You Should Seriously Think About Eating More Python, Scientists Say ScienceAlert (Chuck L). Well, eel is delish….
Girl Scout economics: Thin mints, thick margins alts.co (Micael T)
Iceland volcano in pictures: Eruption spews lava and cuts off road BBC (Kevin W)
Doctors set to lead the way in knee joint repair with nasal cartilage therapy Interesting Engineering (furzy)
In 2015, a woman named Joy Milne claimed she could smell Parkinson’s disease. She first noticed the smell after her husband’s musk changed.
After her husband was diagnosed with the disease, the pair attended a support group for individuals with Parkinson’s.
During the first… pic.twitter.com/kW7i2NYfLZ
— Morbid Knowledge (@Morbidful) March 17, 2024
#COVID-19
While the WHO is busily downgrading Covid and the CDC has checked out altogether, the US never really came out of the recent record winter Covid wave.
The reprieves are growing shorter, & the reinfections are coming more quickly. https://t.co/M5srilyZCB
— Laura Miers (@LauraMiers) March 19, 2024
Climate/Environment
EPA Bans Chrysotile Asbestos Associated Press
China?
Chinese scientists create swarming drones that can rapidly multiply mid-air to create a tactical shock South China Morning Post
Japan
U.S. Steel sale faces another potential headache Politico (Kevin W)
Biden says it’s ‘vital’ US Steel remain American owned and operated CNN. So now we no longer trust Japan, our military protectorate?
Old Blighty
Birmingham’s cuts reveal the ugly truth about Britain in 2024: the state is abandoning its people Guardian (Kevin W)
Africa
Niger Termination of U.S. Military Ties Followed Accusation of Iran Uranium Deal Wall Street Journal (BC)
Gaza
Israel’s war on Gaza live: Children among 14 killed in Israeli attacks Aljazeera
Alarming UN report warns famine is imminent in northern Gaza Arab News
War on Gaza: Israel kills police officer in charge of securing aid convoys Middle East Eye (Kevin W)
* * *
Benjamin Netanyahu’s American crisis Financial Times (BC)
They’re Really Going To Try To Lay All The Blame For Gaza On Netanyahu Caitlin Johnstone. Trying to assign fault and making it stick are two different things. This will fall apart as soon as Netanyahu is finally forced to go and the policies persist.
War on Gaza: Torture, executions, babies left to die, sexual abuse… These are Israel’s crimes Middle East Eye (Chuck L). From last week, still germane.
New Not-So-Cold War
Johnson’s Plan B for Ukraine leaves questions unanswered The Hill. Looks like Johnson is temporizing to look cooperative while still holding up the funding.
Diminished Air Defence Stockpiles To Further Tip Strategic Balance Against Ukraine – Officials Warn Military Watch
Sen. Graham Demands Ukrainians Keep Fighting and Pass New Conscription Law Antiwar.com (Kevin W). Wowsers.
NATO Builds Largest Europe Base Near Black Sea Newsweek (Kevin W)
What’s the ‘Buffer Zone’ Putin Proposed in Ukraine? Sputnik
China comments on Swiss-proposed Ukraine peace talks RT (Kevin W). A peace summit? As if everyone has a vote?
* * *
Norway expands defense agreement with American troops The Independent Barents Observer (Chuck L)
Norway as an Arctic frontline state?The US is opening 12 military bases in Norway to confront Russia in the Arctic (https://t.co/aLf7lMzD4f) – The main objective is to contest Russia’s Northern Sea Route and the Russian claims to energy resources in the Russian Arctic– The US… pic.twitter.com/RpvtGvijCW
— Glenn Diesen (@Glenn_Diesen) March 17, 2024
* * *
Selling A Predicted Behavior As Protest? Moon of Alabama. The cope, it burns.
GEORGE F KENNAN: DUGIN, PUTIN, CARLSON, NAVALNY AND THE KENNAN OBSERVATION Michael Basta
Putin claims he agreed to prisoner swap involving Navalny before his death Guardian. Note this was reported (the swap, not the later Putin remark) shortly after Navalny dies, but now getting some coverage via Putin having cleared his throat.
