Links 5/31/2026

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1. The Rev Kev May 31, 2026 at 7:17 am

   “Huawei chairman thanks the US for export restrictions on chips, says it supercharged China’s semiconductor industry — Washington’s export controls encouraged Chinese firms to invest in R&D and build their own tech stack competing with American tech”

   I heard an apparently true story on a Stanislav Krapivnik video today how when Trump met Xi in Beijing recently, that Trump tried to press Xi to buy Nvidia chips. But that Xi politely smiled and said no thanks as China is making their own now. This sort of thing happens again and again. Congress passed laws years ago preventing Chinese taikonauts from going into space aboard NASA vehicles. Now China has their own space station in orbit and they are planning on a Moon landing. Who knew that investing in your own country’s R & D could pay off so well?

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   1. Mark Gisleson May 31, 2026 at 7:48 am

      Those darned sanctions! This own goal however doesn’t negate the obvious successes we’ve had with our economic santions that have crippled the economies of Cuba, Russia and Iran. Well, Cuba anyway.

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      1. John k May 31, 2026 at 11:53 am

         I’ve long thought the polars us/china/russia, and now including Iran, will dominate the countries in their region. And Cuba is particularly vulnerable as it is subject to sea blockade.

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      2. jrkrideau June 1, 2026 at 5:46 pm

         I believe that various EU agricultural sanctions have done wonders for Russian agriculture. Cheese production has boomed and, IIRC, Russia is China’s largest supplier of pork. Wine production is up if I remember John Helmer’s report correctly.

         Sanctions may work on a small, poor country like Cuba. They are an economic boost for a large country with lots of resources such as China and Russia. Russian farmers probably pray every night that the agricultural sanctions remain in effect.

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   2. Michaelmas May 31, 2026 at 9:31 am

      Who knew that investing in your own country’s R&D could pay off so well?

      The US once.

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   3. hereweare May 31, 2026 at 10:55 am

      https://asiatimes.com/2026/05/chinas-h200-hunger-drives-nvidia-chip-smugglers-to-japan-route/

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2. The Rev Kev May 31, 2026 at 7:55 am

   ‘Glenn Tunes
   @glenn_tunes
   ABSOLUTELY ****ING REPULSIVE THAT PETE HEGSETH REMOVED COLIN POWELLS NAME FROM A LIST OF NOTABLE AMERICANS BURIED AT ARLINGTON CEMETERY 🤬 HE ALSO REMOVED THE NAMES OF EVERY PERSON OF COLOR AND EVERY SINGLE WOMAN ON THE SAME LIST 🤬ONLY WHITE MEN WERE LEFT IN PLACE 🤬 ‘

   Calling this as fake. Went onto Arlington Cemetery’s website and was able to find Colin Powell-

   https://www.arlingtoncemetery.mil/Explore/Notable-Graves/Politics-Government

   And I came across Grace Hopper as well on another page who of course is female. So the guy probably read a rumour and that was enough for him.

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   1. marym May 31, 2026 at 10:03 am

      There’s been coverage of the source of the “rumor” part of this for some time, along with other removals, partial restorations, relocations, and de-linkings of information.

      https://www.snopes.com/news/2025/03/21/colin-powell-arlington-cemetery/
      https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/arlington-national-cemetery-veterans/

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   2. Yves Smith May 31, 2026 at 10:43 am

      That is on me and not Haig, since I made a few late additions to his Lins.

      However, there is still something rotten with the treatment of Colin Powell’s record, just not as bad as that. From r/military:

      BetsTheCow
      “While neither Hegseth nor anyone under the umbrella of the Defense Department entirely deleted Powell’s name from the page, sometime between late February and early March 2025, one or more people with access to edit the page removed a partial amount of biographical information pertaining to Powell’s race, as well as one mention of his name from the biography of another noteworthy service member. Someone later restored those pieces of information in mid-to-late March.”

      There was a period of about a months where reference to Mr. Powell’s ethnicity was removed, but they have since been restored. Hegseth was never overtly involved.

      Hollayo
      It was restored because we all found out about it and raised hell about it. They then put it back up.

      Acceptable-Bat-9577
      Hegseth was never overtly involved.

      So, his excuse is that he knows nothing? 🤔

      TheDumpBucket
      Right. There’s definitely not a common trend of conservative leadership stating that they “had no knowledge” of the ongoing in the entities they lead.

      https://www.reddit.com/r/Military/comments/1qwdade/what_to_know_about_claim_pete_hegseth_removed/

      I am cynical enough to wonder if the Arlington (fake) story was intended to cover up the real story, of records erasures and degrading of black military leaders that was reversed when servicemembers found out and made a stink.

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      1. Don June 1, 2026 at 2:53 am

         Who gives a f**k about Colin Powell being dissed? I remember so-called leftist feminists celebrating that Madame Ngu (spelling?) was a woman: Disgusting.

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         1. Wukchumni June 1, 2026 at 3:24 am

            Let them eat yellowcake…

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3. Sibiriak May 31, 2026 at 8:22 am

   Congress quietly moves to integrate US and Israeli militaries Responsible Statecraft
   —————————————————————————————————————

   Important!

   [Section 224] would fuse the U.S. and Israeli defense sectors in multiple areas vital to the battlefields of the future, like autonomous systems and cyber. It would also bring extraordinary Israeli influence to the U.S. beyond what it already has through the Israel lobby and its robust network of social media influencers.

   It would give the Israeli government the opportunity to greatly expand one of the most powerful levers of influence in U.S. politics: jobs in the U.S. By expanding or starting new co-production facilities like it already has in Mississippi and Arkansas, the Israeli government could boast of providing jobs on U.S. soil, thereby securing allies among members of Congress who represent the districts where those jobs lie.

   The result could well be a U.S. political system even more susceptible to the whims of an Israeli government that seemingly has no qualms about drawing the U.S. into military conflicts in the Middle East.

   This unprecedented level of U.S.-Israeli military integration stands in stark contrast to the traditional aid model of defense cooperation, in which Israel already stood out as the top recipient of U.S. military assistance. As laid out in a recent Quincy Institute brief, authored by Steven Simon, this shift from an aid model to a military integration model has troubling implications, namely:

   The shift will strip away the political and diplomatic oversight mechanisms that make the relationship publicly accountable, moving it from a visible annual aid vote into the opaque machinery of defense acquisition, where oversight is limited and political accountability is minimal. The result would be a defense relationship that is simultaneously deeper and less transparent.

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   1. mrsyk May 31, 2026 at 8:29 am

      The Epstein Class is pressing its current advantage. The window of opportunity named Trump will not be around forever.

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   2. Randall Flagg May 31, 2026 at 12:43 pm

      Doesn’t matter if the two armed forces are linked? Short of the US or Israel using nuclear weapons, getting your ass kicked is getting your ass, kicked regardless if it’s the Iranians, Hezbollah, or the Houthis.

      Never mind getting into it with the Russians or the Chinese.

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      1. Offtrail May 31, 2026 at 2:13 pm

         Yes, it matters. I absolutely do not want Israel more deeply embedded in our government.

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      2. chris May 31, 2026 at 2:23 pm

         It seems like a minor thing until you consider what happened with Ukraine. Blinken, Nuland, Freeland, and so many others, all with grampas who have funny WWII uniforms in the attic, lead us to support that destruction. In 2018 we passed legislation stating that we couldn’t send arms to Ukraine because they were neo-Naughtzis. By 2022 we had armed them to the point where they were going to slaughter their kin in a civil war. If Russia hadn’t jumped when it did, we’d have seen two US supported genocides flourish between 2022 and 2024.

         So, no, I don’t want to risk becoming tied up to Israel anymore than we already are. I also don’t want any federal contractors to benefit from testing AI and military tech by killing Palestinians. I have to swallow so much as a US citizen. My pride. My morals. My ethics. All in the name of my government acting on my behalf. I do not consent to this final moral insult.

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         1. samm May 31, 2026 at 4:50 pm

            Thank you, that was very well said.

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         2. mrsyk May 31, 2026 at 5:55 pm

            Well put, thank you.

