Canterbury Commuter Dead Language Association (Michael T)
We Got the Ancient Greeks Everything Wrong Hedgehog Review (Michael T)
Why does science fiction music sound like that? JSTOR (Michael T.)
“Experts say” Well, they’re not Benthamite’s bulldogs (Michael T.)
Baby Smell Problems Virginia Porrell (Michael T.)
How American Fathers Became Parents Their Father Wasn’t Derek Thompson
Partying in the Age of Constant Optimization: Can Hedonism and Health Really Coexist?Alexi Gunner
New coronavirus infection/pandemic
Brain involvement:
➡️ PET study shows diffuse neuroinflammation in long-term COVID
→ Correlation with fatigue and brain fog
👉 Likely caused by immune signaling rather than direct infection 7/ pic.twitter.com/DpLlhw1PpY
— Vipin M. Vasishtha (@vipintukur) May 1, 2026
Interesting new research from @PlzSolveCFS: What is happening to T cells in long coronavirus and ME/CFS? 🤔👇
In this talk, researchers will
Dr. Leesa Selin, Dr. Ayano Kohlgruber, and Dr. Roshan Kumar discuss the latest research showing that malfunctioning T cells cause MECFS… pic.twitter.com/Ndi13XiW68
— Long COVID Labs (@longcovidlabs) May 1, 2026
Climate/Environment
Scientists warn it may be too late to save ‘luxury crops’ that make coffee, chocolate and wine Earth.com
Breeding low-methane cattle hits setbacks Farmers Weekly
The silent contradiction at the heart of the energy transition The Lowy Institute
Salmon are becoming ‘ghosts’ in rivers as brutal drought and severe flooding cause unprecedented losses on the perilous journey to the Pacific Ocean, scientists say Eurasia Review
Scientists reveal that Antarctica’s deep sea has been heating up for the past 20 years
France24 climate report says Europe is experiencing record heat, declining glaciers and extreme ocean damage
Rainforest loss slows after record year, but still ’11 soccer fields a minute’ South China Morning Post
Rare earth mining pollutes Mekong River tributaries, threatening the ‘world’s kitchen’ ARAB NEWS
More than 60% of U.S. in drought, impacts worsening The Washington Post
China?
Holmes effect? How the US and China are escalating tensions over Panama Canal Al Jazeera
Russia’s top expert criticizes China’s ‘reasonable’ response to recent US moves Andrew Korivko
Japan
Alternative framework for Japanese intervention
Japan sold the $35 billion of dollars it bought at about 80 yen to the dollar for nearly 160 yen, recording huge profits and reducing Japan’s net public debt, lowering Japan’s high level of gross public debt in the process.
— Brad Setser (@Brad_Setser) May 1, 2026
Japan considers $3 billion electricity subsidy as LNG demand squeezes oil prices
Japanese tourists to China plummet due to diplomatic tensions Bangkok Post
Africa
Sudanese civil war: clear “genocide” DW
Ethiopia accuses Tigray rebels of collaborating with Eritrea, militant group Firstpost
Jihadists call for united front against Mali’s military junta as Bamako blockade begins France 24
Southeast Asia
Former Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi has been placed under house arrest, the military has announced to the BBC. lead story.
south of the border
Mexican Democracy (#MorningPressConferenceFromThePeople from the National Palace. Wednesday, April 29, 2026, YouTube). Rafiel Z:
In Mexico, democracy is practiced every day as the president communicates with the people, announces his activities, and is open to all of the people’s questions. This time, I would like to send you a translation of her presentation into English.
Time is running out for Cuba. We need fuel now to save lives Guardian
discord in europe
US to reduce military presence in Germany by 5,000 following spat between President Trump and BBC Mertz (Kevin W)
Europe is Lost: War Preparation at All Levels | Dr. Ulrike Gerow’s Neutrality Research. Robin K: “Pascal Lottas hosts a very enlightening discussion on tensions within the EU/NATO.”
French economy records zero growth in first quarter France 24
old blighty
Thousands of British companies face bankruptcy as Iran war and tax hike deepen financial crisis
israel vs resistance
Activists from Gaza Support Platoon taken to Iraklio Airport for repatriation Ekachi Memelini
‘It would be a nightmare if famine happens again’: Gaza plunges into new food crisis National News
From Iran to Lebanon: The ‘Gaza Model’ is now a standard war tactic for Israel and the US Thomas Fudge
An Israeli importer postponed the unloading of a Russian grain carrier in Haifa Vuzglade due to machine translation. Michael T.: “So the EU has power over the Zionazis? They just choose not to use it for good.”
Perspectives from Lebanon: Who will we be when things get tough? Nate Hagen
President Trump renews his call for pardon for Prime Minister Netanyahu – Axios RT (Kevin W)
Why the 60-day War Powers Resolution Deadline Doesn’t Actually Constrain Presidents The Conversation (Kevin W.)
