‘Giant’ sea bug named after Darth Vader discovered in South China Sea CBS
Do insects feel pain? New Yorker
Archaeologists discover dugout canoe in Midwestern United States as old as Egypt’s Smithsonian Great Pyramid
James Galbraith – The Modern Era Origins of the Federal Reserve System: 5 Books Brave New Europe
california burning
Update on California lithium battery factory fire near Salad Bowl of America (which produces 70% of our vegetables) Jordan Chariton, thread leader
Thousands evacuated in Hughes Fire near Los Angeles as California faces new threat Axios
syndrome
USDA updates HPAI H5 List of Avian Influenza Diary for Mammal Wildlife. “As the HPAI H5 virus continues to discover new mammalian hosts, it is likely to become even more deeply ingrained in our common ecosystem, discovering new evolutionary pathways that were not available when it was primarily a disease of birds. The risk of
Bird flu prevention zone introduced in Northern Ireland Love Ballymena
New coronavirus research: 40% of children remain infectious even after symptoms resolve, Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy
climate
Snow in New Orleans (1):
I still can’t believe this happened. here it is. Timelapse of the historic New Orleans snowstorm. Up to 12 inches of snow piled up on my snowboard in the French Quarter. pic.twitter.com/M9byQeZJGL
— Peyton Malone WWL-TV (@paytonmalonewx) January 22, 2025
Snow in New Orleans (2):
A rare storm has hit the Gulf Coast, dumping snow on Houston and New Orleans.
This is a snowball fight that took place on Bourbon Street in New Orleans on January 21, 2025.pic.twitter.com/FIrkFnG1T2
— Massimo (@Rainmaker1973) January 22, 2025
The hidden costs of unreliable insurance 3 Quarks Daily
China?
Salary cap regulations expand in China’s financial sector amid push for ‘common prosperity’ South China Morning Post
Drone piloting has emerged as China’s next most popular profession CGTN
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Rubio supports Manila, condemns Beijing’s ‘dangerous’ actions in South China Sea South China Morning Post
Transcription involves language logs. “Rubio” in Chinese.
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DeepSeek: How China’s AI innovators are challenging the status quo Forbes. Explanation:
It’s very interesting to see how the US and China are taking different paths when it comes to AI.
This “Stargate Project” goes beyond the PR of “developing a cancer vaccine” and actually aims to double down on OpenAI’s strategy of building a “moat of money” through large-scale fundraising. That is… https://t.co/sfsodx3UYs
— Arnaud Bertrand (@RnaudBertrand) January 22, 2025
China’s No. 2 foundry hires former Intel executive to lead advanced node development Tom’s Hardware
Dutch government excludes majority of ASML sales to China from ‘dual-use’ export data Reuters
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China tests seawater near Fukushima nuclear power plant, finds no impact on marine life South China Morning Post
myanmar
No laughing matter: Introducing the military regime’s court jester, Frontier Myanmar
China-Myanmar war Irrawaddy
new amazing game
Opinion: Georgia protests should involve all social groups, not just the middle class JAM News
syrakistan
Why did Israel launch a crackdown in the West Bank after the Gaza ceasefire? AP
The IDF launched an ironclad operation against Palestinian terrorism in Jenin as the PA withdrew from Jerusalem Post. Explanation:
On the second day of President Trump’s inauguration, Israel launched “Operation Ironclad” in Jenin in the West Bank. It is named after Jabotinsky’s 1923 essay “The Iron Wall.” Here is an excerpt: “Zionist colonization…can proceed and develop only behind an iron wall.” https://t.co/LWASJQ8M1v pic.twitter.com/DJ5g7UKV2d
— Heidi Matthews (@Heidi__Matthews) January 21, 2025
President Trump’s special envoy to the Middle East will enter Gaza as part of Al Jazeera’s “inspection team.” Steve Witkoff.
Dear Old Blighty
Keir Starmer appoints Jeff Bezos as ‘first partner’ Corey Doctorow on pluralism
A new war that’s not so cold war
The barrels of Ukraine’s 155mm M777 howitzers burn out too quickly for U.S. forces to hold the war zone. Deck: “The U.S. Army is currently trying to meet the requirement to produce at least 30 new barrels per month for the M777 howitzer.” 30. oh.
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Zelensky: “Ukraine needs at least 200,000 peacekeepers to prevent new Russian aggression” Ukraine Pravda
Trump tells Putin to end ‘stupid war’ in Ukraine or face new sanctions BBC
We want to end the war in Ukraine so it doesn’t start again within two to four years – US Secretary of State and Russian Foreign Ministry say there is a ‘small chance’ for a deal under the Trump administration Claims to be watching Ukraine Saka Pravda
trump administration
President Trump’s crypto assets are nonsense. The cash they’re throwing away is very real Forbes
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How will President Trump’s executive order play out – if the courts allow it Al Jazeera
President Trump’s apparent policy contradictions are both a blessing and a curse South China Morning Post
Can the US actually buy Greenland? Foreign Policy
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Justice Department freezes all civil rights division cases: FOX report
President Trump attacks NIH, imposes ‘catastrophic’ freeze on meetings, travel, communications, hiring
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US military sends troops to Mexico border amid Trump immigration crackdown Al Jazeera
‘Scare tactics’: Bonta condemns Trump’s move to target local officials on immigration issues Los Angeles Times
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President Trump suggests states should be in charge of emergency response, not FEMA Axios
Fissures develop in House Republicans after speaker threatens to impose Associated Press conditions on California wildfire aid
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Space news with President Trump’s NASA nominee Jared Isaacman
Susan Collins: ‘It’s a problem’ that the Hegseth FBI report omitted important information
spook country
victory! Federal Court (Finally) Declares Backdoor Search of 702 Data Unconstitutional by Electronic Frontier Foundation
Tools for thinking about censorship Ex Urbe
davos
‘The elephant in the room’: Everyone talks about Trump’s comeback at Davos FRANCE 24
digital clock
Decentralized social media is the only alternative to technological oligarchy 404 Media
How often do unexpected scientific discoveries occur?
zeitgeist watch
Mississippi politician applies for WLBT, which says “Contraception begins with an erection method.” “As Sen. Bradford Blackmon wrote, this bill would make it ‘illegal for a person to expel genetic material without attempting to fertilize an embryo.'” It is intended as a parody.
supply chain
World’s top wheat exporter makes worrying decision after experiencing heavy losses: ‘Grain profitability is approaching zero’
imperial collapse watch
World’s first submarine-launched drone that swims and flies poses new threat to U.S. engineering Interesting
Why aircraft carriers are becoming obsolete Philip Pilkington, The National Interest
class war
What the world’s elite reveal to sex workers in Davos: Luxury escorts reveal what goes on behind closed doors – and how the wealthy “take the plunge and go out because they know the world is doomed.” It might be okay to appear in “Daily Mail
Amazon has closed all of its warehouses in Quebec and laid off more than 1,700 CTV employees. Explanation:
Amazon will close all warehouses in Quebec after unionization at one warehouse.
Instead of working with Amazon’s first successful union in North America, they chose to lay off all 1,950 employees.
Clear threats to all workers that they will be fired if they form a union.
— Long Time🤓First time👨💻 (@LongTimeHistory) January 22, 2025
Foul-smelling ‘corpse flower’ flowers attract thousands of BBC
Garden Protection Law Southern Arkansas Calculation
Prescription Antidote (Thomas Fuhrman):
Click here for yesterday’s link and Antidote du Jour.
