Links 8/6/2022 | naked capitalism

Lambert and I, and many readers, agree that Ukraine has prompted the worst informational environment ever. We hope readers will collaborate in mitigating the fog of war — both real fog and stage fog — in comments. None of us need more cheerleading and link-free repetition of memes; there are platforms for that. Low-value, link-free pom pom-wavers will be summarily whacked.

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–Yves

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Meet world’s richest dog that is selling a Shs114 billion mansion, travels by private jet and owns a yacht Matooke Republic (Dr. Kevin)

West Texas storm chaser Laura Rowe captured the picture of a lifetime, fantastic shot of a mature supercell thunderstorm, illuminated at varying heights from the setting sun. pic.twitter.com/MxHsoG7g9N

— Counts My CannaBlessings⁴²⁰🆓️ (@IntoTheShitter) August 5, 2022

A.I. Is Not Sentient. Why Do People Say It Is? New York Times (David L)

#COVID-19

Science/Medicine

Study identifies broad-spectrum antibody that neutralizes SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern News-medical.net (Kevin W)

First global tracker of animals who caught COVID has gaps — but is still helpful NPR (David L)

Long Covid symptoms affect one in eight, study suggests Agence France-Presse (resilc). Lower number than other accounts.

North America

This clip of a Covid enforcer and climate warrior landing in Costa Rica for holidays with his family all UNMASKED IN A PRIVATE JET has received over 1.3M views in 24hrs.

People are outraged online about Justin Trudeau’s hypocrisy.

But not one MSM story. pic.twitter.com/SXbCvSOxyL

— Avi Yemini (@OzraeliAvi) August 5, 2022

Democrats are telling their senators not to get tested for covid to ensure they can pass their $800 billion spending bill before summer recess. They can’t lose a single vote so a positive covid test would derail the bill. Rules only apply to the peons: https://t.co/v4vnddV3w2

— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) August 5, 2022

Monkeypox

After repeating early COVID mistakes, US now has the world’s biggest monkeypox outbreak USA Today (resilc)

The mystery virus that protects against monkeypox BBC (Dr. Kevin)

Climate/Environment

Europe and UK pour 17,000 tons of cooking oil into vehicles a day Guardian (resilc)

The promise and danger of Scotland’s bog BBC (David L)

Unprecedented’ rain, flooding shuts Death Valley National Park Los Angeles Times (furzy)

China?

Code Red: The Human Cost of China’s Rural Banking Crisis SixthTone (resilc)

Pelosi Aftermath

Explained: How is China’s military drills affecting key shipping routes near Taiwan? Republic World (J-LS)

Pentagon chiefs’ calls to China go unanswered amid Taiwan crisis Politico. Yours truly hoped Xi would reject Biden’s request for a call. That would have sent the most powerful message possible that China was not on with the Pelosi visit.

China cuts dialogue with US on military and climate issues and SANCTIONS Pelosi over Taiwan trip Daily Mail (resilc)

Report: White House At Odds With Lawmakers Over Taiwan Policy Act Antiwar.com (Kevin W)

On Japan’s Yonaguni island, fears of being on the front line of a Taiwan conflict NPR (David L)

Old Blighty

NHS 111 expects delays after cyber-attack causes system outage Guardian. Kevin W: “They are presently back to pen and paper.”

New Not-So-Cold War

Ukraine SitRep – Casualties Leak – Ukraine Admits Russian Breakthrough – Southern Front Paralysis Moon of Alabama (Chuck L)

Note the Torygraph ran this story:

This would be pretty kino but it’s obviously completely made up. https://t.co/V5rxQMFU3N

— Russians With Attitude (@RWApodcast) August 5, 2022

Mozart Group: the western ex-military training Ukrainian recruits Guardian (resilc)

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Council of EU adopts regulation cutting gas use by 15% Interfax. Note voluntary.

Germany needs to slash gas use by more than any other EU state: Analysis Economic Times

Norway Considers Limiting Electricity Exports To Prevent Domestic Crunch OilPrice (Kevin W)

Note To Myself… Andrei Martyanov. See embedded video on Spain.