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         3. Kilgore Trout May 31, 2026 at 7:56 pm

            Minor correction : onlyFreeland had a relative who wore that uniform. Blinken and Nuland, both Jews, have ancestral claims to Ukraine

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            1. jrkrideau June 1, 2026 at 6:01 pm

               Minor correction to minor correction: I don’t think Freeland’s grandfather wore a funny uniform. He was a newspaper editor for a Ukrainian language, Nazi publication. The only picture I can remember of her collaborator grandfather, Michael Chomiak, had him in a civilian suit.

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      3. Socal Rhino May 31, 2026 at 8:10 pm

         It may allow the US to fund Israel from the budget of the defense department, without any transparency or Congressional vote.

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   3. ciroc May 31, 2026 at 3:04 pm

      From now on, criticizing the U.S. military for committing war crimes will be considered anti-Semitic.

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   4. CarlH May 31, 2026 at 5:26 pm

      I think I read on this site that some congress people are also trying to give VA benefits to American IDF veterans. It makes me ill.

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4. dougie May 31, 2026 at 8:37 am

   Re: Travel delays surrounding EU entry/exit requirements.

   Last year, I was able to skirt my reluctance to be fingerprinted and biometrically scanned for a trip to Portugal that my wife wanted us to take. A health event made it a moot point.

   Yesterday, a friend of my wife offered us a freebie apartment in Iceland for 2 weeks in September, while she goes on a cruise. Fingerprinting and scanning rears it’s ugly head again, as Iceland is a member of the Schengen zone.

   In 1971, Abby Hoffman taught me in “Steal This Book” (which I did, BTW) to never be fingerprinted, tattooed, or offer law enforcement any method to readily identify you. To this day, I have not. I am seriously conflicted. My wife is totally unconcerned whatsoever. We are fast approaching the age where travel won’t be an option for us, I thought we were already there. The “go along to get along” chorus is singing in my ears. But,but…….is it finally time to ditch those ’60’s ideals? This is definitely a “first world” problem, yet it is what I find on my plate this morning. Perhaps some of you have dealt with this challenge and have some wisdom to impart?

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   1. dearieme May 31, 2026 at 8:45 am

      Yesterday evening I made a remark to my wife about the “Big Six” soccer clubs in England. She asked which clubs those were. Suddenly her iPhone lit up and gave her a list of them. She was appalled: she hadn’t realised that our electronic devices spy on us the whole time.

      In other words, I suspect your battle is lost anyway even though I too am extremely reluctant to collaborate with the ID state.

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      1. jonboinAR May 31, 2026 at 2:52 pm

         I had something similar happen several years ago. In my case, it was only my phone that could have overheard the conversation we were having regarding a completely obscure device. When I returned several minutes later to the computer I commonly sat at, an ad popped up for it. Spooked the heck out of me, but when I told people about it they said “Oh, yeah”. It seems it’s been going on for some time.

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   2. The Rev Kev May 31, 2026 at 9:02 am

      I’m only guessing at your age but if the black helicopters haven’t come for you yet, then you should be right. We are all of us on hundreds of lists already and being on an EU one is probably not a biggie if you are not making a regular thing of it. If you were very young I might say different but I would suggest you and your wife go and not miss out on that Icelandic adventure. Just remember to check on what the weather is like in Iceland in September and pack the appropriate clothing. Happy trails.

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   3. dougie May 31, 2026 at 10:13 am

      Thanks for your input, guys. In hindsight, it appears that my concerns were ass backwards. The privacy horse left the barn, has crossed the Mississippi River and Rocky Mountains years ago when I embraced smart phone technology. My wife was so pleased at my change of heart that she has added Scotland to the itinerary. Now if only “you know who” will deny me access back into the US due to my internet history, we will simply be forced to retire to northern Italy ,as I wanted to do all along, lol.

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      1. The Rev Kev May 31, 2026 at 10:18 am

         You may think that this is silly but be sure to pack some long-johns to go under your trousers and thermal liners for your shoes. The weight and space is nothing but if you get hit with cold weather in September, you will be glad that you packed them. Spent a coupla winters in Europe and they were a godsend.

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         1. dougie May 31, 2026 at 10:30 am

            Good to know. I am pretty much impervious to cold. I actually prefer it, but my wife? She huddles under blankets wearing wool socks when it’s 75 degrees in our home, while I sit with a fan blowing on me.

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            1. LifelongLib May 31, 2026 at 2:55 pm

               “added Scotland to the itinerary”

               You should look this up on the U.S. State Department website, but there’s an “electronic visa” the UK requires for travel from the U.S. When I went to London last year I had to put an app on my phone and apply ahead of time, IIRC with some personal info and a photo. Make sure you use “official” websites, it looks like there are some sketchy ones out there…

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         2. jonboinAR May 31, 2026 at 2:56 pm

            And there’s really effective “long handles” (as they call them here in Arkansas) out now. You can buy them for whatever degree of cold you anticipate. “Smart Wool” socks, too. Really effective.

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   4. lyman alpha blob May 31, 2026 at 10:32 am

      Maybe take the slow boat instead? https://cargoholidays.com/iceland-cargo-ship-travel

      Don’t know much about it myself, but I’ve heard it can be a fun and novel way to travel if you’ve got the time and don’t care about amenities.

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   5. Yves Smith May 31, 2026 at 10:58 am

      I am the wrong person to ask. I have fingers that didn’t leave legible prints even when I was in my 20s, and they get shallower with age. Someone in Border Control here (after I had been in and out several times) finally noticed they weren’t getting readable images, sent me to another desk where they tried several times. I am pretty sure they gave up and appended a note, since the next trip, they didn’t bother trying to get a full set of images.

      You can’t get out of a biometric face ID (all passport photos are that). But if you wear a mask, you thwart uses ex at the Immigration counter.

      On my last trip to the US, because Emirates changed my flight to one with a horrible layover, I was entitled to a service called Dubai Connect, which = hotel stay + meal vouchers. You do have to book IIRC a day or two in advance.

      They use 2 hotels. One is in the airport proper. I have seen reviews. Very positive. Would have been more than adequate for my needs.

      The other you have to leave the airport, so you need to get a visa and go through immigration to return.

      I was nervous about the time and greater risk of oversleeping + the logistics.

      My wheelchair pusher was about to take me out into the arrivals section, as in I would have to go through passport control + a security check at some point. I said wait a sec, I though I might be booked at the hotel inside the airport, surely there is way to stay inside the airport and so to check my booking from inside?

      He did take me to a Dubai Connect desk nearby.

      While I was waiting BY SHEER HAPPENSTANCE, a French man nearby mentioned iris scans.

      NO WAY was I allowing more biometrics to be captured on me. And indeed, the UAE does its own biometrics capture (of the face when my passport photo is a biometric facial ID) AND iris scans.

      They did not have a space at the inside hotel. I have no idea if this was actually true or they had booked me at the outside hotel and did not want to fuss.

      So I had the wheelchair guy instead take me to a pod hotel inside the airport, which would have been OK except they keep them ice cold, which I find very uncomfortable.

      So I paid >$100 for six hours in the pod hotel to avoid an iris scan. I would have booked the pod hotel for longer but it was borderline miserable.

      And I will not go to any country that requires one.

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      1. AG May 31, 2026 at 11:54 am

         This is insane. And what I find most shocking is how our generation was alarmed about the threat and failed so utterly in preventing what we are now experiencing.

         We even had a Pirate Party in Germany and the EU – they were a hot topic for years – dozens of books addressing the potential for a better future. All over the media when left press was still “cool”. It´s all “poof”. As if this movement never existed.

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   6. What? No! May 31, 2026 at 11:28 am

      It’s an interesting problem, and I think it’s a class of problem. The class includes (or maybe is) bubbles, as in financial bubbles … as in “when is the best time to get out?”

      You really have to ask yourself what you’re benefiting from by taking whatever stance you’re taking, and how much can you really assess whether you’re on the outside of that bet/payoff.

      For instance, you have no fingerprints, who are they going to come for first? Everyone with fingerprints who reads NC? Or just roundup all the people without fingerprints, because some of those are the most hardline anti-establishment folk? Do you feel lucky punk?

