Swiss chocolate: Scientists cut waste and sugar BBC (Robin K)
A neural network for religious fundamentalism derived from patients with brain lesions PNAS (Steve K). Sigh. I am not a fan of fundamentalists given their view of the role of women. However, studies like this take the premise that religious fundamentalism is a pathology. They ignore that it is generally pro-survival on a large group/societal level. Religious convictions and beliefs that a higher power backs what you are doing would generally produce internal cohesion and greater tenacity in battle (of course, those who withdraw somewhat or totally to pursue their beliefs like monks, nuns, and Israeli Haredis are important exception).
#COVID-19
Long COVID is a “public health crisis for kids,” experts say Salon (ma)
Climate/Environment
Earth’s Temperature Could Increase by 25 Degrees: Startling New Research Reveals That CO2 Has More Impact Than Previously Thought SciTechDaily (Chuck L)
China Unveils ¥300 Billion Subsidy Blitz That’ll Drive Hydrogen Vehicle Growth Hydrogen Fuel News. Robin K: “A friend just returned from China. He reports that hydrogen-powered vehicles are everywhere to be seen.”
The Powerful Potential Of Tiny Conservation Plots Nomea (Micael T)
Climate Change Contributing to Shift in Lake Erie’s Harmful Algal Blooms Cleveland SCENE. Carla R: “Somehow I missed this 10 days ago or so, but it’s still informative. However, there should never be a mention of the 2014 algal bloom without a reference to the Lake Erie Bill of Rights (LEBOR) !”
China?
China accuses Canada of protectionism over 100% tariffs on electric vehicles Associated Press (Kevin W)
China restrictions on rare earths has caused pricing to double over the past year — critical elements are used in processors, solar cells, and more Tom’s Hardware (Micael T)
Leaked – CIA backed color revolution in Indonesia Mint Press (Allen K). On one level, wowsers, on another, not surprising.
European Disunion
The neoliberal Single Transferable Party is panicking in France Richard Murphy:
There is a rightful condemnation of Trump’s contempt for democracy. But are we so sure that this contempt is not also happening much closer to home when it is so obvious that people are very deliberately being denied the chance to be represented by those who they would like to govern?
Economics Minister Habeck – climate protector or lobbyist? Nachdenkseiten via machine translation (Micael T)
Campact is the largest donor to the Greens and the Left Party Nachdenkseite (Micael T)
The citizens cannot stand for the stupid money Aftonbladet (Micael T)
Old Blighty
Israel lobby funded 15 new MPs before election Declassified (Kevin W)
UK PM warns of ‘deep rot’ at heart of country RT (Robin K)
Gaza
Israeli hospitals record over 5,000 wounded in fight against Hezbollah The Cradle
Since the start of the war, Israel has been trying to lure people of Gaza to gather information about resistance fighters. There are many cases of people being ambushed and killed by the army after recieving notifications of humanitairian aid. Here is an example. pic.twitter.com/Pr5jF8dzSu
— Quds News Network (@QudsNen) August 28, 2024
After State TV interviewed families where one partner’s Jewish and the other one isn’t, Israeli Minister of Communications @shlomo_karhi says the station’s board will be replaced with one that’s “zionist” and which won’t feature the voices of miscegenators https://t.co/v9sG70KjkQ
— David Sheen (@davidsheen) August 27, 2024
Under cover of war, extremists are seizing Palestinian land – they hope permanently
BBC (Robin K)The Greek Tanker Struck by a Houthi Missile Is Now Leaking Oil OilPrice
New Not-So-Cold War
KURSK, BELGOROD, BRYANSK — IS PRESIDENT PUTIN PREPARING FOR ISTANBUL-II? John Helmer. Today’s must read. Suggests Putin is way way behind on the implications of where the way the war has gone, that Russia will be less secure if it leaves a meaningful rump Ukraine, which here would be a large one, by virtue of merely takeing the four oblasts that Russia has deemed to be Russia. But Putin per Lavrov pulled the deal offered from the table after the Kursk attack, so Putin may be in the process of the sort of unduly long recalibration he took in deciding to undertake the partial mobilization after the Istanbul talks were sabotaged by the West. Also confirms our thesis that Russia could win the war and lose the peace.
