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Links 8/24/2024

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Researchers capture video of possible wolf-dog hybrid in northern Minnesota MPRNews (Chuck L)

Looks like Audrey at the start:

New virus that causes ‘staggering disease’ discovered in US – and it can kill pet cats and those in the wild Independent (Robin K)

Long-hidden family scandal in Jamestown colony revealed 400 years later by ancient DNA CNN (Kevin W)

Where crashing cars is the point Economist. I completely get this interest even though I never went to a demolition derby. My absolute favorite toy as a toddler was a crash car.

#COVID-19

Climate/Environment

Amid Changing Climate, Colorado Plans to Restore the Wolverine Undark (Kevin W)

Water-Related Conflict On The Rise Across The World, Study Finds Forbes

Cities are trying to cut down on cars. Some states are standing in their way. Yale Climate Connections

China?

China AI devs using cloud services to game US chip sanctions The Register

Advanced IC packaging is next front in the chip wars Asia Times (Kevin W)

Readouts of Xi-Starmer call Pekinology

Koreas

Why North Korea may find the South’s new vision for unification provocative The Conversation (Kevin W). This is a feature, not a bug. South Korea does not want reunification because it cannot afford it. The unification of West Germany and the GDR due to much lower incomes in the GDR. It was very costly and was “solved” by serious wage repression. The gap between income per capita for South Korea v. North Korea is a chasm compared to that of West Germany and the GDR when the USSR fell. See Reuters in 2024, reporting on a growth surge in North Korea in 2023:

North Korea’s nominal gross national income in 2023 was estimated to be 1.59 million won ($1,147.56) per capita, equivalent to just 3.4% of the South’s 47.25 million won.

Hyper-Aggressive Monetary Expansion Kicks Into Overdrive in Myanmar Irrawaddy

Africa

Fuel scarcity stifles economic activities as SMEs battle mounting losses The Sun (Nigeria)

Sudan: 20 Tons of Life-Saving Medicines Airdropped teleSUR (Robin K)

European Disunion

German Private Sector Contraction Deepens RTTNews

Germany’s far-left disrupter claims credit for limiting aid to Ukraine. Financial Times

Old Blighty

Nigel Farage could be the real winner if Labour lets teens vote Politico (Kevin W)

Royal Society of Medicine embraces ‘tweakments’ and cosmetic surgery The Times (Dr. Kevin)

Gaza

Gaza live: Dozens killed across Gaza as Israeli army forces new displacement Middle East Eye

Israeli opposition leader Lieberman says ‘no more food, no more goods’ into Gaza Middle East Eye (guurst)

Cash crisis worsens already dire situation for Palestinians in Gaza as all banks halt operations Associated Press

* * *

Iran will hit Israel, ball is in US-Israeli court Indian Punchline (Kevin W)

Iran’s response to Israel is coming, with Mohammad Marandi Electronic Intifada, YouTube

* * *

Greek oil tanker on fire and adrift after multiple attacks in Red Sea Aljazeera (Kevin W)

New Not-So-Cold War

Despite Russian Fumbles, Ukraine Continues to Unspool Simplicius

Ukraine to begin production of 155mm shells using Norwegian military technologies Euromaidan (Robin K)

US announces new round of military assistance for Ukraine Aljazeera. $125 million does not rise to the level of being couch lint.

Here’s why Russia won’t talk to Ukraine RT (Robin K)

Syraqistan

Iraq and Turkiye: A strategic realignment amidst regional shifts The Cradle

Big Brother is Watching You Watch

Microsoft plans Windows security overhaul after CrowdStrike outage Financial Times (Kevin W). This announcement is very late in coming.

Imperial Collapse Watch

The American Empire is Losing Money in Europe. Will It Abandon Europe Glenn Diesen (Micael T)

Navy Could Sideline 17 Support Ships Due to Manpower Issues USNI (Kevin W)

Airpower on a budget: US to revive light fighter concept Asia Times (Kevin W)

Trump

X and Meta Employees Meet With MAGA Hub Sludge (TF)

I doubt this is a winning to pitch to anyone other than the stereotypical California health obsessive who has the time and money to eat only very pure foods (according to their standards) and experiment with alternate treatments (which IMHO can be very helpful but finding good modalities and then practitioners within them is often hit or miss). Mind you, I say that as a health fetishist myself. The FDA should pay me for all the experiments I have run on myself.