      You might be thinking they’ll go for the fingerprint people first, because they have more correlated data with the fingerprints and that they will want to do their first roundups using some tight search criteria.

      Or you might get pulled in by accident because you just happened to appear on CCTV walking your dog, they find you have no prints, and for whatever reason ICE forces you through some hasty fingerprint taking process, where an unhappy low paid AI-trained employee does a poor job and your botched prints match a known serial killer.

      Or whatever; the point is what really is it you are shooting for and how likely are you to achieve it? If you believe your calculations, and your potential outcome is worth it to you, then stick to your guns.

      But you do have to be honest with yourself and do the math. Otherwise you are my in laws refusing to do online banking. You are me refusing to have my life savings invested in the S&P yesterday? today? tomorrow? You are everyone leaving their phone at home while being filmed from every highway-cam from here to the store.

      I think the “best” answer is stay loose and blend, and look for signs of when what constitutes blend has changed again.

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      1. Yves Smith May 31, 2026 at 2:42 pm

         Not buying it.

         Your position re fingerprints is loony. If someone does not have fingerprint scans on record, that is because they did not go to a country where they are required. The Feds do not take the fingerprints of Americans as a condition of getting a passport.

         Here have gone AI mad here and are going to use for particular queries, like face IDs v. people who have overstayed their visa (https://www.pattayamail.com/news/predator-eyes-on-mobile-in-action-as-tourist-police-use-ai-facial-scans-to-catch-indian-overstay-in-pattaya-544811). So that is a use case for the biometric face ID, which they have on every foreigner because your passport photos have been to biometric ID standards for years. They do take prints here and I have heard of no use cases regarding fingerprints in general queries, only when they have a print from a crime seen and are then trying to find the individual that goes with it.

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   7. Henry Moon Pie May 31, 2026 at 12:31 pm

      Suggest that your spouse read the Tao te Ching:

      You don’t have to go out the door
      to know what goes on in the world.
      You don’t have to look out the window
      to see the way of heaven.

      The farther you go
      the less you know.

      So the wise soul
      doesn’t go, but knows;
      doesn’t look, but sees;
      doesn’t do, but gets it done.

      Tao te Ching #47 (Le Guin rendition)

      Gaia will thank you.

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      1. Not Qualified to Comment May 31, 2026 at 2:59 pm

         ?Isn’t there another verse that says,

         “If you want to win the Lotto,
         Don’t buy a ticket.”

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         1. Retired Carpenter May 31, 2026 at 3:28 pm

            NQtC,
            The verse you are thinking of is:

            “You have already won the Lotto
            if you did not buy a ticket”

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5. dearieme May 31, 2026 at 8:39 am

   Cuba has one obvious similarity to Iran: both seem to play an absurdly disproportionate role in the American political psyche.

   So I took it into my head to find out what these US “sanctions” are. They don’t seem to amount to much more than a US embargo on US/Cuban trade. I’d have thought that decent diplomats could have sorted out the problems decades ago if anyone – on either side – had actually wanted them sorted out. But presumably the stalemate suits politicians in both countries.

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   1. Polar Socialist May 31, 2026 at 9:13 am

      US is a sore loser. It took decades to get US to drop the economic and diplomatic embargo of Vietnam – and even then US demanded Vietnam settled the loan US gave to South-Vietnam to prop up it’s corrupt government.

      Yet Vietnam is an exception. Cuba, Iran and Afghanistan all would like to normalize the relations with USA, but USA doesn’t really do that kind of diplomacy – dialogue and peaceful resolution of conflicts.

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      1. The Rev Kev May 31, 2026 at 9:18 am

         It has been said of American diplomacy that it is the tired old playbook of boycotts, blockades, sanctions and tariffs – plus the occasional bombing.

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   2. Carolinian May 31, 2026 at 9:26 am

      Examples must be made of countries that dare to overthrow their oligarchies. If such a thing is allowed to stand then the infection could spread to the US.

      In the past the US response to this would be that we don’t have an oligarchy since elections preserve the “consent of the governed.” This particular rationalization is wearing very thin. Some of us have always speculated that the US does in Latin America what they would do in this country if they could get away with it (see Reagan, Ronald).

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   3. Jason Boxman May 31, 2026 at 12:50 pm

      And it’s important that no one be caught suggesting the government in Cuba isn’t horrid. Ah, it’s an OpEd Jon Duffy is a retired naval officer..

      From LA Times

      Questioning these efforts is not a defense of the Cuban regime. Cuba remains authoritarian and economically mismanaged. Its leaders have denied their people political freedom and presided over decades of hardship. But a government can be repressive without posing an imminent threat to the United States. No one has made the case that Cuba does.

      How much of that decades of hardship is due to decades of American economic strangulation? That’s left to the reader to speculate on, or not.

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      1. Alice X May 31, 2026 at 8:15 pm

         How much of that decades of hardship is due to decades of American economic strangulation? That’s left to the reader to speculate on, or not.

         So much, so much! Cuba would be doing just fine without that strangulation. Such a governance for the benefit of the many would endure with their gratitude, except for those too clever by half as to what the meaning of human existence should be about. Does a robin take so much more than it’s like? It takes only enough.

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      2. Alice X June 1, 2026 at 12:30 am

         Yet, casting aspersions aside as the author does, after having voiced his opprobrium, Cuba is not a threat. To we USians, or anyone else.

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6. The Rev Kev May 31, 2026 at 8:55 am

   “In His Latest Humiliation, Trump’s Live Music ‘Party’ Falls Apart”

   I was reading about Trump’s party and how artists were bailing out. Some of them accused Trump of doing a bait and switch. That they were invited to perform at a celebration of America’s 250th anniversary but when the artists went into it, found out that it was all a sort of Trump political rally. Trump went on a rant of course saying on Truth Social-

   ‘I understand Artists are getting ‘the yips’ having to do with their performance on Wednesday, so I am thinking about bringing the Number One Attraction anywhere in the World, the man who gets much larger audiences than Elvis in his prime, and he does so without a guitar, the man who loves our Country more than anyone else, and the man who some say is the Greatest President in History (THE GOAT!), DONALD J. TRUMP, to take the place of these highly paid, Third Rate ‘Artists,’ and give a major speech, rallying the Country forward like I have done ever since being President!

   He continued, “Two years ago, the United States was DEAD. Now we have the ‘HOTTEST’ Country anywhere in the World. I don’t want so-called ‘Artists’ that get paid far too much money, who aren’t happy. I only want to be surrounded by Happy People, Smart People, Successful People, and People that know how to WIN. So, by copy of this TRUTH, I am ordering my Representatives to look at the feasibility of doing an AMERICA IS BACK Rally on Wednesday, Washington, D.C., same time, same location. Only Great Patriots invited — It will be a Wild and Beautiful Celebration of America!”’

   Any artist that appears with Trump is now going to have that albatross around their necks for the rest of their careers-

   https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/donald-trump-freedom-250-concert-performance-1235569923/

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   1. Wukchumni May 31, 2026 at 9:06 am

      They were all 2nd and 3rd tier troubadours, when I saw the lineup initially before most everybody bailed, it was like: is that all there is?

      ‘Deadwoodstock’

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      1. Carolinian May 31, 2026 at 9:15 am

         Yes no ghost of Jimi Hendrix making the national anthem sound like an air raid siren. We had a counter culture once. Didn’t last.

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      2. mrsyk May 31, 2026 at 10:34 am

         “I Am the World”

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         1. ChrisFromGA May 31, 2026 at 8:18 pm

            That’s a good one. Imagine the Donald singing it Karaoke-style.

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      3. ambrit May 31, 2026 at 3:01 pm

         ‘Command Performance’
         Cancelled due to Talent Supply Shock.

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   2. Carolinian May 31, 2026 at 9:10 am

      To celebrate an America that has Donald Trump as president does indeed seem to be a logical absurdity. We should be mourning such an America. So which “artists” will consent to appear at the wake.

      Truly Dr. Johnson was right and performative patriotism is the last refuge of overprivileged scoundrels.