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Report on a three-week visit to St Petersburg, July 2022 Gilbert Doctorow

Russia allows parallel imports of some L’Oreal brands Interfax

Duma to legislate on 90 days’ advance notice seeking permission through diplomatic channel from Moscow for foreign warships to pass through Northern Sea Route that connects Europe with Asia-Pacific. https://t.co/nylgFdFFh0

— M. K. Bhadrakumar (@BhadraPunchline) August 5, 2022

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I don’t write these stories….and wonder why this is a talking point now:

In a press conference yesterday, the Russian military accused the US of assassinating Hugo Chavez with a biological weapon administered by his nurse, Claudia Díaz, who defected after Chavez’s death. https://t.co/RF3IPkSi5i pic.twitter.com/Q11HFPokON

— 𝙂𝙐𝙈𝘽𝙔 (@gumby4christ) August 5, 2022

Orban at CPAC brings the ‘far-right international’ into focus Washington Post (resilc)

Syraqistan

Client states rejoice: Arms spigot reopens for Saudi Arabia, UAE Responsible Statecraft (resilc)

On the Legality of the Strike that Killed Ayman al-Zawahiri Lawfare (David L)

Al Qaeda’s Zawahiri Would Have Made a Great American Pundit Intercept (resilc)

Big Brother Is Watching You Watch

Amazon buying iRobot to see inside your home The Verge (Paul R)

AA chief says keep keyless car fob in a pouch, in a box, in a microwave after thieves stole his car Daily Mail (resilc)

Imperial Collapse Watch

Rise and Fall of Empires in the Industrial Era: A Story of Shifting Comparative Advantages NBER (resilc)

New York Health Department says hundreds of people may be infected with polio virus CBS (GM)

U.S. Lawmakers Demand Federal Scrutiny of How US Tech got into Turkey’s Drones Juan Cole (resilc)

Details on F.B.I. Inquiry Into Kavanaugh Draw Fire From Democrats New York Times (furzy)

Abortion

Indiana passes near-total abortion ban, the first to do so post-Roe Washington Post (furzy). Eeek. Not the Deep South….

Democrats en déshabillé

Are Democrats Really Settling for Joe Biden? Atlantic (furzy)

Democrats add stock buyback tax, scrap carried interest to win Sinema over The Hill

Prescription drug prices are high. Can the new Senate bill lower them? Grid. Resilc: “100 bil over ten yearzzzzzzzz? Joke. To be pissed away by DoD in a month.”

How the battle over the Democrats’ climate, tax and health bill will play out The Hill

GOP Clown Car

Trump rallies in Wisconsin, where Republicans are embattled The Hill

In new ad, Dick Cheney slams Trump as a liar and a ‘coward’ MSNBC (furzy). Resilc: “Hi, I’m war criminal Dick Cheney, vote for my kid.”

Greg Abbott says Texas is now busing migrants to New York City Texas Tribune (furzy)

Musk accuses Twitter of deliberately miscounting spam users in countersuit Guardian (resilc)

High court upholds life sentence for Mississippi man convicted of marijuana possession KLPC (resilc)

Counterfeits, fraud, and theft: Why Silca changed its return policy CyclingTips (Randy K)

Alex Jones Ordered to Pay $42.5 Million in Punitive Damages to Sandy Hook Parents Wall Street Journal

Guillotine Watch

Jeff Bezos $500M yacht doing the float of shame.

Towed away, incomplete, because the people of Rotterdam refused his demand they disassemble a historic bridge to let it pass. pic.twitter.com/eyPQp4h0uA

— Athena Coalition (@athenaforall) August 5, 2022

Having Trouble Flying With Your Dog? Charter a Private Jet for Princess Wall Street Journal (Dr. Kevin)

Class Warfare

17,000 Costco Workers to Strike – 4,500 Member Columbus Teachers Union Issues 10-day Strike Notice – Cop Unions Gets Armed Patrol Back at University of Washington Mike Elk

Amazon deliveries ‘are hit by delays’ as strikes spread to FOUR sites including Coventry and Bristol Daily Mail (resilc)

UPS Is Installing Surveillance Cameras in Our Trucks, but Not Air Conditioning Jacobin (furzy)

How the Elites Use Identity Politics to Wage Class War CounterPunch (resilc)

Synthetic drugs will fuel the next wave of illicit drug use STAT (Dr. Kevin)

Antidote du jour. ChetG:

Since you have kindly used one or two of my snowberry photos, I thought you might enjoy the complement, snowberry’s larger “cousin”: the hummingbird clearwing moth.

I regret that I don’t have any of them side by side (which does happen but thus far those photos aren’t sharp enough), but as a rule of thumb to tell the two apart: Snowberry has dark legs and a black cummerbund; hummingbird clearwing has a red cummerbund and light legs.