Breathtaking cycling featspic.twitter.com/3YL1zyvvXG
— Massimo (@Rainmaker1973) September 5, 2025
Neoliberalism Comes for the Warfare State Compact
Against Re-Enchantment Plough
A Single, ‘Naked’ Black Hole Rewrites the History of the Universe Quanta Magazine
Yes, this is who we are: America’s 250-year history of political violence The Conversation
COVID-19/Pandemics
New global collaboration uses UC Davis experts and AI to spot the next pandemic UC Davis Health
School closures during COVID created massive long-term costs with limited health benefits News-Medical.net
Climate/Environment
Weakening Gulf Stream System Could Unleash Global Chaos SciTech Daily
Can Bipartisan Support in Congress Save NOAA From White House Cuts? Inside Climate News
China?
Chinese researchers on Tuesday unveiled their self-developed world’s first “bone glue” material capable of securely bonding fractured bone fragments within 2-3 minutes in a blood-rich environment.
Inspired by oysters, this new biomaterial, with a maximum adhesion strength of over… pic.twitter.com/7ozvRrQBP0— China Science (@ChinaScience) September 10, 2025
US condemns Beijing’s South China Sea ‘nature reserve’ plan Al JazeeraChina massively overbuilt high-speed rail, says leading economic geographer Pekingnology
Chart Shows China Winning Global Clean Energy Race Newsweek
Is China’s stock rally a bubble or just the start of more gains? Investing.com
India
India’s opportune moment to break out of its global value chain conundrum East Asia Forum
Nepal
Nepal appoints first woman prime minister on interim basis as calm restored following Gen-Z protests Euro news
Sushila Karki: How Gen Z protestors chose Nepal’s first woman prime minister on Discord The Independent
South of the Border
Mexico acting ‘under coercion to constrain’ China with 50% tariff on cars, says Beijing The Guardian
Mexico touts progress in fight against cartels along northern border Border Report
For the first time in its history, Brazil sentences military officers and a former president for attempting a coup d’état Global Voices
The end of Milei’s single-issue government Buenos Aires Times
Africa
Prospects for democratic resilience in Africa during uncertain times Brookings
African leaders unveil $150 billion green plan to make the continent a climate powerhouse Business Insider
European Disunion
The U.S.-Europe Divide on How to Hurt Moscow Foreign Policy
Europe Faces Four Self-Inflicted Crises RealClear Politics
European genuflection to America Press TV
Europe’s future depends on dismantling the EU — part two Thomas Fazi substack
Old Blighty
Why a decline in the UK’s university sector is a threat to GDP Euro News
London protests live: Over 100,000 gather for Tommy Robinson ‘Unite the kingdom’ march The Independent
Israel v. Gaza, Yemen, Lebanon, Syria, Iran
Peak hypocrisy is showing concern for Israeli hostages, yet ignoring the fact that Israel is running the world’s largest hostage-taking operation. This is in the West Bank, not Gaza.
Netanyahu kills his own and kidnaps ours. pic.twitter.com/5aPyp74kLZ
— Dr. Omar Suleiman (@omarsuleiman) September 12, 2025
350,000 civilians forcibly displaced in latest Israeli assault on Gaza City Andolu AgencyIsraeli soldiers, and their mothers, increasingly reject calls to return to Gaza AP
Houthis Announce Death Toll from Israeli Strikes in Yemen: 46 Killed, 165 Wounded Yemen Online
Doha attack tests Qatar’s DC machine Politico</
Mamdani, if Elected Mayor, Pledges to Order N.Y.P.D. to Arrest Netanyahu NY Times
New Not-So-Cold War
Ukraine: Trump tells NATO allies to stop buying Russian oil DW
Hopes for Ukraine peace falter as Russian drones and joint drills fuel unease RFI
Big Brother Is Watching You Watch
LA County Moves to Protect SNAP Recipients’ Privacy from USDA Demand My RCNS
Imperial Collapse Watch
Los Angeles residents’ fury over massive homeless encampment stealing their electricity Daily Mail
Trump 2.0
Trump’s criticizing Dem governors with 2028 in mind Axios
Trump Can Have Booming Growth or Deportations, Not Both RealClear Markets
The Standard for ‘Vicious’ Speech Trump Laid Out After Kirk’s Murder Would Implicate Trump Himself Reason
Trump eyes federal takeover of blue city with highest violent crime rate in US: ‘Deeply troubled’ Fox News
Musk Matters
Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick says Elon Musk got DOGE ‘backward’ Business Insider
Tesla shifts focus to robotics amid investor scrutiny Cryptopolitan
Tesla Chair Defends Musk’s SpaceX, xAI Ventures Amid Sales Slump Fears WebPro News
Democrat Death Watch
Some hard truths for Democrats amidst the despair Colorado Politics
Battenfeld: Democrats want hearts of voters, but party has lost its heart Boston Herald
Immigration
Families in crisis after massive immigration raid at Hyundai plant in Georgia AP
Immigration Agents Held a U.S. Citizen—and Veteran—for 3 Days Without Checking His ID Reason
Our No Longer Free Press
Republicans pledge censorship crackdown to avenge Charlie Kirk’s death The Verge
USA: IFJ joins call against visas restrictions for foreign journalists International Federation of Journalists
Mr. Market Is Moody
Analysis-US dollar bears think record slide may resume after recent pause Reuters
Fed unwind and US Treasury buildup drive up short-term borrowing costs Cryptopolitan
AI
"GPT-5 moves from human-comparable to above human-expert performance"
GPT-5 outperforms licensed human experts by 25-30% and achieves SOTA results on the US medical licensing exam and the MedQA benchmark.