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      1. earthling May 31, 2026 at 11:16 pm

         You are correct. There is nothing to celebrate. Perhaps ‘second line’ parades and mock funerals for democracy would be more appropriate.

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   3. ChrisFromGA May 31, 2026 at 9:52 am

      I think some of these artists are missing an opportunity. Here are a few suggested bands and songs that would be appropriate:

      The Rolling Stones – “Lies”
      Pink Floyd – “Brain Damage” followed by “Money”
      Megadeth – “Symphony of Destruction”

      Imagine those songs blasting out from the mall, and the dummies in the Trump admin not getting the joke …

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      1. Randall Flagg May 31, 2026 at 12:49 pm

         Don’t forget milder classics like Stevie Wonder’s: You Haven’t Done Nothing”

         Except in Trumps case, wrecking the world

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         1. Dr. John Carpenter May 31, 2026 at 2:47 pm

            James Brown – Funky President.

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            1. ambrit May 31, 2026 at 3:03 pm

               The Rolling Stones: Sympathy for the Donald.

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               1. jonboinAR May 31, 2026 at 3:16 pm

                  Beatles: Fool on the Hill?

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                  1. Steven A May 31, 2026 at 5:14 pm

                     Paul Simon: American Tune

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                     1. mrsyk May 31, 2026 at 6:37 pm

                        The lp Animals by Pink Floyd.
                        Here is Sheep.

                        Hopelessly passing your time in the grassland away
                        Only dimly aware of a certain unease in the air
                        You better watch out
                        There may be dogs about
                        I’ve looked over Jordan, and I have seen
                        Things are not what they seem

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                        1. ChrisFromGA May 31, 2026 at 7:54 pm

                           “Pigs” would work, too:

                           “Big man, pig man … haha, charade you are.
                           Whoo!

                           You, well-heeled big wheel
                           Ha-ha, charade you are

                           And when your hand is on your heart
                           You’re nearly a good laugh
                           Almost a joker
                           With your head down in the pig bin
                           Saying, ‘Keep on digging’
                           Pig stain on your fat chin
                           What do you hope to find
                           Down in the pig mine?”

                           You’re nearly a laugh
                           You’re nearly a laugh, but you’re really a cry

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                           1. mrsyk May 31, 2026 at 8:07 pm

                              “Dogs” is on point as well. This record has been dominating my turntable of late.
                     2. willroncanada May 31, 2026 at 8:08 pm

                        American Wee Man: The Guess Who

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                     3. Birch June 1, 2026 at 12:17 am

                        Funkadelic: If you don’t like the effects, don’t produce the cause.

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   4. In Cold Chud May 31, 2026 at 12:13 pm

      It looks like the official name of the event is “The Great American State Fair.” Someone should have explained that since state fairs are state-specific, this name doesn’t really work (unless what’s being celebrated is the American state).

      Since we now have AI, we don’t need live performances; the greats can be resurrected to go through their standards, with a peppering of Trump-themed alternate lyrics, tastefully placed (not tacky or overdone).

      There could also be a short film that reinterprets events of American history as an ongoing personal conflict between Donald Trump and Barack Obama. Obama pilots his Mitsubishi Zero to drop the fateful munition on Trump, aboard the Arizona; Trump drops the Bomb itself on Obama, at Hiroshima. Obama defeats Trump in the jungles of Southeast Asia, but Trump returns to strafe Obama’s retreating column along the Highway of Death. And so on.

      But there will be a live portion of the event, including a beauty pageant. Judges: Larry Summers, Howard Lutnick, Alan Dershowitz–

      Reply ↓
   5. Dr. John Carpenter May 31, 2026 at 2:45 pm

      One of the acts scheduled to perform was Milli Vanilli. This felt like the most perfect booking for this event (or America circa now) humanly possible.

      Reply ↓
   6. jonboinAR May 31, 2026 at 3:03 pm

      Lord, he’s such a goof. How did we…?

      Reply ↓
7. Dingleberry May 31, 2026 at 9:20 am

   Something is up with the Iran war situation. Feels like the knife could fall any time! 😰

   Reply ↓
8. Tom Stone May 31, 2026 at 9:22 am

   If you were planning to station US troops in US Cities to quell domestic unrest merging the US and Zionist forces makes sense.
   However, it might prove unpopular with some segments of Society…

   Reply ↓
   1. The Rev Kev May 31, 2026 at 9:38 am

      We are all Palestinians now. That is why so may American police are sent to Israel for “training”.

      Reply ↓
      1. Glenda May 31, 2026 at 7:56 pm

         I believe that the Cop City in Atlanta, Georgia is run by Israelis. There was a plan for a Cop City in the East Bay Area, but that has been delayed (I hope). I know Israelis train cops in the Bay area. Also the additional FLOCK cameras(used by ICE) beyond license plate readers, have been delayed, removed and blocked in cities around the Bay Area. BUT some cities still have added the deluxe version that has face recognition. Rumors are that the cameras on phone poles can be taken out with a gun.
         Surplus military vehicles showed up during Occupy years ago. Then there are the prisons that have been planned for additional detention camps. Cities accept nice ideas like “Care Not Cops”, but with no psych housing, they just take folks to jail. Santa Rita in Alameda Co (Oakland area) has the highest death rate of prisoners in all of California and still it goes on despite judicial ‘warnings’.
         Hard times, hard times, come again no more. (Steven Foster)

         Reply ↓
9. Hickory May 31, 2026 at 9:30 am

   That tweet regarding Hegseth and Colin Powell seems to be a partially-accurate but misleading rumor that’s been going around since early 2025.

   This article describes the history of the rumor: https://www.yahoo.com/news/unpacking-claim-colin-powells-name-013000051.html

   I fact-checked it by going to the military’s website for the Arlington Cemetary and Colin Powell still gets a description as a notable person: https://www.arlingtoncemetery.mil/Explore/Notable-Graves/Prominent-Military-Figures

   And this page describes how the rumor started about the pages getting removed: https://www.yahoo.com/news/fact-check-arlington-national-cemetery-220100878.html

   Apparently, the military did remove many pages but redistributed the material onto other webpages. I haven’t verified it any further. But I hope this is helpful for anyone interested.

   Reply ↓
10. ChrisFromGA May 31, 2026 at 9:36 am

    Wait a second, it’s Sunday, and we were promised an Iran peace deal “any minute now” on Thursday. Mr. Ravid didn’t lie to us again, now did he?

    You told me there’s peace, now
    So I don’t understand
    Why bombs and missiles still fly through
    And words are made to bend

    The bigger, the better
    Some stolen from Iran
    Collected from around the White House
    They’ll catch you if they can

    Lies, lies, lies, yeah!
    Lies, lies, lies, yeah!
    Lies, lies, lies, yeah!
    Lies, lies, lies, yeah!

    Do I have to catch a pump
    To know what’s on your mind
    Well, journalism died for Taco
    What a wasted mind

    White ones and red ones
    And some you can’t disguise
    Twisted truth and half the news
    Can’t hide it in your eyes

    Lies, lies, lies, yeah
    Lies, lies, lies, yeah
    Lies, lies, lies, yeah
    Lies, lies, lies, yeah

    You say you’ll try harder
    But I think it’s just too late
    Well, the mullahs don’t believe your lies
    And they’re closing down the Strait

    (The bigger, the better)
    Some nicked from old Saigon
    Collected from around the world
    Peace lies on and on and on and on
    And on and on and

    Lies, lies, lies, yeah (they’re gonna get you)
    Lies, lies, lies, yeah (they won’t forget you)
    Lies, lies, lies, yeah (they’re gonna get you)
    Lies, lies, lies, yeah

    Lies, lies, lies, yeah
    Lies, lies, lies, yeah
    Lies, lies, lies, yeah
    Lies, lies, lies, yeah

    “Lies” by the Thompson Twins

    Reply ↓
    1. ChrisFromGA May 31, 2026 at 9:42 am

       Melody: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z42LW7bX5jo

       Reply ↓
    2. nippersmom May 31, 2026 at 11:21 am

       Well done!

