
It’s a green Olympics alright, just like all of ’em… showering of advertising dollars and the corporate partners lol…or as the NCAA here in the states puts it, Corporate Champions. Blech.
Reading how the Seine river is now dramatically cleansed to sufficiently lower levels of e coli, hey let’s go swimming in the now very much cleaner and not filthy water. I heard a US radio commentary yesterday, comparing this set up for the athletes to how attendees were treated at Woodstock 99. The last such festival to be called that, and it was a doozy!
Try and think of the athletes as doing synchronized sweltering training, i’d have to go with the Africans as the ones to beat.
They were supposed to hold the Men’s Triathlon in the Seine yesterday but had to delay it because the Seine river was still too polluted. Too much bacteria. But not long ago they restarted the Triathlons again so all that bacteria must have gone poof and disappeared-
https://www.cosmopolitan.com/lifestyle/a61668416/paris-olympics-poop-protest-seine-river/
The Bio-alertathon is still on, though?
Maybe we have a chance to witness the beginnings of a new Marvel superhero!
The TV commentator on the video says “here in Baku”, and the mostly empty seats, and the sign in the background. I’m not sure the video has anything to do with Paris 2024.
That the world’s best shooters can remain perfectly calm during the highest levels of competition doesn’t surprise me a great deal. The Something Guy is the second twiterer to disappoint today. (Btw, I’m not on XTheEverythingApp. I only see tweets here at NC.)
South Korean shooter Kim Ye-Ji indeed won gold in January in Baku in 25 m pistol by breaking the world record. She also won silver in air pistol on Sunday in Paris…
It probably says more about my priors than anything else, but when I first saw that I thought to myself ‘classic psychopathic trait‘.
The most Main Character Energy i’ve witnessed, has to be that mass murderer in Pavlovegas who killed some 60 while wounding 600.
(place ‘Vegas Strong’ sticker on the rear echelon of your vehicle, to compensate for lack of sane gun rules)
“Venezuela’s 2024 presidential election did not meet international standards of electoral integrity and cannot be considered democratic.” -The Carter Center.
Quelle surprise!
Does the United States meet international standards of electoral integrity? The fact that several States have made it illegal for international observers to be anywhere near a polling station would indicate no. Going by memory here, I believe that the Carter Center used to be a regular observer of Venezuelan elections and found them fair until a few years ago when somebody leaned on them to stop going.
I assume United States sets the international standards of electoral integrity. No, not by example, let’s not be ridiculous! but by statements from think tanks and Department of State.
I’m pretty sure that it would be all covered under the International Rules Based Order. (rolls eyes)
“Thugs” and “Misinformation”. These are the first words in the two headlines of articles about the Southport slayings and resulting violence. I’m thinking these two words accurately describe their publishers, The Guardian and BBC. I wager most readers here can name which publisher used which word without looking.
It seems to me that the authorities never learn their lesson about incidents like this.
As with the incident in Ireland last year when children were attacked and the attacker was immediately arrested, when the police refuse to say anything about the perpetrator, everyone makes assumptions, and inevitably rabble rousers of one type or another will fill in the gaps in social media. When I read about the attack, and saw that the police would only say that the suspect was a ’17 year old male’, I immediately made a few assumptions (rightly or wrongly, I don’t know yet). I’m sure everyone else did too.
There really is no excuse for not being open and transparent. Sure, if it turns out the kid is from an ethnic minority and there is an immediate backlash in the community, bad things can happen. But trying to suppress the information if anything makes things worse.
Re: ‘More horrific than Abu Ghraib’: Lawyer recounts visit to Israeli detention center
So, the Zionists have a torture camp at Sde Teiman. Horrible indeed, but is it really surprising?
For many years now, Israel has also had prisons for children. Think about that for a moment.
Wikipedia claims that “the United States incarcerates more of its youth than any other country in the world”.
But the data is old. It appears that the US has cleaned up its act, as it no longer seems to see a point in collecting data on the topic:
https://www.aecf.org/blog/what-is-juvenile-detention
I doubt Israel records the Palestinian kids as Israeli youth, though. Just terrorists, detained indefinitely without trial for security reasons.
US needs more nuclear subs, mobile ICBMs and tactical nukes: Heritage report
No. No we don’t, thank you.
The report may be notable less for its ideas than for who is putting it out. The Heritage Foundation has established itself as the policy center for a potential next Trump administration, particularly through its work on Project 2025, a conservative blueprint for the next president helmed by former Trump administration officials. Sigh
Killer Whales Sink Yacht in Med: ‘Knew What they Were Doing’
One of the whales was seen wearing an “Eat the Rich” t-shirt.
NIFC: When all the West is on fire at once, this is who deals with it Wildfire Today
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
One of the cabin owners is a fireman in Ventura County, and he’s often out on fires elsewhere during the fire season, and was explaining the beat down effect of the new aegis of longer seasons, in that it would be tantamount to asking NFL players to do 26 games a year in the regular season.
Everybody gets worn out, and then add Covid into the mix as an added bonus.
My buddy from Tucson gets the hell outta there around May and does a quite Steinbeckian Travels with Charlie road trip around the west with Dusty the Adventure Dog, and he’s off in a few days and options are on the sucky side as smoke from a myriad of fires is making a mess of best laid plans, combined with Cali about to have another week of mostly hades-but it is hades not @ Point Reyes, so that’s where they are headed.