[We are having a storm. Even though I have a backup connectivity, both are low on juice. This post is pretty much done but forgive any oversights of stories you deem important]
For over 1,000 years, historians thought the Viking “sunstone” was just a myth, until the sea gave up its secrets.
In Norse sagas, Viking sailors repeatedly mention a mysterious object called the “solar stain” or sunstone, which was an extremely powerful navigational tool. pic.twitter.com/etAfI3DAWX
— SubRosa )✿( Magick @subrosamagick.bsky.social (@SubRosaMagick) May 7, 2026
What your body stops doing when you’re stressed Big Think
hantavirus
The New York Times has compiled a list of just how scary you should be about Hantavirus cruise ships. Gray Lady isn’t officially scared, but she’s still concerned enough to put the article behind the paywall.
A Spanish woman is hospitalized with suspected hantavirus infection. New infection suspected on remote island NBC. If her test result is positive = airborne infection.
Hantavirus misinformation is rampant as the US is unprepared to deal with the health scare of an infectious disease Guardian (Kevin W) This statement, “It’s not a virus with pandemic potential…” is bullshit. First, a big reason why the majority of unwashed people are worried is the way nominal public health officials are focused on business interests rather than public safety. That’s why they openly supported the (known to be false) wishful thinking “vaccine only” approach to stopping the spread (as opposed to hospital overcrowding), and not other methods of limiting infection, especially masking and improving ventilation. They should no longer be able to scare restaurant patrons, tourists, and in-person shoppers.
Second, there is increasing evidence that this Andean hantavirus, unlike other hantaviruses, can be airborne (as mentioned above). Airborne transmission means that these airborne risk denials are positively dangerous. look:
Detailed investigation of previous human cases of hantaviruses has provided evidence of airborne transmission of the Andean strain.
Patient 1 –> Patient 4
“There was no physical contact, we just said ‘hello’ to each other as we crossed paths.”
Patient 1 –> Patient… pic.twitter.com/Y0HgL67gNa
— Joseph Allen (@j_g_allen) May 7, 2026
The only good news here is that the highly lethal nature of highly contagious hantaviruses requires swift and strict public action, as happened in Asia with SARS-1.
Bar-Yam was one of the first companies to designate Covid as a pandemic in January 2020, publishing mathematical analysis supporting its warning. Therefore, please read seriously.
3/ Approximately 30 passengers are already distributed internationally. Around 140 more passengers are scheduled to depart from the Canary Islands this Sunday.
The incubation period can extend to several weeks, so success or failure of containment may not be immediately apparent.
— Yaneerbaryam (@yaneerbaryam) May 8, 2026
The Dutch woman, who lost her husband on board the ship, disembarked in St Helena on April 24 complaining of “gastrointestinal symptoms”, but her condition “deteriorated during the flight to Johannesburg” on April 25 and she died on April 26.
Traveling through Africa’s busiest airport means *many* could become infected. pic.twitter.com/3WRJJgMnvU
— Nick Mark, MD (@nickmmark) May 6, 2026
For those who are slow to understand this, let me state it again as simply as possible.
COVID-19 damages the delicate lining inside blood vessels, the endothelium.
Hantaviruses “target” the vascular endothelium.
— Turn (@1goodtern) May 8, 2026
#New Coronavirus Infection/Pandemic
The results were amazing.
Coronary slow flow rates were much higher in patients who had previously had COVID-19.
New coronavirus infection + group 18.9%
New coronavirus group 5.3%
That’s a difference of more than three times.
— Zdenek Vrozina (@ZdenekVrozina) May 8, 2026
Climate/Environment
Why the odds of the strongest El Niño in 100 years continue to rise The Washington Post
Climate models struggle to capture human influence on storm paths Guardian
Atmospheric carbon dioxide levels hit ‘disturbing’ new record Scientific American
‘It’s not just hot water’: Marine heatwaves can trigger toxic relationships between seagrass and microbes PhysOrg
Drought worsens across Central Plains, greatly worsening outlook for winter wheat brownfields
China?
China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs just reiterated today what it said yesterday, the day before that, and the day before that, and there is no certainty that President Trump’s visit will take place on May 14th as President Trump has in mind. pic.twitter.com/QUQEVvd5k7
— Dances_with_Bears (@bears_with) May 8, 2026
China’s bank lending sharply falls in April due to weak credit demand Reuters
90% of Tibetans speak Tibetan. This comes after reports that China is trying to “wipe out” Tibetan culture for the first time in 76 years.
18% of Wales speak Welsh and 10% of Ireland speak Irish. This is the result after spending about the same amount of time preserving these languages. https://t.co/JEZHuRsClD
— Domhnall (Cogito) (@CogitoEdu) May 6, 2026
Japan
Why is Japan now open to exporting weapons? DW
Japan fires missile during training exercise, drawing criticism from China ARAB NEWS
South Korea
North Korea admits ballistic missile attack on Ukraine for the first time NK Pro
North Korea plans to deploy new cannons targeting Seoul and commission No. 1 destroyer “Independent”
Africa
Iran’s top war analyst says recolonization of Africa has begun. Robert Pape, well worth a listen.
More than 30 killed in al-Qaeda-linked attack in central Mali France 24
A new battle for the African country of Congo
Conflict-related delays, funding shortages deepen Somalia’s hunger crisis Reuters
Sudan was already at war and starving. Now its farmers are hit by a new conflict Independent
Why is Mozambique’s financial crisis only getting worse? Zawiya
City of Johannesburg “on the brink of financial collapse” IOL
discord in europe
US cyber plan to eliminate Chinese suppliers will cost $430 billion: South China Morning Post reports
Record imports from EU keep Russia’s main LNG terminal profitable EurActiv
Rheinmetall to begin production of cruise missiles as early as this year Financial Times
Greenland’s prime minister condemns ‘vulgar’ bid to buy local residents’ signatures on collusion petition with US South China Morning Post (Kevin W)
A small German town ends decades of life with the US military Japan Times
old blighty
The 2026 election map: how Labor has lost ground in many directions Guardian
Labor Failure London Book Review
Mr Starmer is facing increasing pressure following Labor’s crushing election defeat (BBC). Hey, do you think so?