I sound like a broken record, but AI models are better than most doctors. pic.twitter.com/ftId4TjWQd
— Deedy (@deedydas) August 27, 2025
World’s first AI minister will eliminate corruption, says Albania’s PM BBCCould humans and AI become a new evolutionary individual? PNAS
AI is opening a MAGA-Trump split Politico
How AI is disrupting the photography business Axios
Lila Sciences Secures $235M Funding, Hits Unicorn Status in AI Biotech WebPro News
The Bezzle
4 arrested in Miami-Dade for allegedly staging car accidents to collect insurance payouts CBS News
Victims in S’pore lost a total of $126.5m to this scam type in 6 months The Straights Times
Guillotine Watch
Cartier ''Eternity'' Emerald and Diamond Snake necklace.
This gorgeous piece needed 6000 hours to be crafted and was made from 26 emeralds, two emeralds of 206 and 205 karats (the largest ones in the world) and 3957 diamonds, it's value goes up to an approximate of $12 million. pic.twitter.com/uTjayNbph4— K (@imthespecialk) January 16, 2024
SANA sporting a $46 million necklace at a Graff event, holding the record for the most expensive celebrity jewelry on a red carpet. pic.twitter.com/XhiardYgsI
— Twice Fashion Data (@twoisefansi) June 5, 2025
This is the most valuable necklace in the world.
The full name of the necklace is Mouawad “L’Incomparable” and contains the largest flawless diamond in the world (407.48 carats), also know as the Incomparable. It also contains a further 102 diamonds cut into various shapes.
It… pic.twitter.com/zJH9Yw7XNH
— Guinness World Records (@GWR) January 9, 2024
Antidote du jour (via)
See yesterday’s Links and Antidote du Jour here
“London protests live: Musk tells Tommy Robinson protesters ‘fight back or die’ as 25 arrested during huge march”
So is Musk actually calling for regime change in the UK while inciting violence to authorities? Pretty tall talk from a pretty small man. And he thinks that Tommy Robinson is the answer? I can’t think of any question where the answer is ‘Tommy Robinson’. He is sort of the Navalny of the UK.
Not only that, but Tommy Robinson, is heavily funded by Zionists. He is frequently photographed wearing IDF and Mossad logo clothing, and for all the flag waving of the St George cross, there were plenty of Star of David flags on display among the demonstration in London yesterday.
25 arrests at a violent protest that left several police injured, and featured a prominent call for the downfall of the government, compared to last weekend’s 900 arrests for holding cardboard signs at a peaceful protest against genocide. That’s certainly sending a message to the population of our fair nation (facepalm).
“He is sort of the Navalny of the UK.”
I thought that was Farage – an Internet-savvy youth-appealing bridge between “normal” centre-right politics and far-right rabble-rousing. Robinson seems more like one of those people: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Movement_Against_Illegal_Immigration
I can’t think of any question where the answer is ‘Tommy Robinson’
Which inflammatory rabble-rouser did time for assault and mortgage fraud? I’ll take mini-messiahs for $500, Rev.
Re: biking video
We have a most excellent mountain bike course here in Tiny Town-and my cycling is limited to the Tour de Burning Man, but a lot of friends enjoy hurting themselves on our demanding course, so much so that everybody I know has broken something en route, wrists, collarbones, knees, elbows, you name it.
If I was smart, I’d open a small health clinic in the parking lot…
https://www.outsideonline.com/adventure-travel/destinations/north-america/blood-guts-and-tarweed-mountain-biking-foothills-sequoia-national-park/
Regarding those bicycle acrobatics in mountains: recently, one of those “extreme bikers” died after falling 200m. I saw one of his gopro videos (biking on a ridge in a high mountain), and I just thought that what he was doing was simply suicidal.
Horrible way to go that. It must have taken a few seconds to fall that 200m and he could see what was about to happen to him but was totally helpless.
When people offer up the inane “he died doing what he loved” platitude, I always wonder what kind of a person loves hitting the ground at 200kph. 🤔
Aye. I love biking and when a see those videos I only can think on why oh why facing those enormous risks.
Clicks, likes and sponsorships?
It fits in the picture of a highly decadent society, since those “extreme” activities tend towards similar morbid shows and thrills as gladiatorial combats of yore.
But are you not entertained?
Not me. It gives me the creeps and that does not qualify as entertainment.