       Reply ↓
    3. farmboy May 31, 2026 at 12:12 pm

       Jonny Lang gives it the blues treatment! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3tigVYfHVmQ&list=RDGMEM3vRVvLY6rn_98uxOr5tY5A&index=18

       Reply ↓
11. Valiant Johnson May 31, 2026 at 9:36 am

    The idea that censorship and political bias at CBS and Sixty Minutes is something new seems silly to me. Having been the subject of a segment filmed over a three day period (The San Judas Break), I can tell you that the difference between what was filmed and we were told would be the story and what actually came out was mind boggling. Everything about the inept response of the Biden administration was taken out . The horrible sanitary conditions in camps ignored. Our plea for any kind of official help cut.
    All because the editors in New York didn’t want to make Biden look bad.

    Reply ↓
    1. Dr. John Carpentet May 31, 2026 at 2:50 pm

       It’s only censorship when the other side does it.

       Reply ↓
12. tegnost May 31, 2026 at 9:38 am

    It’s sunday morning at the end of may and I’m pretty pessimistic about the whole shebang.
    In random order and sans extensive commentary…

    1.) Venezuela, knocked over with a feather.
    2.) Gaza, genocide continues apace.
    3.) Iran is being lulled to sleep.
    4.) The PTB have an interest in increasing suffering.
    5.) AI is an effective bullshit generator.
    6.) Ukraine, Europe? WTF. Russia should build a wall. A really big one. The biggest.

    Garland Nixon had Jim Kavanaugh on last week and he reminded viewers that all of this crap is still going on while we’re sitting here talking how it can’t go on it still continues to go on. Just like in ’08 we’re talking a good game and they just walked all over us, paid themselves bigly and gave themselves the merit of “saving the world”.
    Peace on Earth and goodwill to Humanity, we’re a long way from that and no change is visible from where I’m sitting.

    Reply ↓
    1. jefemt May 31, 2026 at 10:21 am

       Minor quibble with Iran being lulled to sleep. Americans are being lulled to sleep?
       Israel’s silence has me on edge… Iran seems to be in a good place, other than likely seeing some very heavy attacks soon at the hands of USrael.

       Patience and guerilla tactics will likely serve Iran well… very long game… of which most global plebes are exhausted.

       I’m reading a history of the Trail of Tears… the parallels betwee’n US policies and Israels policies are stunning. Peas in a pod. Humans persist in their suckitude.

       Reply ↓
       1. jonboinAR May 31, 2026 at 3:24 pm

          I said somewhere else that I think deliberate, violent genocide is pretty common amongst humans, historically. in general, it seems we’re murderous critters. We just don’t like to think about ourselves that way. We wouldn’t kill our neighbors,… unless…

          Reply ↓
    2. vao May 31, 2026 at 10:27 am

       7) Somalia. Bombed. And bombed again. Has been under bombardment, from time to time, for ages — but the reasons seem lost to history and never really belabored, nobody making a big issue of the whole affair.

       8) Lebanon. Genocide nr 2. Israelis are slowly making their way northwards, slowly evicting Hezbollah, and making Attila green with envy at the level and thoroughness of the devastation they leave behind.

       9) Sudan is well into genocide nr 3, and South Sudan is readying itself for another mess, and then there are Mali and Niger, and Congo, and Erythrea, and Ethopia (and its various provinces) itching to restart a war.

       10) Burma. Let us not forget about that one.

       Reply ↓
    3. Mikel May 31, 2026 at 12:30 pm

       11) Cuba – crisis

       12) Myanmar – still a civil war

       13) Pakistan and Afghanistan – war

       Reply ↓
    4. chris May 31, 2026 at 2:43 pm

       14) Turkey and Kurds constantly being used or threatened
       15) new deal with Armenia will result in new challenges and war on a different front
       16) domestic issues rising from Colorado River shortage and new policies because of the shortage
       17) continuing domestic violence against grid structures and data centers

       Reply ↓
    5. mrsyk May 31, 2026 at 5:59 pm

       18) El Niño

       Reply ↓
       1. tegnost May 31, 2026 at 9:48 pm

          Thanks to you all, and yeah…

          Reply ↓
13. Wukchumni May 31, 2026 at 9:40 am

    Part of me always cringes when I see videos of people jumping into water from on high amidst granite that has very little give, and all you need is a wee bit of miscalculation to maim yourself or worse-not that I haven’t partaken in such activities. (a 40 feet leap remains my highest achievement)

    Reply ↓
    1. tegnost May 31, 2026 at 9:55 am

       it is incredible that so many teenagers survive. We used to jump off a sand cliff and it was the biggest hoot next to sliding down the tayhouse sled track on cobbs hill on our backs in our snorkel coats and climbing Mt Colden on snowshoes and at the top theres a bunch of mountaineers in crampons considering our sanity with great skepticism, and yet here I am…

       Reply ↓
    2. BrianH May 31, 2026 at 11:16 am

       Hard to believe I used to do that. The motivation was that, yes, you may die, but what a rush. That’s also why we drove like idiots and skied as if we were trying to outrun an avalanche. We shake our heads and shudder when we get together these days and reminisce.

       Reply ↓
    3. Sub-Boreal May 31, 2026 at 1:05 pm

       Almost as much fun as sand-skiing, as in this memorable local event, which was eventually cancelled after a wheeled contraption met with an unfortunate end. But it did come to the attention of the Discovery Channel.

       Reply ↓
       1. Steven A May 31, 2026 at 5:34 pm

          During my teen years surfing music was very popular in Iowa. Problem was, we were about 1,000 miles from the nearest coastline. So we would go out to a straight strip of a gravel road and stand on the hood of a ’58 Olds at about 20 miles an hour. There was only one serious “wipe out” but it was enough to bring it to an end.

          Reply ↓
14. Es s Ce Tera May 31, 2026 at 9:53 am

    Re: Who You Send to the Moon Matters More Than You Think Universe Today

    Shackleton knew something all sailors have known since perhaps since the dawn of sailing. And people heading out on long voyages into the unknown on spaceships is a bit like people heading out into the unknown on ship ships.

    Reply ↓
    1. Lefty Godot May 31, 2026 at 12:28 pm

       99% of science fiction stories with space travel, including interstellar, treat it as an extended ocean voyage, either totally ignoring relativistic time dilation or handwaving it away with “hyperspace” or “wormhole” nonsense. Homo nauta can’t get away from those early raft and later ship journeys as the metaphor for all distance travel.

       Reply ↓
    2. LifelongLib May 31, 2026 at 7:14 pm

       My understanding is that in the old days it was pretty common for unhappy merchant sailors to jump ship at the next port and find a better gig. In the military, men would enlist under false names so they could desert more easily if they got into a bad situation.

       Can’t do any of that in outer space…

       Reply ↓
15. The Rev Kev May 31, 2026 at 10:02 am

    ‘Harry Sisson
    @harryjsisson
    Trump had another mental health episode today and posted over 50 times online’

    Going by his Truth Social posts, the judge ordering his name removed from the Kennedy center really got under his skin. He attacked that judge, he attacked the judge’s Democrat wife and yesterday was saying that the Kennedy Center would never reopen. It didn’t matter that having his name added was actually illegal under law, it was HIS name that was at stake. Maybe he will do an East Wing and have the Kennedy Center knocked down and claim that he will build it bigger and better – and just leave it as it is.

    Reply ↓
    1. Dr. John Carpenter May 31, 2026 at 2:53 pm

       Yeah they hit him with something he actually cares about. I can only imagine how hard it’s going to be to get him to focus on anything else now. I’m unsure if this is good, bad or even.

       Reply ↓
16. Bill Carson May 31, 2026 at 10:11 am

    Re: Israel’s plan to go to war with Turkey and Egypt—Half a billion people live in the Middle East and fewer than 2% of them are Israelis. Two things I don’t understand: how Israel affords to fight so many wars, and why the other 98% put up with their shit.

    Reply ↓
    1. ISL May 31, 2026 at 10:51 am

       The Israeli plan is to use the US’s 330 million people in their fight. Must be a shock to see the US cupboard empty before most of the battle has even started?