Nevertheless, even though readers in comments on Lambert’s RFK, Jr. speech responded positively to this messaging, he spoke specifically of harm to children. How many parents are willing to admit to themselves that they were responsible for their children’s poor health via letting them become overweight (eating too many foods with obvious and not so obvious sugars) and eating too much highly/ultra processed food? IMHO the cohort receptive to that message is largely already converted. I suspect (and we will see soon enough) that it is also is not big enough to sustain a campaign and I am not sure even rich enough in total even to give much of a boost. But perhaps all of this talk about health is to cover for a plan to make RFK, Jr. head of the CIA, which would get him or Trump killed were anyone to get word.

However:

Kamala

Harris’ Hollow Words on Gaza Daniel Larison

“She’s completely incompetent!” | Norman Finkelstein is not impressed with Kamala Harris Smart Cookies, YouTube (britzklieg). From two weeks ago but refreshingly unabashed.

GOP Clown Car

Republican-led States Challenge Effort to Aid Undocumented Spouses New York Times

Our No Longer Free Press

Has the Online Left Given Up? Jacobin (UserFriendly). I never knew the “Online Left” was A Thing. Nevertheless, the successful Democrat neutering of Sanders played a big role.

There can be no freedom without free speech Scott Ritter (Chuck L)

Antitrust

Justice Department Sues RealPage, Alleging It Enabled Price-Fixing On Rents CBS

Mr. Market Gets What It Wants

Fed’s Powell, in policy shift, says ‘time has come’ to cut rates Reuters (Kevin W)

The last great engine of the world economy is sputtering out Telegraph

Rate cuts won’t prevent a recession and the economy is deteriorating ‘quite rapidly,’ investment strategist says Business Insider

Quantitative Tightening Goes Global for the First Time, in Test for Markets Bloomberg

Bank of Japan governor Kazuo Ueda warns global markets are ‘unstable Financial Times

Guillotine Watch

Elon Musk was just forced to reveal who really owns X. Here’s the list Yahoo! Finance (Kevin W)

Class Warfare

Canada forces arbitration in freight train labor dispute to avert economic crisis. Union cries foul and later Canadian union threatens to strike against freight railroad hours after trains resume service Associated Press (Kevin W)

Railway Shutdown Threatens Agriculture And Bill Gates Is The Largest Share Holder Of CN Rail!! Odysee (DO)

“Greeks can have vacations in the village, not on the islands,” says Minister Defend Democracy (Micael T)

Revisiting How Many People Have Filed Bankruptcy Credit Slips

Antidote du jour. Tracie H: “This is a skipper butterfly spotted on a brief stroll around the seaside town of Corona Del Mar (California) – The butterfly was kind enough to let me intrude on its flower visit”

A bonus (Chuck L):

And a second bonus. The word “heroic” is used too casually in the US. This man took real risk and so IMHO the label fits:

And another bonus:

See yesterday’s Links and Antidote du Jour here.

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51 comments

  2. Steve H.

    St Clair caught Covid, and brainfogged an overlap of Faulkner and the DNC convention, producing this prose:

    > People take different turns sitting on the coffin. First, there was Cash with his broken leg, set in concrete and turning black. Then Miss Hillary, dressed in white, waving her arms like Bill’s pants were on fire. Again. Then the buzzards landed. Up in the rafters near the MSNBC booth. Nancy Pelosi didn’t sit on the coffin, even though she drew up some of the plans for it. They say Joe don’t cotton to her anymore. And a cat, but Vardaman chased it away, thinking it might eat the fish, which was his mother. Every party needs a cat and cat lady, I reckon. Then Obama sat on it for a while and preened. Obama thinks his mother is Ronald Reagan. Or Nancy. I can’t remember which. Then Michelle chased him off, saying his yacht was waiting on the Gold Coast of Lake Michigan, and he was late. Given her convention speech, AOC must think her mother is Hillary Clinton. Nobody inside seemed to mind the smell. Or even notice it. Not the smell of the casket or the smell outside, which nearly everyone else was gagging from.

    Reply ↓
    2. Carolinian

      And continuing

      “Kamala has a daddy who she doesn’t mention for reasons most everybody knows but can’t say. But her daddy is tonight Joe Biden, though it used to be Willie Brown. And her momma is Nancy Pelosi. And Biden and Pelosi fight. So they can’t be together in the same room. Kamala isn’t Daisy Dell. But she might have been once, no one’s quite sure. FoxNews is trying to find out. Now she’s nobody’s mother, which makes her suspect for many. An unproductive grifter, I guess, who won’t have any function at all in her post-menopausal years, which are fast approaching, if they haven’t yet arrived. Watch those nuclear codes.”