The Ukrainian endgame New Statesman. Ignacio:
I believe that we can consider this article as a genuine representation of the views of those “centrist-liberal” globalists who consider themselves the voice of reason when they are again and again confusing instruments with ends and producing lots of propaganda. Yet, with his mixture of The Narrative with a few reality bites the read is much less toxic compared with the typical RAND or Torygraph BS, though still misguided and dangerous. Besides, Munchau has been very often cited with better reasons at NC on financial subjects. This shows the gradual conversion of former reasonable people into propagandists.
Kyiv Prepares Target List for Long-Range Strikes in Russia in Effort to Convince Washington Kyiv Post
Lavrov slams as blackmail Kiev’s demands for letting it use Storm Shadow against Russia TASS (guurst)
Ukraine Develops ‘Its Own’ Cruise Missile Moon of Alabama
Ukraine to present ‘victory plan’ to US next month, Zelensky says BBC (Robin K)
The US is changing the logistics of its bioweapons research in Ukraine Anti-Spiegel (Micael T)
Playing President: Mr. President, Why Kursk?! Scheerpost. Chuck L: “Simulated presidential briefing by an ex-CIA presidential briefer Ray McGovern.”
Imperial Collapse Watch
All US Military Bases Are Your Enemy Orinoco Tribune (Robin K)
John Kiriakou: The Slide Into Authoritarianism Scheerpost (Micael T)
Col. Larry Wilkerson: Is America DESTINED for DISASTER? Dialogue Works, YouTube. IMHO, Wilkerson is always worth a listen. Early on, he confirms our assessment of the Israel-Hezbollah mutual attacks of last weekend.
Kamala
Reporter Who Asked Kamala A Question Charged With Hate Crime Babylon Bee (Li)
Harris Promises “Most Lethal” Military on Earth Ken Klipperstein
Trump
Trump charged in superseding indictment in election interference case following SCOTUS ruling ABC (Kevin W)
Why Do So Many Workers Love Trump? Jacobin (Robin K)
2024
Trump says he’s accepted rules for September 10 debate, which include muted mics CNN. Help me. It was KAMALA who objected to the muted mikes.
Our No Longer Free Press
I need you to absorb everything I told @NewsMax here about NATO’s military, intelligence & political reasons for seizing control over Telegram and using this new political prosecution of Pavel to finally get it. pic.twitter.com/eBznYnSqBq
— Mike Benz (@MikeBenzCyber) August 27, 2024
How Telegram chief Pavel Durov miscalculated on moderation Financial Times
How Telegram’s Founder Pavel Durov Became a Culture War Martyr 404Media (Micael T)
Durov’s arrest is ‘hallmark of dictatorship’ – Tucker Carlson to RFK Jr RT
Pavel Durov, the founder of Telegram, has been arrested. The woman in the photo appears to have caused a complete OSINT disaster.
She was posting real-time updates about the hotels they stayed in, the cities they visited, and even the tail numbers of the helicopters they used.… pic.twitter.com/xsIhJeWln1
— Tamer Sahin (@tamersahin) August 26, 2024
State media authority takes action against Multipolar after disclosure of RKI protocols Multipolar. Micael T: “So much European Values in action now!”
Big Tech: Malaysia won’t let us set our own rules and that’s not fair and makes us grumpy The Register
Woke Watch
Lowe’s changes some DEI policies amid legal attacks on diversity programs and activist pressure Associated Press (Kevin W)
Antitrust
Matt Stoller Explains Monopolies Ed Zitron
AI
California AI bill sparks debate in Silicon Valley as some tech giants call it a threat to innovation Yahoo (Bill B)
Guillotine Watch
Hundreds of private planes are touching down at a makeshift airport for billionaire favorite Burning Man Business Insider (Kevin W)
Class Warfare
Credit Card Debt Spikes in NYC as Working Families Feel Post-Pandemic Pinch THE CITY
There’s a place for everyone Experimental History (Micael T)
Antidote du jour. Stephen T:
A banana slug I encountered along US 101 just north of my home. Surprised to see one so yellow, like the ones I used to see in Santa Cruz; most of those I’ve seen here in Oregon are more greenish. It’s a handsome fellow for sure.
And a bonus (Chuck L):
Woman reunites a baby bat that fell on the street, with its mum
pic.twitter.com/cbCWe9Kr4T— Science girl (@gunsnrosesgirl3) August 27, 2024
A second bonus (Chuck L):
One of the biggest news stories today: An Ostrich was loose in Sioux Falls. pic.twitter.com/kiZbYjGS2u
— Tyler Roney (@TylerJRoney) August 27, 2024
See yesterday’s Links and Antidote du Jour here.