       Reply ↓
    2. Acacia May 31, 2026 at 6:10 pm

       Heh. Rhetorical question, I assume.

       Israel can afford to fight so many wars because the US pays for it. $3.8 billion every year baseline to Israel for “security”, and that is before all the supplemental “assistance”, e.g., $16 billion under Biden, and another $4 billion so far under Trump.

       99.7% of the money is for military support, a lot of which goes back to the US MIC, so money to Israel is in effect a subsidy to arms manufacturers.

       And yet, the Zionists want moar, so they angle to get the US into the fight as well. They want all sorts of logistical support, refueling their war planes, cruise missile attacks, etc. etc.

       Estimates for the cost of the Iran war are between $25 billion to $50 billion, and those are just the direct costs, before we get to long-term expenses.

       These are just widely-circulated numbers, but it sort of looks like the US has spent upwards of $100 billion on the project of Greater Israel, just since Biden was elected.

       Something to keep in mind next time a duoparty lackey tells you there is no money for national health care and your social security is an “entitlement”.

       Reply ↓
17. Acacia May 31, 2026 at 10:20 am

    Re: The Future of Work Belongs to People Who Master AI

    The source, Zhe Zhu, cites NVIDIA CEO in support of his argument:

    “As NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang has pointed out, workers are not simply being replaced by AI, but by those who have learned to use GenAI to work more effectively. The workers that perceive GenAI more positively are also more engaged and adaptable in their careers,” notes Zhu.

    So, yeah, nothing like basing your “research” claims on pabulum from the CEO of NVIDIA.

    This is the new order: CEO says “submit to AI and train a bot to replace you, or else we will replace you with somebody who does”.

    And meanwhile, no mention of “AI” and worker productivity? No mention of the research that indicates “AI” may not really improve it?

    Would that be too inconvenient?

    Reply ↓
    1. ilsm May 31, 2026 at 11:18 am

       Allusion…. Do these AI experts make the LLM, GPU chain more effective, overcoming the faux inference and hallucinations.

       Huang is selling bottles of elixir.

       The imagery is for AI to work, it needs the “right” user.

       AI failed bc the AI don’t work and burns too much wattage. Blame the Luddite CEO who insisted the user max token use, was good until the labs ran out of capex skim.

       Reply ↓
    2. Mikel May 31, 2026 at 12:40 pm

       More “CEO said a thing” reporting.

       Reply ↓
       1. Acacia May 31, 2026 at 7:14 pm

          Worse. Not only reporting. It’s somebody’s doctoral dissertation.

          It rather sounds like Zhu got a PhD for “CEO said a thing” writing — if they even wrote it themselves.

          There is apparently a new generation of grad student that feels entitled to a PhD, because they “know how to give the right prompts” to some AI app.

          Reply ↓
          1. Moo Cows Rule May 31, 2026 at 8:24 pm

             Oof. Don’t get me started on watered down PhD programs in engineering (or engineering degrees in general). You are not far off in your entitlement comment; departments are under more and more pressure to get students out and graduated, qualifications be damned.

             I suspect that this situation will get worse as the number of foreign graduate students decline and universities are forced to recruit more US students (I have not seen admissions numbers, this is just an assumption based on the state of visas). It seems like there might be demand pressure too but that will take a few years post-NSF/-DOE/-*ARPA research cuts.

             Reply ↓
             1. Acacia May 31, 2026 at 9:52 pm

                Yeah, the numbers are not fully in yet but with ICE on the rampage I strongly agree we’re going to see admissions of foreign students really dropping. Grad students and undergrads as well. There are already reports of steep declines in enrollment from countries like India that have been very keen on US education.

                But higher education is a global market now and there are quite a few alternatives to the USian institutions. Many programs with courses offered in English.

                Why risk losing your student visa or even the possibility of detention? Is a USian degree really worth that? I just can’t see it.

                Why take a chance at Purdue when you could instead pursue a degree at Cardiff, Durham, Groningen, Leiden, etc. without fear of some ICE goons deciding you belong in the pokey because looked at them the wrong way?

                I’m guessing the impact on enrollment will be airbrushed at first, but at some point it will be undeniable. There are reports that the doom loop is already pointing towards the end of a significant number of colleges.

                Reply ↓
18. Charles Carroll May 31, 2026 at 10:23 am

    A solution to the hellish nightmare for the French Open is to provide artificial shade to the participants during play. Perhaps a rule could require this when the temperature reaches a certain point.

    Reply ↓
    1. The Rev Kev May 31, 2026 at 10:29 am

       Shade at the French Open? You mean like the Romans did on the Colosseum – about two thousand years ago.

       Reply ↓
    2. Henry Moon Pie May 31, 2026 at 11:44 am

       I’m sure that clay surface feels great through the soles of their tennis shoes. Wait until a heat wave hits Wimbledon. The quarter finals will be played on nothing but dirt.

       Our world already doesn’t work–and in ways far more serious than Grand Slams–at what’s being called 1.3 degrees C of warming. We may be headed to 1.9 degrees by 2030 as the speed of temperature rise is increasing. What will not work at 1.7 or 1.8 that we can’t imagine not working now?

       Reply ↓
19. DJG, Reality Czar May 31, 2026 at 10:26 am

    Scientists Challenge 70 Years of Their Opinions As Described in an Article That Cannot Substantiate Their “Discovery”

    Sheesh. The soft side is such a mess. No, what ever VAD is and was, it is not a theory. It’s a working hypothesis.

    And what a coinkydink: The new “discovery” that language is about “power, danger, and order” — the perfect reflection of our baroque epoch of florid emotions, empty religiosity, terror toward the underlings, and murderous impulses.

    A metaphor may just have hit me and the University of Vermont on the noggin.

    In no place in this piece do the “scientists” make it clear how VAD and powerdangerorder operate.

    They offer this nonsense as some sort of proof: “One example in the study follows the “ousiometric trajectory” of an English translation of Victor Hugo’s Les Misérables.”

    Ahhh, yes, some of them have seen Les Miz, so they took a translation (by whom?) of the novel (complete or abridged? year of publication of said translation?). This is something eighth-grade boys would do — and then get reprimanded.

    Having worked on some French-to-English translation, I can assure you that a basic problem is that many Englished novels don’t capture the spirit and elegance of the French. Colette in English often sounds like Dickens (but with sex). Camus is English doesn’t get across his economy of language, his precision, his control of emotion. Both of them are wonderful stylists in French — experts at the mot juste.

    (And knowing French and Italian as I do, I can assure you that the English verb is a rudimentary thing compared to the variable, precise, and evocative verb in French and Italian — one truly cannot talk about “power” and “order” and reliability in a language without a subjunctive mood (English).)

    Brethren and sistren of power and order! Any linguistics hypothesists out there? What problem is this article trying to articulate and shed light on?

    Reply ↓
    1. lyman alpha blob May 31, 2026 at 10:53 am

       Thank you. That argument struck me as being in the ‘not even wrong’ category. This seems to be the main conclusion –

       ” “The Pollyanna principle’s positivity bias,” the study concludes, “is, in fact, a one-dimensional projection of an underlying safety bias.” ”

       So no previous theory actually disproven, just modified by rethinking the definition of a few words. That article reminded me of one I read many years ago from the same or a very similar science article aggregator website where ‘scientists’ claimed to have deciphered dolphin language. All they did was hook some recordings of dolphin sounds up to one of those old machines you could attach to your stereo that converted sound into flashing lights , sort of like a rhythmic lite brite. Quite fun maybe if you’ve just had an attitude adjustment, but most definitely not a translation of dolphin language.

       We humans like to look for patterns but one person claiming to see the Virgin Mary’s face on a potato doesn’t make it so.

