Birds of Paradise BELT Magazine
Massive solar explosion was felt on Earth, the moon and Mars simultaneously for the 1st time ever Physics-astronomy.com
The moon is open for business, and entrepreneurs are racing to make billions Insider
We Need to Rewrite Our Scripts for an Alien Visit to Earth World Politics Review
Meet the new ‘Dune’ monster, an ancient bladed sea worm Interesting Engineering
US scientists achieve net energy gain for second time in nuclear fusion reaction The Guardian
Climate/Environment
Winter heatwave in Andes is sign of things to come, scientists warn The Guardian
Peatlands are swampy vaults for toxic chemicals. Wildfires are setting those toxins loose The Narwhal
Shell Games: A UK court case has big ramifications for climate justice globally SOMO
There Are Enough Resources in the World to Fulfil Human Needs, But Not Enough Resources to Satisfy Capitalist Greed Tricontinental
One Man’s Aerial Crusade Against West Virginia’s Coal Industry Mother Jones
Toxic Train Bombs
6 MONTHS SINCE THE EAST PALESTINE TRAIN DERAILMENT, CONCERNS REMAIN FOR HEALTH AND RAILWAY SAFETY The Allegheny Front
#COVID-19
7 days ago UK health officials spotted a new variant — EG.5, dubbed “Eris”. And it’s already soaring as #COVID19 case rates rise. Eris is also sweeping across East Asia and has turned up in the USA. #SARSCoV2 is still evolving: it’s not “gone.”https://t.co/LNcl7FpU7B
— Laurie Garrett (@Laurie_Garrett) August 6, 2023
A fungal disease is rapidly spreading across the U.S. Scientists are alarmed Fast Company. Lambert: “No mention of immune dysregulation from SARS-CoV-2. Naturally.”
Los Angeles Has a Growing Typhus Problem, Thanks to the Fleas Gizmodo
2) Rendini et al. demonstrated that many cases reported in eastern United States, including Georgia and central Florida, lacked zoonotic exposure or recent residence outside of the US. https://t.co/bRcB4aJ91L
— Eric Feigl-Ding (@DrEricDing) August 6, 2023
Old Blighty
Inside Tony Blair Inc. Unherd
How a Pinochet ‘death flight’ helicopter became UK gamepark prop The Guardian
La belle France
France may soon overtake Russia as the world’s No. 2 arms exporter France24
The Sahel
US/France threaten intervention in resource-rich Niger: Fears of war in West Africa Geopolitical Economy
From Chi-Town bagman to ECOWAS chairman: meet the former money launderer leading the push to invade Niger The Grayzone
The Senate of Nigeria joins the nations of Burkina Faso, Mali, Guinea and Algeria in opposing a western-backed ECOWAS intervention in Niger. https://t.co/tQOFN2FkbE
— Eugene Puryear (@EugenePuryear) August 5, 2023
France suspends development and budget aid to Burkina Faso France24
Putting the recent coups in the Sahel in broader perspective Ken Opalo, An Africanist Perspective
China?
Remembering China’s Indie Rock Glory Days The Diplomat
China’s vulnerable gig workers grapple with lower pay and longer hours as Beijing touts benefits of platform economy South China Morning Post
China accused of using water cannon on Philippine boat in South China Sea Al Jazeera
Wow, exceptionally strong words from a key South Korean lawmaker, who chaired a ruling party committee on South Korea’s semiconductor competitiveness until early this year:
“If [Washington] continues to try to punish other nations and to pass bills and implement ‘America First’… pic.twitter.com/1IVAdVArtY
— Arnaud Bertrand (@RnaudBertrand) August 6, 2023
New Not-So-Cold War
Ukraine strikes bridges in Crimea with NATO-supplied missiles RT
Russia’s Multi-Wave Attack Hits Ukraine’s Aeronautics Base; 70 Back-To-Back Air Assault Arms Fired Hindustan Times
Ukraine used cluster munitions on Donetsk university Al Mayadeen
French SCALP-EG Cruise Missiles Officially In Use In Ukraine The Drive
NEWSFLASH: Reports from Russian sources state Poland may now be allowing its military airfields to be used by Ukrainian attack aircraft to bomb bridges in Crimea. If these reports are correct, then NATO itself has allowed this explosive escalation.