      Not many examples of Faulkner, poet of poverty, these days. You have to make up your own.These days Mississippi has car plants but still one of the highest poverty rates in the nation.

      Reply ↓
  3. Ben Panga

    This isn’t a reaction to any particular link; more a growing feeling I’ve had reading through links the last few months.

    War is coming(?). As in “big world war” type war.

    I’m reminded of the rumour that Rishi Sunak quit because he didn’t want to be a war leader.

    Censorship, lawfare, election chicanery (or just ignoring them in France), crumbling economies with no obvious fix, repeated provocations of Russia and Iran.

    I really hope I’m wrong.

    And I’m still not discounting a big reveal about UFOs (absurd as I feel typing it). There’s too much coming out of the US gov about them the last months/years for it to be heading nowhere

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    2. Wukchumni

      I can see the Golden Billion being relegated to single-A ball, no reason to still be in the bigs, all are heavily indebted in a series of mutual reliances.

      Just as WW1 was the end of royalty in the old world, you sense the end of royalties is dwelling in some dank corner near you.

      Reply ↓
      1. jefemt

        I’m still waiting from my royalties from Elon for his using my share of low-earth-orbit for starlink. Different Royalty? Gumby . Gumby long wait.

        Reply ↓
        1. The Rev Kev

          Low-earth-orbit are part of the commons. So of course billionaires like Musk want to seize control over it and monetize it for themselves. And that is why they are also investing in spacecraft. So that if you want to get into orbit, you can only do so at their sufferance. It’s like letting billionaires buy up the elevators in skyscrapers for their own profit. Can you imagine?

          Reply ↓
  4. The Rev Kev

    ‘Dr. Lucky Tran
    @luckytran
    GOOD NEWS: The US government has announced that it will again offer free at-home Covid tests starting in late September.
    You will be able to get 4 more free test kits sent through the mail.’

    Why would the US government do that when Biden assured everybody that the Pandemic was over back in September of ’22? He wasn’t wrong by any chance, was he? If so, that horse has fled the barn, took off through the county, headed to the nearest port and took a boat out of the joint before anybody had a chance to shut those barn doors.

    Reply ↓
    1. CanCyn

      And really, what is the point in testing? No one is tracking results, there is nowhere to report them. And didn’t we read about a recent survey in which 30% of respondents said they’d fly knowing they have COVID? I think people are convinced that COVID is no big deal and they are not one bit concerned about spread. Perhaps headlines like the one from the Montreal Gazette will wake people up? I have my doubts. Fall is coming, brunch will soon have to happen indoors!

      Reply ↓
        1. Randall Flagg

          Wait, Covid?!?!
          All I hear is: “It’s just a summer cold”. Or, “my allergies are acting up”. Oh, also: ” Oh boy, this was a tough pollen season”

          I think people are behaving about Covid like those DNC delegates leaving the arena and covering their ears while walking past the protesters reading the names of the Palestinian children killed in Gaza.
          See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil (except when it comes to anyone not supporting the Ds, the D’s policies or Kamalala. Then, not enough evil can be spoken.

          Reply ↓
        2. JTMcPhee

          Just made it worse for me, on the rebound.

          Truly a wonder med! Big Money to Pharma for another med that does not work even close to “as seen on TV’ image.

          Reply ↓
    2. The Rev Kev

      Unbelievable when you think about it. They say that the US is stalling out but why are they surprised? They impoverish average citizens, let corporations get away with loading them up with killer debts for healthcare, education, etc, and then let other corporations jack up prices the past few years for things like food so that profits can be boosted leading to executive bonuses. And then when average Americans are tapped out and can’t spend into the economy, they moan that the economy is stalling out. What did they think would happen?

      Reply ↓
    1. Yves Smith Post author

      Sorry you are having trouble. The tweet with the image should come up if you wait for it to load. I can see it just fine along with the other embedded tweets.

      Reply ↓
    2. The Rev Kev

      It’s one thing to have some guy on the other side chucking a grenade in your direction. Nothing personal – it’s just business. But the thought of a grenade doing slow circles, marking you out and then going after you kinda makes it sound personal.

      Reply ↓
  8. vao

    The Queen of Night blooms only once a year – in the dead of night.