       Reply ↓
20. Who Cares May 31, 2026 at 10:26 am

    Climate change: how fires and floods are creating uninsurable areas across Europe The Conversation

    So close yet so far from the right conclusion.
    The tenor of the article is: “Oh no traditional insurance is failing to cover the uninsurable so we need to switch to models that look like they can, preferably a backstop by states/countries so we can hide the actual cost of people demanding to stay in hazard areas”.
    It should be: “Oh no traditional insurance is failing to cover the uninsurable maybe people shouldn’t be trying to stay in areas that are so hazardous that they can’t afford the insurance premiums needed for payouts that allow rebuilding after a hazards, maybe insurers could incentivize moving away instead”.

    Reply ↓
    1. Henry Moon Pie May 31, 2026 at 12:03 pm

       I’m sure Democrats are working on a plan to subsidize property insurance companies to induce them to keep offering policies in threatened areas. The homeowner will, of course, be the one responsible for applying for the subsidy, but will only be required to supply 7 years of tax returns, complete a 9-page, small-print form and be visited three times in the home by a social worker. They’re calling it the Affordable Home Ownership Act, but Republicans will call it Butticare.

       The formal proposal will be introduced through Ezra Klein.

       Who said Dems don’t have a plan?

       Reply ↓
       1. TimH May 31, 2026 at 12:46 pm

          Hmm. Sounds like a continuation of “Go die!” by encouraging the poors to remain in the path of hurricanes, tornadoes, heat waves while bailing out the landlords’ biz plan.

          Reply ↓
    2. Rabid groundhog May 31, 2026 at 5:38 pm

       Or maybe insures could incentivize adoption of appropriate zoning and building codes to mitigate known risks.

       Reply ↓
21. The Rev Kev May 31, 2026 at 10:26 am

    ‘Barak Ravid
    @BarakRavid
    🚨The U.S. official said Trump was told it would take around three days before the Iranians get back with a response. “They’re literally in caves and they’re not using email,” the senior administration official said’

    Caves? That would be underground bunkers. The same sort that Trump is building under the old East Wing of the White House. Not using email? The technology that can be traced and set up an Israeli assassination attempt like the Israelis said that they want to do? I think that Barak Ravid is a bit of a dill again.

    Reply ↓
    1. Lee May 31, 2026 at 1:40 pm

       And yet these cave dwellers have stymied the mightiest military on Earth and hold the fate of the world economy in their hands.

       Reply ↓
22. flora May 31, 2026 at 10:28 am

    AI Bubble. Management per Dilbert – Scott Adams.

    The middle manager.

    https://static0.srcdn.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/dilbert-explains-to-pointy-haired-boss-why-he-s-the-perfect-manager.jpg
    The CEO pep talk.

    https://bambooinnovator.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/november-2010.jpg

    Reply ↓
23. ISL May 31, 2026 at 10:31 am

    A Venezuela relook due to high oil prices is living in the Trumpian (fantasy) world. Look, the bloody oil companies are not looking at increasing production in the US because they expect demand destruction (see rig count), why the heck would they look at increasing production years in the future in Venezuela? Sure Chevron, which just has to open an existing “tap,” otherwise…..

    Reply ↓
    1. Polar Socialist May 31, 2026 at 11:44 am

       The expectation is, I believe, based on the idea that Venezuela had to sell it’s oil with 30% discount due to the sanctions, so now they get more money from the same amount of crude exported.

       Not much money, though. I think the government raised the “war bonus”* for public sector employers $50/month. Most still have to have a second job to get by.

       The average Venezuelans want all the sanctions lifted, wages raised and the inflation curbed. And they don’t believe (at least not anymore) that Trump will provide any of this.

       * the law prevents raising actual salaries above a certain limit, so there are bonus programs and other workarounds in order to provide almost a living income.

       Reply ↓
24. The Rev Kev May 31, 2026 at 10:43 am

    “Alarm at Mexico bill allowing elections to be annulled for ‘foreign interference’”

    I’m not sure but I think that the Mexicans are calling this the Romanian protocol. They saw how well it worked over there and are now running with this idea. :)

    Reply ↓
    1. alfred venison May 31, 2026 at 7:59 pm

       I read “foreign interference” as “American interference”. I think the threat of American interference in Mexican elections is real, and in light of that, and regrettable as it is, this bill is necessary.

       Reply ↓
25. Ann May 31, 2026 at 10:43 am

    Waning American Support for Israel Sets the Scene for Parade in New York

    https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/31/nyregion/israel-day-parade-nyc.html

    Mike Pence says 2nd Trump term ‘departed’ from ‘conservative agenda’: Full interview

    https://www.nbcnews.com/meet-the-press/video/mike-pence-says-2nd-trump-term-departed-from-conservative-agenda-full-interview-264240709752

    Ukraine built its first guided bomb in 17 months, and the 250-kg warhead could reduce its dependence on Western weapons

    https://okdiario.com/techy/en/ukraine-built-its-first-guided-bomb-in-17-months-and-the-250-kg-warhead-could-reduce-its-dependence-on-western-weapons/4711/

    Trump demands changes to draft Iran nuclear deal – Axios

    https://unn.ua/en/news/trump-demands-changes-to-draft-iran-nuclear-deal-axios

    Reply ↓
26. AG May 31, 2026 at 10:46 am

    re: RU

    CONSORTIUM NEWS continues with their late format of SCOTT RITTER and RAY MCGOVERN talking.

    This one is 144 min.

    I have peeked into it. Ritter seems to offer some good analysis of past events (I assume due to the length it´s a lot of revisiting.)

    He addressed Prigozhin´s move on Moscow due to his fallacy listening to Khodorkovsky´s MI6 people who apparently made him believe the RU leadership would tumble.

    Could as well be a mixed bag though, with over 2 hours.

    The World This Week — ‘Luring Russia into War’
    May 30, 2026

    NATO’s Ukraine proxy war seeks to weaken Russia and topple Putin. To launch an economic, information and ground war, NATO needed Russia to invade. Now it needs Russia to attack a NATO nation to justify direct war.
    https://consortiumnews.com/2026/05/30/watch-the-world-this-week-luring-russia-into-war/

    Reply ↓
    1. Carolinian May 31, 2026 at 11:21 am

       Ritter often has some intelligent things to say but his mannerisms can be offputting. A lot of these podcasts are better off heard than seen.

       I also think half an hour is about right. And hour or more is way too much.

       Reply ↓
27. The Rev Kev May 31, 2026 at 10:50 am

    “Gripens: What Impact Will The Swedish Fighter Jet Have In Ukraine?”

    A pretty deep one by my reckoning.

    Reply ↓
    1. EGrise May 31, 2026 at 1:57 pm

       I see what you did there

       Reply ↓
28. Ann May 31, 2026 at 10:53 am

    Trump’s Staggering Corruption Is Finally Catching Up to Him

    https://www.thebulwark.com/p/trumps-staggering-corruption-is-finally

    Do Americans really know how much the world hates us? – The global romance with America turned sour years ago. Now the world’s ready for a divorce

    https://www.salon.com/2026/05/31/do-americans-really-know-how-much-the-world-hates-us/

    Australia to buy three second-hand United States submarines under AUKUS shake-up

    https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-05-31/australia-to-buy-second-hand-united-states-submarines-aukus/106742496

    NC bill would legalize killing those who seek an abortion. Really. Under North Carolina House Bill 1232, anyone caught trying to obtain an abortion could be killed by someone who believes they are defending the life of another person.

    https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/columnist/2026/05/29/north-carolina-abortion-bill-murder/90278189007/

    AI is coming for truck drivers. A new bill is trying to brace US workers for impact.

    https://www.businessinsider.com/build-america-act-autonomous-trucking-remote-workers-training-program-2026-5

    Reply ↓
    1. Carolinian May 31, 2026 at 11:24 am

       Re NC and abortion–take note those who think NC is the liberal Carolina. Jesse Helms lives!

       Reply ↓
       1. dougie May 31, 2026 at 5:39 pm

          I am from NC. Decades ago, I put a bumper sticker on my vehicle that said “Voting Independent means I don’t have to support ANY Jesse, Helms OR Jackson”

          Reply ↓
    2. nippersmom May 31, 2026 at 11:33 am

       Do these geniuses in North Carolina realize that if they kill the person seeking the abortion (presumably a pregnant woman) they will also be killing the fetus whose life they claim to be defending?