An Endless War Based on Lies Daniel Larison
A new war that’s not so cold war
Scammers began targeting Russians with SMS bombing Glagor via machine translation (Micael T)
May 2, 2014: Ukrainian pro-Maidan right-wing extremists kill at least 48 anti-Maidan demonstrators in Odessa Eva Karine Bartlett
Russia steps up airstrikes against Ukraine: Number of attacks reaches record high Table Briefing
Lithuania indicts 13 people on Russia-linked assassination and sabotage network “Defence Matters”
Why Russia is Popular in the Global South Kamil Galev (Randy K)
Mobilized mafia events in Ukraine
Trump 2.0
Why does President Trump come to regret his Iran war foreign policy? Frames like this drive me crazy. If Trump had the ability to regret, he would regret the war now. And the authors don’t seem to understand that the war made Iran stronger. Alexander Mercouris argues that the winner of a conflict becomes more powerful, even if it comes at a high price. In addition, a topic of debate is whether Iran is now a fourth-largest power. This kind of thinking was unthinkable before the war.
President Trump on the seizure of ships by the US Navy:
It’s a very profitable business. We are like pirates. pic.twitter.com/erWDQmJWnw
— Asyn (@Acyn) May 2, 2026
Trump says he will raise tariffs on EU cars to 25% Reuters. The tariffs are not legal unless President Trump has the Commerce Department conduct an investigation to support the move.
Tribal Terror John Robb (Michael T.). important
Don’t believe everything you read Memory Hole (fk)
FRB
Behind Chairman Powell’s high-stakes decision to stay at the Fed The New York Times (Kevin W)
Trump smokes as Jerome Powell plans his future on the Federal Reserve’s Hill. “Plot” instead of “plan”? Seriously?
Democrats are the worst
Experts are wrong about Democratic Party’s ‘missing’ voters G. Elliott Morris
Lafaire Epstein
Epstein’s ‘suicide note’ discovered by cellmate – NYT RT
Our press is no longer free
Global press freedom falls to lowest level in 25 years Al Jazeera
I heard today that the Daily Wire has laid off over 50% of its staff.
Although I actively despise what their executives have put me and my family through, there are many good people working with families there to provide for those who could use prayer.
— Candace Owens (@RealCandaceO) May 1, 2026
economy
Fertilizer giant BBC said billions of meals were at risk due to the Iran war. This metric has no meaning. Craig Tyndale estimated a decline in global production levels in major crop categories due to war and the El Niño phenomenon. Please excuse my sloppy screenshot:
Global energy shock tests the limits of oil reserves Monde Diplomatic
Why U.S. oil companies can’t close the global energy gap The New York Times (Kevin W)
Asian currencies in decline due to heat of Iran war Asia Times (Kevin W). Well, the baht is the same as it was a year ago.
Tankers change from fuel trading to crude oil trading, war changes completely, and the flow of crude oil prices changes.
antitrust law
Who is really controlling the music industry in 2026? | Live Nation, Spotify, and labels are buying up all of vinyl culture (Micael T)
A.I.
“A model that produces code that compiles and passes a given test is not the same as a model that produces correct, secure, maintainable, and well-designed software.” Gary Marcus
Pentagon signs contracts with 7 Big Tech companies after eliminating Anthropic CNN (Kevin W)
basil
Oil Well Securitization: New Energy Subprime 3D News in 3D. The total is too small to constitute a systemic risk. This is an indicator of foaming.
guillotine watch
Humiliating cross-examination of Elon Musk Judd Legum
Difficulty procuring tomatillos and scallops due to Iran war, Dubai chefs reduce menu Intel
class war
Who rules America? Inside the hidden architecture of the ruling class William Murphy
CEO pay will soar 20 times that of employees in 2025 Guardian
An immediate antidote. John U: “A few wild toms walking along the road”:
bonus
A farmer in rural Ireland noticed that one of his cows would cry for hours every time he went to the train station to pick up supplies.
Touched by her suffering, he began to take her with him. To everyone’s surprise, the cow quickly learned the habit. She will wait calmly… pic.twitter.com/CJ44OIFSLf
— Massimo (@Rainmaker1973) April 30, 2026
Second bonus:
When the two cows saw their owners coming home, they jumped up to greet them like giant puppies. pic.twitter.com/AvM2vA5qsT
— The Figen (@TheFigen_) April 30, 2026
And third:
A Slovakian woman visits the lion she raised as a cub. Their parents were used in circuses throughout Eastern Europe and rejected them when they were born pic.twitter.com/bzbmdJ042h
— Nature Unedited (@NatureUnedited) April 30, 2026
Click here for yesterday’s link and Antidote du Jour.