    It is correct that this flower only blooms during the night, but it is wrong to state it does it only once per year. 3-5 times is typical.

    Another interesting point: the flowers emit a strong scent — spicy, unlike roses or violets that are just suave and sweet; quite pleasant if you like tropical fragrances. If you have such a plant in your apartment, the scent spreading through it is the signal that the flowers are in full bloom. It grows vigorously, and it is therefore necessary to keep pruning it.

    Reply ↓
    1. Otto Reply

      So glad you mentioned the aroma. Heavenly. Smells like Beamon’s chewing gum. We have 2 plants outside. Frequently with multiple blossoms that seemed to align with the full moon. The blossoms came in waves and as this time lapse shows, last only 1 night. Further, we noted that bats were drawn to the blossoms. Very cool plant.

      Reply ↓
  9. Wukchumni

    Well now she’s respected in society
    We don’t worry about the things that she used to be
    We’re talking a heroine as the president
    Well it’s a problem, sir, but it can’t be bent
    Uh yes

    Well now you’re a pillar of society
    You don’t worry about the things that you used to be
    You’re a tirade-trade girl, you’re the queen of yawn
    You’re got the easiest way to the White House lawn

    Get out of my life, don’t come back
    Get out of my life, don’t come back

    She’s so respectable
    She’s so respectable
    She’s so unelectable
    She’s so respectable
    Get out of my life
    Don’t cause more strife
    Don’t come back
    Get out of my life
    Don’t cause more strife
    Don’t come back

    What I say

    She’s so respectable
    She’s so respectable
    She’s so respectable
    She’s so respectable

    Get out of my life
    Don’t cause more strife
    Don’t come back
    Oh get out of my life
    Don’t cause more strife
    Don’t come back, alright oh

    She’s so respectable
    She’s so respectable
    She’s so unelectable
    She’s so respectable
    Get out of my life
    Don’t cause more strife
    Don’t come back woo

    Get out of life
    Don’t cause more strife
    Don’t come back
    Get out of my life
    Don’t cause more strife
    Don’t come back, come back, hey

    Respectable, by the Rolling Stones

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0hl5WmTTPo

    Reply ↓
  10. viscaelpaviscaelvi

    @ Elon Musk was just forced to reveal who really owns X. Here’s the list Yahoo! Finance

    Is there anything in the article that justifies The Donald’s pic heading it? Perhaps in the list? It’s so blatant, I am left doubting myself. Did I miss anything?

    Reply ↓
  11. The Rev Kev

    “Researchers capture video of possible wolf-dog hybrid in northern Minnesota”

    They say that that hybrid is a one-off but what if it isn’t? Not only does it look larger, it looks healthier and better suited to cold weather. What if it breeds and passes on some of these traits to a new generation of wolves? It might even mean a new sub-species of wolf based out of Minnesota. An interesting thought. If it does breed, then Minnesota should grab the opportunity and give it a name. It’s a pity that the name Minnesota Timberwolves is already taken. :)

    Reply ↓
  12. JohnnyGL

    I enjoyed the sanity check from Matt Karp. Lots of leftish media commentators are soooo quick to jump right back on board with team dem as soon as they feel like they’re being lied to in a more skillful way that makes them feel respected.

    This party wouldn’t even raise the federal minimum wage! They even did that during the Obama era! They’ve moved RIGHT in a lot of ways.

    Are free school lunches really worth the massive increase in war-mongering?

    Reply ↓
    1. The Rev Kev

      Pretty sure that Fauci got Covid for the third – official – time only recently in spite of all the shots and boosters that he had. It would be a matter of supreme irony if those repeated Covid infections hammered his immune system thus allowing his body to catch this dose of West Nile virus. Maybe I should feel sorry for the guy but I can’t as with people like him, for me it is a case of never forgive & never forget.

      Reply ↓
      1. Randall Flagg

        >Maybe I should feel sorry for the guy but I can’t as with people like him, for me it is a case of never forgive & never forget.

        Have to admit to being a dick and agreeing with that sentiment so well expressed RK.

        But, we should be careful here, remember what he said. You and I probably just put ourselves on a list somewhere. LOL
        https://www.forbes.com/sites/carlieporterfield/2021/06/09/fauci-on-gop-criticism-attacks-on-me-quite-frankly-are-attacks-on-science/

        Reply ↓
      2. Mikel

        mRNA is doesn’t actually seem to be an effective vaccine – in the old school definition of vaccine.
        It’s a treatment, an experimental gene therapy where people are still waiting to learn the long-term effects.