— John Moran (@RueDaungier) August 6, 2023
Sometimes the west is honest by accident and they reveal the truth that I have been saying for nearly two years now. I have widely said that Russia has been fighting Ukraine with a handicap on. Many uninformed people or liars in the west claim Ukraine can beat Russia, that Russia… pic.twitter.com/ydbZXIn9wr
— Noctis Draven (@DravenNoctis) August 6, 2023
***
Ukraine calls Jeddah talks productive, Russia calls them doomed Reuters
Empty Think Tank Gordon Hahn, Russian and Eurasian Politics. A fine takedown of Russia historian Stephen Kotkin
***
Ukrainians move to North Dakota for oil field jobs to help families facing war back home Politico
South of the Border
O Canada
Why Canada Is Criminalizing Dissent Compact Mag
B-a-a-a-a-d Banks
Wells Fargo customers scramble after deposits disappear from their accounts NBC News
Biden Administration
The First Big Antitrust Trial of the Century Is About to Start BIG by Matt Stoller
Remember that Biden Dinner That Joe Biden Never Attended? Well, he did. Jonathan Turley
2024
Vivek Ramaswamy suggests U.S. may be aiding Ukraine because of Hunter Biden NBC News
Trump
Trump attorney says he won’t accept plea deal in Jan. 6 case The Hill
Trump says he will seek a recusal, venue change in Jan. 6 case Politico
Pence confirms he took notes on Trump about overturning election The Hill
The Indictment of Donald Trump Is The Real Threat To Democracy Newsweek
GOP Clown Car
The truth about Iowa’s book ban Along the Mississippi
Our Famously Free Press
McConnell is warmly embraced by Kentucky Republicans amid questions about his health Associated Press
🚨Mitch McConnell gets drowned out by chants of “RETIRE” from his own constituents during a speech in Kentucky.
It’s over for him.
Step down.
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) August 7, 2023
Healthcare?
Big Tech CEOs Meet with Psychiatry’s Leaders to Decide the Future of Mental Health Mad In America
Gunz
Can a device turn rifles into machine guns? The debate heats up in Brooklyn court. Gothamist
AI
“AI” Hurts Consumers and Workers — and Isn’t Intelligent Tech Policy Press
Big Brother is Watching You Watch
Will Browsers Be Required By Law To Stop You From Visiting Infringing Sites? Techdirt
Eight Months Pregnant and Arrested After False Facial Recognition Match New York Times
Zoom terms of service now require you to allow AI to train on ALL your data—audio, facial recognition, private conversations—unconditionally and irrevocably, with no opt out.
Don’t try to negotiate with our new overlords. pic.twitter.com/Ri2VE59RYr
— Ted Gioia (@tedgioia) August 6, 2023
How to Quickly Get to the Important Truth Inside Any Privacy Policy The Markup
Groves of Academe
California’s Teacher Shortage Is Dire Governing
Imperial Collapse Watch
KC-46A tanker still has 6 category 1 deficiencies, but fixes are in the works: USAF official Breaking Defense
DELIVERING THE ARMY OF 2030 War on the Rocks
Class Warfare
Why is the city paying to evict tenants from supportive housing? 48 Hills. San Francisco.
How a mobile-home park saved its community from a corporate buyout High Country News
Sports Desk
UNSPEAKABLE WONDER The Lamp. Shohei Ohtani.
Haven’t stopped thinking about this since @jordan_castro2 posted it earlier this week.
I’m fascinated by the idea that you could somehow WALK your way out of consciousness and into enlightenment. pic.twitter.com/dc6X39hJXq
— Aaron Gwyn (@AmericanGwyn) August 4, 2023
Why All Great Thoughts Are Conceived by Walking Atmos
Antidote du jour (via):
See yesterday’s Links and Antidote du Jour here.
