One iguana’s taste for cake leaves a young girl with a mysterious malady CNN
Thursday I captured video that has eluded me for 7 years. Rotary #train blowing snow near Donner Pass in #california #railfans #railway #snow https://t.co/KCMmDMVJ0V pic.twitter.com/kdcKilNjX6
— WxChasing- Brandon Clement (@bclemms) April 2, 2023
Climate/Environment
The US leads the world in weather catastrophes. Here’s why AP
Squirrels live longer in leafier parts of London, air pollution study shows Guardian
Water
New water-based battery could help reduce dependence on lithium for energy storage Interesting Engineering
Nine years after their drinking water was poisoned, residents must wait months longer for shares of $626M #FlintWaterCrisis settlement, as delays plague claims review process https://t.co/Ra20x4eay0
— Paul Egan (@paulegan4) April 2, 2023
#COVID-19
Fatigue is common among older people. Finding its cause is important Washington Post. Not paywalled.
I am once again asking the lawyers who want to make money on class action lawsuits to contact me bc the idea that hospitals can get away w doing zero infection control during a pandemic and killing their own patients seems off to me https://t.co/2TLjMpvxm4
— Julia Marie (@julia_doubleday) April 2, 2023
Syraqistan
Report: Israel tech sector still among world’s strongest Al-Monitor
Israeli high tech’s ‘political awakening’ evades a violent truth +972 Magazine. The deck: “High-tech workers say the new government’s plans could harm their sector. But history shows the industry actually thrives off of volatility and violence.” From Feb. 9 but still germane.
French intelligence infiltrated Lafarge, collaborated with extremists in Syria: Ex-CEO The Cradle
Old Blighty
No money for air-filters in schools though. https://t.co/ne2vtZcK05
— Lisa #SafeEdForAll (@Sandyboots2020) April 2, 2023
India
Russia identifies India, China as its main allies a day after Finland’s NATO membership gets green signal The Times of India
India-China border now stable, situation of ’emergency control’ over: Chinese diplomat The Tribune
China?
Huawei: good results in tough times Asia Times
Anti-China ‘propaganda’ stokes fears as Michigan town weighs Gotion factory Bridge Michigan
Texas Lt Governor Dan Patrick: “I don’t think good people escape the CCP in China…these are educated people China is sending to go to our colleges and steal secrets. Send them back to China.”
👋 see you all in the camps pic.twitter.com/1to2C6bfsX— Boba Cyclist 정 (@BobaCyclist) April 2, 2023
New Not-So-Cold War
To the Last Ukrainian: An American War The Postil Magazine
Descent into Hell: Europe’s top diplomats are nearly at the journey’s end Gilbert Doctorow
Waiting for nuclear night… Al-Diyyar
USA backs Nazi terrorists murdering civilians in Russia.
Do not worry. There will never be any consequences for this. https://t.co/rUvRCIqMD9
— Scott Horton (@scotthortonshow) April 2, 2023
***
US, UK and German tanks not built for Ukraine war Asia Times
Armsmaker Rheinmetall sets up maintenance hub in Romania for Ukraine weapons Reuters
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Japan Breaks With U.S. Allies, Buys Russian Oil at Prices Above Cap WSJ. (guurst). From the article: “Japan got the U.S. to agree to the exception.”
Blinken and Lavrov discuss WSJ reporter’s arrest RT. Will Blinken get on the horn soon to discuss Assange’s release?
Sanna Marin defeated by Finland’s conservatives in tight race BBC “The election was largely fought on Finland’s public debt as all the mainstream parties backed Nato membership.”
South of the Border
American cities want to recycle their plastic trash in Mexico. Critics call it ‘waste colonialism.’ Grist
Mexico Charting Its Own Path Toward Energy Sovereignty Eurasia Review
B-a-a-a-a-d Banks
Up to 30% of jobs to be cut by enlarged UBS, Tages-Anzeiger reports yahoo! finance
Swiss prosecutors have opened an investigation into the takeover of Credit Suisse by UBS, report says Business Insider
Biden Administration
The Rage of the Corporate Lawyer BIG by Matt Stoller
2024
Trump and Fox re-embrace amid a larger media blitz Politico
Can Gavin Newsom kinda but not really run for president and still do his job as California governor? Los Angeles Times
NEW: Inside No Labels planning for a 2024 presidential campaign: Joe Lieberman won’t say Biden is an acceptable candidate. Joe Manchin, Larry Hogan won’t rule out joining ticket. Bill Galston leaves the organization over fears the plan will help Trump. https://t.co/4MridlDBgq
— Michael Scherer (@michaelscherer) April 2, 2023
Imperial Collapse Watch
Could Maine be first state to Defend the Guard? Responsible Statecraft
Realignment and Legitimacy
What makes Paul Vallas the “Democrat of choice” for powerful Republicans? The Triibe
Democrats en déshabillé
Positively BEGGING You The Baffler
Police State Watch
FORENSIC RE-CREATIONS OF POLICE ABUSE LEAD TO LANDMARK LEGAL SETTLEMENTS The Intercept
Big Brother Is Watching You Watch
These high-tech diapers double as urine tests ZME Science
Groves of Academe
Letter from an English Department on the Brink The New York Review. The deck: “At the English department I chair, our major has grown by more than 40 percent in the last two years. We are being driven to the edge of extinction anyway.”
Ambitious parents are spending hundreds of thousands on consultants to help get their kids into Ivy League schools, report says Business Insider
Supply Chain
Opec oil producers announce surprise cut in output BBC
US fuel oil stocks drawn, highest Gulf Coast production since 2019 Hellenic Shipping News
Re: Oil/Inflation/USD-Clash of the Titans Kaoboy Musings
Class Warfare
Planned Parenthood affiliate fires two union leaders, disciplines entire bargaining team Minnesota Reformer
In Montana, an Avalanche of Wealth Is Displacing Workers In These Times
Tesla and Musk Lose Ruling on Factory Union Issues The New York Times
A long thread worth reading:
This paper is built on a basic misread of who the white people leaving the South in the Great Migration WERE.
They weren’t ex-slaveowners!
The US let slaveowners keep their estates! They stayed rich! They didn’t need to go anywhere, and they’re still the South’s ruling class!
— Dr Sarah Taber (@SarahTaber_bww) April 2, 2023
Guillotine Watch
Why You Should Aim For $2 Million For Retirement Seeking Alpha
Do this by zip code and you will find your city looks similarly disparate, zip codes in Houston separate life expectancy by 15-20 years when comparing the ship channel to the rest of the city. Every core has its periphery, it’s not just a regional contradiction. https://t.co/2TRjt3D75E
— Bathhouse Agitator (@gusselsprouts) April 2, 2023
Tech
Should you ask ChatGPT for medical advice? We asked an expert — and ChatGPT USA Today (Kevin W)
My phone, my credit card, my hacker, and me Business Insider. The deck: “Verizon, Chase, the police — they were all useless when my identity got hacked. Then Psycho Bunny came to the rescue.”
Antidote du jour (via):
See yesterday’s Links and Antidote du Jour here.