Keir Starmer vows to keep fighting after Labor’s historic Times bashing
Plaid Cymru wins Wales Senedd election, ending 100 years of labor restrictions Guardian (Kevin W)
Britain’s energy crisis is already here in the Outer Hebrides Telegraph
israel vs resistance
Stay quiet ‘don’t go to jail’: Israeli charged with bribery after suspicious bet against Iran The Guardian
Rats, disease and waste: the growing health crisis in Gaza and across the West Bank Palestine Chronicle
Recent testimonies from Palestinian detainees released from Israeli custody confirm serious allegations regarding the treatment of Dr. Hassam Abu Safiyah. According to testimony, he had been repeatedly subjected to severe abuse since being detained.#Free Doctor Hassam Abu Safiyah pic.twitter.com/GLjikMjTQp
— Euro-Med Monitor (@EuroMedHR) May 8, 2026
Levin says he will “annihilate” the Supreme Court if his nominee is not chosen Times of Israel (Kevin W)
Gulf bank strengthens digital surveillance to curb Iranian black money flows ARAB NEWS
Companies making billions from the Iran war BBC (Robin K)
A new war that’s not so cold war
Russia and Ukraine fighting despite World War II; proposes ceasefire celebration Dubai Eye
Greece investigates Ukrainian maritime drone – Reuters RT (Kevin W)
President Zelenskiy’s Israeli family event in Ukraine
big brother is watching you
Google Chrome silently installs a 4 GB AI model on your device That Privacy Guy (Micael T)
imperial collapse watch
US imperialism enters a new phase: the left needs to look at it carefully Venezuela analysis
Trump 2.0
RFK Jr. announces anti-depressant ‘stop prescribing’ campaign on The Hill from earlier in the week, still in German.
A new form of piracy!
Trump administration seizes $120 million owned by Canada Pension Plan Investment Board in offshore wind project interests and demands it be invested in fossil fuel development instead https://t.co/JLrc27h5RG pic.twitter.com/bJWGe7Lc9R
— Edward Rowe 𓃡 (@edwardrow) May 7, 2026
Democrats are the worst
Maine Democrats to vote to denounce DCCC interference in key House wiretaps
Our press is no longer free
The next frontier in President Trump’s attack on free speech New York Times (Dr. Kevin)
🇷🇺🌐 A Russian journalist has been officially and permanently expelled from the International Federation of Journalists.
Reason for expulsion:
– Create media branches in “occupied” regions
– “Russia kills journalists and uses information as a weapon”
No, Israel was not expelled. pic.twitter.com/a2dxE5ZOnH
— Spetsunaℤ 007 🇷🇺 (@Alex_Oloyede2) May 8, 2026
Lafaire Epstein
Weird: Epstein’s suicide note printed on Hillary Clinton’s personal stationery Babylon Bee
economy
Time is running out to avert a power crisis in the US: ‘The status quo cannot be maintained’ Market Watch
Iran oil crisis disrupts supply, causing ‘plastic shock’ to hit Asia Financial Times
Whirlpool warns of ‘recession-level’ slump as sales hit by Iran war and tariff ruling Guardian
Mr. Market is a big eater.
China, US record global debt at $353 trillion as Iran war adds pressure South China Morning Post
Weak global bond demand prompts governments to turn to bank loans IDN Financials
A.I.
Further evidence of why AI was never used for anything other than what was once called machine learning:
We are in very deep trouble.
A reader wrote to me this week and said he would not read my Trump corruption article because ChatGPT had “fact-checked the article” and told me that most of it was false.
Among other things, ChatGPT told us there is no Iran war, Jared… pic.twitter.com/7tTjhZDK6b
— Isaac Saul (@Ike_Saul) May 8, 2026
Agents and ROI Gary Marcus
IMF warns of new AI model risks of ‘systemic’ shock to finance Financial Times
basil
The Justice Department is investigating $2.6 billion worth of oil bets made just before President Trump announced war on Iran, independent reports say.
Global financial watchdog warns private credit industry fueling AI boom Guardian
guillotine watch
Mr. Musk’s mistress contract Oligarch Watch
A central New York landlord accused of sexually exploiting his tenants for decades has re-indicted Syracuse.com. Bob: Best landlord ever.
class war
Labor Party leader Walter Reuter was one of the Liberal Party leaders in the 1960s believed to have been assassinated in a covert “deep state” operation (Chuck L.)
Temporary Antidote (Tracy H):
bonus:
They put a German Shepherd in charge of babysitting a Doberman puppy…
And the poor man didn’t understand why they were acting so wildly. 😂 pic.twitter.com/CeiSsDww7W
— The Figen (@TheFigen_) May 3, 2026
Second bonus:
The farmer went to collect chicken eggs, but three adopted children were waiting for him instead. 😂 pic.twitter.com/8Eux3CA1Ni
— The Figen (@TheFigen_) May 3, 2026
And the third (Chuck L):
Two Australian paddleboarders rescue an exhausted wallaby washed out to sea 😍 pic.twitter.com/aMJmu8KPtS
— Interesting stuff (@awkwardgoogle) May 8, 2026
Click here for yesterday’s link and Antidote du Jour.