Two weeks ago I lost control of my new skinny-tire e-bike on an urban arterial, took a header, and dislocated my shoulder. I went down three times on my e-bike…twice in 50 years of regularly riding 10-speeds.
Advice to anyone interested in getting an e-bike…get a fat-tire bike; easier on the butt and more control on bumps and holes. Get a bike with narrow handlebars where your hands rest equidistant from your shoulders for more steering control.
Wasn’t the mtn bike trend birthed in CA (may have been Colorado) and therefore y’all have a lot of ‘splainin’ to do? Surely the daredevil version makes even skiing seem safe.
In any case hurtling through the woods is not my version of nature loving.
I don’t know where it started, but it may be increasingly useful in typical US urban and sub-urban environments. I ride an inexpensive folder (a Downtube “Nova”) refitted with lower-pressure mountain-bike style tires. In my community, one needs off-road tires to ride on the roads.
At my age, I look forward to memorable bike rides (like seeing three turtles stacked on each off the bank of a canal trail) over exciting rides.
The quiet acrobatics of the indoor cycling posted awhile back is almost as exciting and without the terror.
Get you some WMT grandkids, Wuk! They’ll build you a Wally World in your parking lot!
https://www.outsideonline.com/outdoor-adventure/biking/single-track-minds
Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick says Elon Musk got DOGE ‘backward’ Business Insider
It good rid of administrators and more importantly managers that would not follow illegal orders. An important step to get an administrative state that just obeys every order.
I would say they got what they wanted. This article is just portioning out blame for not achieving the targets stated in the propaganda.
The antidote is much more beautiful than the necklaces above it.
Those necklaces betray the taste of a society at an advanced stage of decadence: overly thick or sprawling, numerous oversized gems, dubious symbols (snake). To me, the snake necklace looks as a prop for a Conan-the-barbarian movie, the guiness world record one would be suitable for adorning the evil queen in a peplum.
These are not gorgeous or refined pieces, but dowdy ones with exaggerated characteristics designed to show off how much money the bearer has.
grotesquely tacky!
They would be very heavy and uncomfortable to wear, and cold and hard. Not pleasant. And tacky.
It’s all about exclusivity with the mo’ manna crowd, know anybody that has a Gulfstream G800 at their beck and call?
The thing about giant stones of value is they wouldn’t seem all that important loose by themselves, they need the adornment of a lady’s neck or being front and center in a tiara if we’re talking royalty, to stand out proper.
No man would ever wear anything such as the 3 examples shown, except for maybe Huggy Bear in Starsky & Hutch.
The snake necklace is a disgrace to the Cartier name. It’s stiff and dead, as if a child drew out the design. Jackie O would not abide.
That link will take you to a Helmut Newton portrait photo of JO wearing, if my memory serves me well, a spectacular Cartier necklace of which she is not the original owner. A commissioned piece, of course.
‘Massimo
@Rainmaker1973
Breathtaking cycling feats’
Nope! Double Nope.
However the guy’s homepage has lots of interesting videos-
https://xcancel.com/Rainmaker1973
Make sure to check out the ‘Centuries of varnish removed, revealing the 1618 painting’s original colors’ video.
Hopes for Ukraine peace falter as Russian drones and joint drills fuel unease RFI
Isn’t RFI writer confusing wishes for hopes? Some may have wishes, not hope on Ukraine peace on Western terms and the opposite holds true on the Russian side. Anyone watching events and “diplomacy” carefully can see this. Hopes on agreed peace do not exist in any way or form.
So how can these wishes come true? On the Western side the wishes rely on sanctions basically. Now there are proposals for secondary sanctions by the whole Western bloc on the rest of the world or at least China and India plus stop buying any Russian oil (and NG?) by the bloc. A war won on sanctions? Very doubtful and with some potential to derail the West in a very definitive way. Yet, the article keeps focused with the sanctions: Trump might get very, very strong (with sanctions) if Russia does not budge, RFI says. We need some second thoughts on the power of sanctions though not exactly the ones mentioned here, where it is suggested that secondary sanctions are the last alternative to the military force. There are of course more alternatives like admitting the mistake of the proxy war in the first place
There is no hope because we prohibit ourselves the thought on more sensible alternatives.
China solar article
What they left out is that those numbers for 2025 are for H1. And it’s over 64% increase than last year. Another fantastic achievement drive by chinese tech.
Here are the numbers.
https://ember-energy.org/latest-updates/global-solar-installations-surge-64-in-first-half-of-2025/
Against Re-Enchantment
What a strange argument: step-by-step rigour in its rejection of enchantment, and then a collapse down the stairs into a heap of Christianity and Judaism.
“Doha attack tests Qatar’s DC machine”
Well the results are in and it was a catastrophic disaster. Qatar has spent hundreds of billion of dollars worth o USf military along with all sorts of other “investments” to establish a bond between the two countries. But when Israel went after the Hamas peace delegation, the US shut down the entire defensive network and turned off all those Patriot & THAAD batteries leaving Qatar totally helpless. So Qatar has kinda wasted their money here.