Dear patient readers,<\/p>\n
We have a lot of links today due to including Victory Day coverage. Enjoy!<\/p>\n
Former Supreme Court Justice David Souter dies at 85<\/a> NPR<\/p>\n NYC has pigeon people, and people who poo-poo pigeons: Understanding \u2018rats with wings\u2019 <\/a>Gothamist. I was developing a theory of mind with respect to the pigeons that would perch on the railing of my tiny terrace (the ones here look just like NYC pigeons but a teeny bit smaller\u2026maybe an effect of the heat?). Some did seem to be enjoying the view. But they pooped too much so I took to chasing them off. <\/p>\n Scorpions \u2018taking over\u2019 Brazilian cities with reported stings rising 250% <\/a>Guardian (resilc)<\/p>\n BOOM\ud83d\udca5\ud83d\udca5\ud83d\udca5<\/p>\n Chinese tech giant Baidu has unleashed a game-changing patent that could redefine our bond with animals\u2014using revolutionary AI to translate their sounds into human language! \u2014 Angelo Giuliano \ud83c\udde8\ud83c\udded\ud83c\uddee\ud83c\uddf9\ud83d\udd3b\ud83d\udd3b\ud83d\udd3b (@angeloinchina) May 7, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n #COVID-19\/Pandemics<\/p>\n Actual Covid deaths in India were 6 times more than the reported. The worst is Gujarat whose actuals are 33 times more. That Kerala is the lowest among the states (1.5 times) gives me no consolation. Its health minister KK Shailaja concealed 1 in every 3 deaths! pic.twitter.com\/6bSmEGNlcX<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 N.S. Madhavan (@NSMlive) May 9, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n On the Novavax earnings call today, the head of R&D made an interesting claim.<\/p>\n She said that the Novavax COVID vaccine is capable of inducing mucosal antibodies that could protect against infection.<\/p>\n This lines up with previous data that has been published on the vaccine. \ud83e\uddf5 pic.twitter.com\/zL1EgtRfKO<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Friesein (@Friesein) May 8, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Adding to Dr. Hirschson’s points: <\/p>\n 1: It is not possible to get H5N1 out of the North American ecosystem now. It is there to stay. <\/p>\n 2: There are multiple modes that H5N1 could mutate to efficient human transmission. H5N1 concerns me more than Covid, which is saying something. https:\/\/t.co\/XgwpRHDWJB<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Conor Browne (@brownecfm) May 9, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n Climate\/Environment<\/p>\n Global warming reaches 1.58C over 12 months to end-April<\/a> Financial Times<\/p>\n Severe Hailstorm Strikes Asenovgrad Villages, Crops and Cars Damaged<\/a> Novinite. One of many stories about monster hailstones and\/or heavy hail storms, such as in Spain and China. Yet many spots in the Mediterranean, Middle East and Africa sweltering under record heat.\n<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n China?<\/p>\n China reports bumper April exports ahead of crucial trade talks with US<\/a> Financial Times. Running this headline because pretty much all US headlines on the same data flogged the big decline of exports to the US. But this seems off:<\/p>\n Heron Lim, an economist at Moody\u2019s Analytics, said that, while China\u2019s trade with the US dropped 21 per cent year-on-year in April, it rose by an equal percentage with south-east Asian nations and 8 per cent with the EU. \u201cThe largest increases in outbound shipments went to Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam,\u201d Lim said.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n My best guess is channel stuffing, which is not sustainable. Thailand has been making earnest official statements about not transshipping, and they have incentives not to do so given that their negotiations with the US have yet to start. Thailand has also been making noises about the risk of China dumping product and what they can do about that. <\/p>\n Trump Administration Live Updates: President Signals He\u2019s Open to Slashing China Tariffs<\/a> New York Times (resilc). Erm, the Chinese position has been tariff cuts first, only then something more than tea and cookies chats. So is he trying to act as if a concession China requires was his gracious idea?