        Reply ↓
  14. Mikel

    Rate cuts won’t prevent a recession and the economy is deteriorating ‘quite rapidly,’ investment strategist says – Business Insider

    What usually happens is the rate cuts start and the instability increases and decline accelerates anyway, so rates are cut even more. Those closest to the cheap money spigot and well-connected still can make out like bandits while most suffer. This accelerates the wealth inequality even more. Some kind of “recovery” is eventually claimed (led by asset prices that re-inflate due to the cheap money) and these recoveries after each crisis have diminishing returns – fewer actually “recover” each time.
    Did I miss anything?

    Reply ↓
      2. Mikel

        And now there are more wars developing around the world with the byzantine global supply chains and what is called de-industrialization of “developed” economies to go along with the conflicts.
        That’s the only thing makes it “different this time” and not in a good way.

        Reply ↓
  15. Louis Fyne

    Reportedly/allegedly the IDF razed thr last mosque in Gaza.

    https://t.me/intelslava/65509

    Back during the Iraq War, if US Marines did this in Fallujah, the NYT/MSM would keep this footage in the news cycle for days on end.

    But I guess it’s ok if it’s Israel

    Reply ↓
    1. The Rev Kev

      What’s Hebrew for ‘It’s OK when we do it.’

      Of course there is one last mosque that the Israelis really want to destroy but haven’t worked out yet how they can get away with it. But when they do, let the sacrificial animal slaughter commence.

      Reply ↓
  16. Mikel

    The last great engine of the world economy is sputtering out – Telegraph

    “We think it would be a mistake for the Fed to conclude that the turmoil was a head-fake,” said Krishna Guha from Evercore ISI.

    And it’s a mistake to think inflation isn’t still a problem. Inflation keeps compounding whether it happens at a fast or slow rate.

    It’s called being in a trick bag.

    Reply ↓
    1. Mikel

      “We will find out soon whether or not the Powell Fed has committed a second error by staying too tight for too long…”

      They’ve lost all perspective if they think a about a year of small hikes, then about a year of holding steady at still rather low rates was “too long” after decades of QE. Something is fundamentally wrong with a hyper-financialized economy.

      Reply ↓
    2. Louis Fyne

      the Fed is damned if they do, damned if they don’t. just like the BoJ.

      real reform (tax reform, industrial policy, etc) is impossible. so we’ll (eventually no one knows when) crash into the wall at 200 kph

      Reply ↓
  17. jefemt

    Deteriorating economy: is it just me, or is there perhaps a pre-four year election economic doldrum where the power/money sector, heck – even Joe Six Pack, sort of move to the sidelines and sit on their hands?
    Seems to me I see this ever four years, starting in April /May. Irrational psychological phenomena?
    My deal: self-employed, no employees (failed unaspiring Capitalist!) sole proprietor meager income micro business – but I KNOW how the election cycle years are lean and mean.
    Are there implications for Powell/Fed to move or not move on rates based on the mini-cycle, nothing to do with 7 year business cycle(tm)?
    Also, if AI and job impacts are occurring and as dire as predicted, are we not into a new paradigm where Fed Magic Pixie Dust may be old medicine for a new paradigm and illness?

    OK… more coffee, for sure.

    Reply ↓
  18. Verifyfirst

    FDA has approved new Covid vaccines for the fall–not Novavax of course.

    https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-approves-and-authorizes-updated-mrna-covid-19-vaccines-better-protect-against-currently

    Stalwarts on twitter are apparently writing and calling the person responsible for this decision to not include Novavax–if I recall correctly(can’t find the post just now), they believe he is delaying in order to get a sinecure at Pfizer, as his direct predecessor in that position did last year. Seems likely, what would be the medical rationale for the decision?

    Hopefully Novavax gets approved soon, I am a year out from my last Novavax shot I wanted to get a second shot six months ago, but I could not figure out eligibility, despite some efforts…..

    Reply ↓
  19. rudi from butte

    The Smart Cookie clip with Norman F…..interesting that he thinks Biden stuck it to them by endorsing Kamala.
    I hadn’t heard that….did you guys? Did I miss that one or is this pure Norman?

    Reply ↓
  24. Mikel

    “My absolute favorite toy as a toddler was a crash car.”

    Indeed. In my house as a kid, the whole point of playing with those easily assembled, plastic, automated race tracks back in the day was to eventually create spectacular crashes.

    Reply ↓

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