Syraqistan
Israeli airstrikes target Damascus: Syrian state news agency Anadolu Agency
Tom Friedman’s strange case for a US military presence in Syria Responsible Statecraft
Imperial Collapse Watch
‼️🚨 The F-35: Biggest Debacle in Pentagon History
US General Account Office report on F-35 combat readiness linked below.
TL;DR: About 85% of the US fleet of F-35s (A/B/C) is incapable of conducting combat missions.https://t.co/US324EJQzr pic.twitter.com/uUwdtUwbO6
— Will Schryver (@imetatronink) March 17, 2024
In Navalny and Guaido, Washington Saw Useful Pawns, Not Political Paragons Antiwar.com (Kevin W)
Our No Longer Free Press
Did the Israel Lobby Push for the TikTok Bill so that its Allies Could Control it? Sam Husseini
Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson raises eyebrows with comment that First Amendment “hamstrings” government Fox News (Kevin W)
AI
Chinese and Western Scientists Identify ‘Red Lines’ on AI Risks Financial Times
The Bezzle
Hertz CEO Resigns After Blowing Big Gamble On EVs Gateway Pundit
Antidote du jour (via):
And a bonus (Chuck L):
Shocked chimp calls all its friends to have a look pic.twitter.com/2qiJQdryXY
— Science girl (@gunsnrosesgirl3) March 15, 2024
A second bonus (Chuck L):
The uncle rescued a fawn that hadbeen shot by an arrow. Then nursed and released back into the wild.
What happens next is beautiful.
pic.twitter.com/0lZgyxPmHi
— Be Believing (@Be_Believing) March 16, 2024
See yesterday’s Links and Antidote du Jour here.
Efforts to quell online disinformation face free speech challenge at Supreme Court SCOTUSblog
A Conspiracy Theory Goes to the Supreme Court: How Did Murthy v Missouri Get This Far? JustSecurity
Murthy v. Missouri: the most important free speech hearing in decades Unherd
Haiti: How Port-au-Prince’s Warring Neighborhoods United The Internationalist 360°. Big if true.
Haiti’s latest gang violence crisis, and how it forced PM Ariel Henry to resign The Hindu
UAW Files for Union Election at VW in Chattanooga with 70% Signing Union Cards PayDay Report
Climate Change and Contagion: The Circuitous Impacts From Infectious Diseases (corrected proof) Journal of Infectious Diseases
Jared Kushner’s Affinity Partners nearing billion-dollar Balkan real estate deals BNE Intellinews
From a Big Lie to the Biggest War? Tarik Cyril Amar
Massive increase in container shipping imports from China into Mexico amid ongoing US trade war: Xeneta analysis Container News
‘Worrisome and even frightening’: Ancient ecosystem of Lake Baikal at risk of regime change from warming Live Science
Craig Murray selected to stand for Workers Party in Blackburn The Skwawkbox
In Havana syndrome patients, NIH scientists find no physical trace of harm NPR. Contrast the immense solicitude for spooks with the virtual abandonment of Long Covid sufferers.
FedEx pilots take harder line as contract dispute drags on Freight Waves
China Ups IPO Rules to Protect Investors With ‘Teeth And Horns’ Asia Financial
Hamas Is Starting to Paint Its Own Strategic Victory Image in the Gaza War, and Israel Is Helping It Haaretz
“Have you all lost your minds?”.
Amazing and terrifying speech by @SWagenknecht on the folly of Germany’s warmongering approach to Russia. pic.twitter.com/wfOV1ebzoO
— Thomas Fazi (@battleforeurope) March 17, 2024
The Gang Crisis in Haiti Is Only Beginning New York Magazine
Haiti is preparing itself for new leadership. Gangs want a seat at the table AP
The Odor of Mendacity: 2024 Could Turn on Smell of Selective Prosecution from Georgia to New York Jonathan Turley