<\/p>\n Trump proposes 80% China tariff ahead of trade talks<\/a> BBC. 80% tariffs are functionally no different than 145%. So high as to kill all purchases (save perhaps for something absolutely essential like meds\u2026which if so, you would also buy at 145% if you could scrape up the funds).<\/p>\n First Chinese freight ship goods hit with Trump\u2019s 145%-plus tariffs arriving at U.S. ports<\/a> CNBC (Kevin W)<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n To counter reader beliefs that China is faring well economically\u2026from a reader in a very high end resort area:<\/p>\n Wife has been hired as a Mandarin translator on a tour bus company here\u2026<\/p>\n So, wife wanted me to go with her on the tour yesterday \u2013 all kinds of animals and scenery. It was a luxury bus ( I have never seen anything even remotely like it) full of Chinese actors and billionaires. She knew some of the people on board from watching their films, etc. She went up and down the bus talking to them. The tour apparently started in [West Coast city] with two of them being robbed at gunpoint. All of them made sure to tell my wife that the big reason tourism is down is because that type of thing is happening constantly to tourists in America\u2019s big cities and that is the main reason no one wants to go there \u2013 they take their chances to pass through \u2013 and then places like here get slammed.<\/p>\n The summary of the news from China from this cohort\u2019s perspective \u2013 China has been severely struggling economically for some time. There was already LOTS of anger toward Xi and the CCP even before the tariffs. Now, with them, people are getting laid off and fired \u2013 and there is literally ENORMOUS pressure for Xi to get this taken care of and get the jobs back ASAP. More than one of these people were saying that Trump has a much much better bargaining position \u2013 and they are horrified by how poor the reporting is on this that they have seen here.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n India-Pakistan Row<\/p>\n Pakistan says India fired missiles at key military bases and that retaliation is underway<\/a> CNN<\/p>\n Pakistan launches retaliatory strikes targeting India, says state-run Pakistan television \u2013 live updates<\/a> Guardian<\/p>\n India\u2019s missile attack shows that managing an India-Pakistan crisis is easier said than done<\/a> Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists (resilc)<\/p>\n Yours truly is in no position to evaluate but some readers no doubt can:<\/p>\n Incredible Pakistan Air Force debriefing about India-Pakistan air battle pic.twitter.com\/tuIIi9EdmO<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Carl Zha (@CarlZha) May 9, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Logic and reasoning in the time of war <\/a> Indian Punchline (Kevin W)<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n European Disunion<\/p>\n Germany to declare immigration emergency \u2013 media<\/a> RT<\/p>\n The Road Right<\/a> Wolfgang Streeck, New Left Review (Robin K)<\/p>\n New German chancellor tells US to \u2018stay out\u2019 of Berlin\u2019s affairs<\/a> RT (Robin K)<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Pope Watch<\/p>\n Pope Leo XIV is the first pope with an online footprint<\/a> The Verge (resilc)<\/p>\n An American Pope Will Try to Unify a Divided Church<\/a> Wall Street Journal<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Israel v. the Resistance<\/p>\n Senior Palestinian Resistance Leader: \u201cThere may come a day when Israel finds itself longing for Hamas\u201d<\/a> Drop Site<\/p>\n Exclusive: Jordan profited up to $400,000 per Gaza aid airdrop, sources say<\/a> Middle East Eye (resilc)<\/p>\n Trump Decouples U.S. Middle East Policy From Israel\u2019s Interests<\/a> Moon of Alabama (Kevin W)<\/p>\n Is Donald Trump Putting Israel in the Dog House?<\/a> Larry Johnson<\/p>\n Iran\u2019s missile program: Max Blumenthal tours Tehran\u2019s aerospace park<\/a> Greyzone. I trust Blumenthal is prepared to have all his devices seized upon return to the US> <\/p>\n US Gaza pier op was more than a flop, it was a gigantic hazard<\/a> Responsible Statecraft (resilc)\n<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Victory Day<\/p>\n This was probably one of the most emotional scenes of the first Victory Day parades. Veterans of the Red Army, having just survived four years of war, dumped their war trophies; Nazi flags and swastikas; at the foot of Lenin\u2019s Mausoleum, as if to say to each other, ‘We did it,\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/oEDE5o57Yd<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 WW2 The Eastern Front (@ShoahUkraine) May 8, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Happy Victory Day!<\/p>\n The legacy of our fathers and grandfathers lives on in our hearts.<\/p>\n We remember that if the enemy refuses to surrender, it must be destroyed. pic.twitter.com\/KfPQEx1MsO<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Dmitry Medvedev (@MedvedevRussiaE) May 9, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Best moments from the Victory Day parade in Moscow. <\/p>\n I was honored to witness the parade in person today, but for those watching from abroad, hope this footage makes you feel a fraction of the emotions that pass through the heart of every Russian on May 9. <\/p>\n Happy Victory Day! pic.twitter.com\/0jWFov7FhM<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Margarita Simonyan (@M_Simonyan) May 9, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n \ud83d\udea8\ud83c\uddf7\ud83c\uddfaWATCH THE FULL VIDEO of the Victory Day Parade in Moscow in honor of the 80th anniversary of WWII victory pic.twitter.com\/vvPdg1r51A<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Sputnik (@SputnikInt) May 9, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n There are many different traditional Victory Day songs, but this one is by far my personal favorite \u2013 “Smuglyanka” from the iconic WWII movie “Only Old Men are Going into Battle”. It’s beautiful and bright. It’s about love. It’s about peace. pic.twitter.com\/0pZysgp2sW<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Olga Bazova (@OlgaBazova) May 9, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n VICTORY DAY 80 <\/a> Patrick Armstrong (Kevin W)<\/p>\n New Not-So-Cold War<\/p>\n U.S., Russia In Quiet Talks to Bring Russian Gas Back to Europe<\/a> OilPrice. Huh? Even more so than with respect to Ukraine, the Europeans have agency. And they keep swearing no way, no how will they take Russian energy (wellie maybe save some exceptions that they try to minimize). Not sayin\u2019 that Europe might not eventually relent, but it will probably take a lot of nation-level regime-changing for that to happen. On top of that, Putin pointed out in one of his many appearance how it is just about impossible to roll back sanctions, and no one in Russia should expect that. So this looks like a US gambit to try to gain leverage with Russia that Russia will politely pretend to indulge but knows full well is empty. <\/p>\n Kallas confirms EU foreign ministers\u2019 visit to Ukraine on May 9<\/a> Ukrinform (Robin K)<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Syraqistan<\/p>\n Syria\u2019s New President Has an Offer For Trump<\/a> Drop Site<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Big Brother is Watching You Watch<\/p>\n Some of Hegseth\u2019s Passwords Exposed in Cyberattacks, Available on Internet \u2013 Reports<\/a> Sputnik (Robin K)<\/p>\n The most dangerous man in America isn\u2019t Trump\u2014it\u2019s Alex Karp<\/a> Asia Times <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Imperial Collapse Watch<\/p>\n Pay Attention to What Happened in Newark <\/a>James Fallows (Chuck L)<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Trump 2.0<\/p>\n Trump pivots, says GOP should \u2018probably not\u2019 raise taxes on rich<\/a> The Hill<\/p>\n White House to take choice of Pentagon chief of staff out of Hegseth\u2019s hands<\/a> Guardian (resilc). Wowsers. The likely communications line = less freedom of action. <\/p>\n New FEMA head says he will \u2018run right over\u2019 staff who resist his changes<\/a> Reuters (Kevin W)<\/p>\n FBI Echoes QAnon Pedophile Conspiracy<\/a> Ken Klippenstein<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n DOGE<\/p>\n David Steiner of FedEx is tapped to be the U.S. Postal Service\u2019s new leader<\/a> NPR (Kevin W)<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Tariffs<\/p>\n World\u2019s biggest carmaker sees 21% profit decline as tariffs take a bite<\/a> CNN (Kevin W)<\/p>\n How Do I Survive?\u2019: Tariffs Threaten U.S. Market for Traditional Chinese Medicine<\/a> New York Times (resilc)<\/p>\n Wisconsin Ginseng Farmers Losing Buyers due to 147% Tariffs<\/a> Civic Media (resilc). Wisconsin ginseng is supposed to be particularly good\u2026<\/p>\n Trump tariffs to hit small farms in Maga heartlands hardest, analysis predicts<\/a> Guardian (resilc)<\/p>\n Opinion: Empty shelves, for-lease signs and job layoffs point to recession by summer<\/a> MarketWatch (resilc)<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Nonpartisan poll finds \u2018remarkably low\u2019 trust in federal health agencies<\/a> Iowa Capital Dispatch (Robin K)<\/p>\n Immigration<\/p>\n Top White House adviser Stephen Miller says \u2018we\u2019re actively looking at\u2019 suspending due process for migrants<\/a> NBC (Kevin W). Translation: \u201cWe\u2019re actively looking at ways to defy the Constitution.\u201d<\/p>\n Judge orders Tufts student R\u00fcmeysa \u00d6zt\u00fcrk to be released<\/a> The Hill<\/p>\n \u2018It Cost Me My Job\u2019 How Helping Immigrants Can Make You a Target in the US<\/a> Zeteo<\/p>\n Trump shut out refugees but is making White Afrikaners an exception<\/a> Washington Post (Dr. Kevin)<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Democrat Death Wish<\/p>\n The Limitations of Partisan Politics<\/a> Musa Al-Gharbi (albrt). Today\u2019s must read. <\/p>\n The Resistance Is Gonna Be Woke<\/a> Yascha Mounk. WTF is wrong with our supposed elites? All around the world, all they seem able to do is double down on failure. <\/p>\n Democrats fume over Biden\u2019s return to spotlight<\/a> The Hill. There are people who watch The View? Although the clips get around\u2026<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Our No Longer Free Press<\/p>\n YES! Media to Sunset in June 2025 After Nearly 30 Years of Independent Journalism<\/a> \ud83d\ude41<\/p>\n Here\u2019s the Deranged MAGA Propaganda Coming to Voice of America<\/a> New Republic resilc: \u201cI was involved with overseas ops for 25 years+. I have yet to meet someone who ever listened to VOA\u2026..\u201d<\/p>\n Dozens of pro-Palestinian Protesters Detained After Clash With Police at Columbia Library<\/a> Haaretz (Robin K)<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n AI<\/p>\n Videos of Humanoid Robots Going Dangerously Berserk<\/a> Core77 (resilc)<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n The Bezzle<\/p>\n Why the Senate crypto bill tanked<\/a> Politico (Kevin W)<\/p>\n LAZY SAM ALTMAN HIRES NEW OPENAI \u201cCEO\u201d TO DO ALL THE WORK FOR HIM WITHOUT HAVING TO RESIGN<\/a> Futurism<\/p>\n Prediction Markets and the Pope<\/a> Rajiv Sethi. This proves a pet peeve: Prediction markets are absolutely useless when the bettors have no\/little insight. <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Class Warfare<\/p>\n Globalization did not hollow out the American middle class<\/a> Noah Smith (resilc)<\/p>\n Why Do Americans Pay More for Prescription Drugs?<\/a> ProPublica (Robin K)\n<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Antidote du jour. From Robert, then in Miami:<\/p>\n And a bonus:<\/p>\n he tired his best \ud83d\ude0a pic.twitter.com\/pBP2pr7pkj<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 why you should have an animal (@ShouldHaveAnima) May 9, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n A second bonus:<\/p>\n The seagull made fun of him. pic.twitter.com\/OpX1zcfH7l<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 The Figen (@TheFigen_) May 9, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n See yesterday\u2019s Links and Antidote du Jour here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n
The South China Morning Post reveals this groundbreaking system captures voice, body\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/PLkQEmJe22<\/a><\/p>\n\n
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