       Reply ↓
       1. hereweare May 31, 2026 at 12:18 pm

          According to the bill, “Any person has the right to defend his or her own life or the life of another person, even by the use of deadly force if necessary, from willful destruction by another person.” So it’ll be fine to hire gangsters and assassins to take out any law enforcement types trying to kill pregnant women. Interesting.

          Reply ↓
          1. wilroncanada May 31, 2026 at 8:36 pm

             They just have to add the addendum including the death penalty for any man who makes a woman pregnant. How to kill a Bill (bill?).

             Reply ↓
             1. The Rev Kev May 31, 2026 at 8:53 pm

                Talk about your lethal injection.

                Reply ↓
    3. Sibiriak May 31, 2026 at 8:07 pm

       Do Americans really know how much the world hates us? –Salon
       ———————————————————————————————

       The article opens with a striking photo of billboard created by Grow Up Art in London, May 13, 2025.

       Under the slogan “The Turd Reich” it depicts six well-known modern figures in WWII German military garb.
       The particular combination of Evil Ones says quite a lot about Salon’s brand of liberal/progressive politics.

       Reply ↓
29. Ann May 31, 2026 at 11:07 am

    Trump calls out Pope Leo for meeting with ‘useless’ Chicago mayor

    https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5902784-trump-slams-pope-johnson/

    Iran official says Trump is stalling talks with ‘excessive demands’ as wait for breakthrough continues

    https://www.nbcnews.com/world/iran/wait-iran-deal-continues-trump-final-determination-rcna347659

    ‘Disturbing Graves’: Vietnam Moves the Dead to Make Way for Trump’s $1.5B Golf Course

    https://sundayguardianlive.com/world/disturbing-graves-vietnam-moves-the-dead-to-make-way-for-trumps-15b-golf-course-198482/

    Islamic regime seizes properties of more than 100 civilians accused of ‘supporting the enemy’

    https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-897886

    Israel seizes medieval castle as it expands major offensive in southern Lebanon

    https://www.npr.org/2026/05/31/g-s1-125056/israel-seizes-medieval-beaufort-castle-southern-lebanon

    Israeli Settler Council Issues Unprecedented Admission of Ritualistic Child Sexual Abuse After Broadcaster Exposes Cover-Up

    https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/gush-etzion-council-admits-ritualistic-child-abuse-1799642

    Netanyahu orders deeper Israeli incursion into Lebanon to hit Hezbollah

    https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/israel-troops-capture-beaufort-castle-southern-lebanon-push-against-hezbollah-2026-05-31/

    Reply ↓
30. ciroc May 31, 2026 at 12:32 pm

    >Ukraine Is Now Indisputably An Anti-Polish State

    Ukrainians have always been anti-Polish. The 20th-century massacres of Poles carried out by Ukrainian nationalists were not random. They were acts of retaliation resulting from centuries of Ukrainian peasants being exploited and oppressed by Polish landowning aristocrats. Therefore, I can understand why Ukrainians might idolize Nazi collaborators. However, if they choose that path, they must reject all future aid from Poland and stop working there as migrant laborers.

    Reply ↓
31. Jason Boxman May 31, 2026 at 12:40 pm

    Netanyahu vows to expand Israel’s grip on Lebanon after deepest incursion in 26 years (NBC News)

    Israeli forces have captured a strategic site in Lebanon across the Litani River, marking Israel’s deepest incursion into the country in 26 years.

    The capture of Beaufort Ridge, the site of a medieval castle, comes after days of intense fighting in southern Lebanon, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu saying Sunday the seizure marks a “dramatic change” in Israeli strategy.

    The advance comes despite hopes of a U.S.-brokered plan to forge a renewed peace between the two countries, after Israeli and Lebanese officials met in Washington Friday. Strikes have continued despite a nominal, month-old ceasefire agreement, which Israel and the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah have accused each other of breaching.

    “Our heroic fighters captured the Beaufort outpost,” Netanyahu said Sunday.

    If Iran maintains Israeli action in Lebanon as a sticking point to some kind of peace, they’ve got a tough nut to crack.

    Reply ↓
32. Windall May 31, 2026 at 12:43 pm

    A debate between Brent Johnson and Craig Tindale about our current situation.

    I haven’t watched it yet, but I think it will be informative.

    https://youtu.be/KaqjVxGEhKg?is=tDhPAV179FigdAYX

    Reply ↓
33. Jason Boxman May 31, 2026 at 12:59 pm

    Imagine if Trump had just gone after illegal employers? But we can’t have that. All this creative energy to just protect dirtbag capitalists

    Trump Squeezes Immigrants by Cutting Them Off From Jobs, Healthcare and Housing (NY Times via archive.is)

    For more than a year, administration officials have sought to pull every bureaucratic lever possible to cut off immigrants — both documented and undocumented — from jobs, medical care, financial services, tax credits and even from enrolling their children in day care. The goal has been to compel immigrants to leave the country, and, in the long run, to eliminate incentives that draw many people to the United States in the first place.

    The initiative underscores the president’s ability to reshape immigration policy through executive orders and the vast power of federal regulations while sidestepping Congress. And it shows how the administration has pursued more creative — and lower-profile — tactics after Mr. Trump’s militarized deportation raids into major cities prompted political backlash earlier this year.

    The changes range from structural shifts in the immigration system to small-scale, regulatory tweaks taking away jobs or services from just a few thousand people like Ms. Molina. In her case, the administration no longer considered T.P.S. a form of “authorized residency,” said Justin Long, a spokesman for Customs and Border Protection, meaning Ms. Molina could not be “given official government credentials and granted unescorted access to secure airport areas.”

    Reply ↓
34. ciroc May 31, 2026 at 1:06 pm

    >Alarm at Mexico bill allowing elections to be annulled for ‘foreign interference’

    Sheinbaum has scored an own goal. The mere existence of this law will likely justify U.S. intervention, as it will be seen as evidence that Mexico is becoming a dictatorship.

    Reply ↓
35. marcel May 31, 2026 at 1:12 pm

    Re: Elon Musk hints at a configurable Tesla van with a solar canopy. Could this be the Robotaxi? Not a Tesla app

    If you put in real figures, you get to 10 hours of charging under a scorching mi-day sun to drive perhaps 100km, which is a ‘speed’ of 10 km/h (6.5mph).

    Back in the stone ages of the ’70s, Ivan lllich proved that a standard car drives at a ‘speed’ of 10 mph, so not faster than a bike. But Musk is reducing this to much lower values still.

    Reply ↓
    1. Retaj May 31, 2026 at 1:53 pm

       This link is from 2022, so I think it’s here to measure the accuracy of Musk’s predictions. No robovan, roadster, and humanoid robot. Well, autonomous robot that is. They’ve been controlled remotely for demos.

       Cybertruck sales are around 50,000, with predictions at 1 million per the link.

       Reply ↓
    2. Skookumchuck May 31, 2026 at 4:35 pm

       “Back in the stone ages of the ’70s, Ivan lllich proved that a standard car drives at a ‘speed’ of 10 mph, so not faster than a bike. But Musk is reducing this to much lower values still.”

       Which is a perfectly good reason to pull out and dust off one’s copies of “Energy and Equity,” “Deschooling Society” and “Convivial Tools.” Although Illich in his later years rather stepped back from his position in “Deschooling Society” I’ve always appreciated it while being simultaneously amazed that it was kept in the holdings of the university where I worked.

       “Convivial Tools” basically says the first question to be asked about any new or improved technology is, “Seriously; who needs this?” If someone does in fact need it, then the mandate is to make it repairable by the consumer. There’s also a case made that (for instance) buying a shovel blade and then crafting a handle for it that exactly complements your body measurements and capabilities makes that tool work as efficiently as possible for you. Thus getting more done with less energy.

       I throw in “Energy and Equity” because every canon needs three canonical volumes. Illich is absolutely unapologetic here that using more energy than one can produce on their own is a form of slave-owning.

       The cumulative message is, “Don’t think like they want you to think; build your own efficient resilience; build community and think carefully about whose life blood (or water, or air, or land…) you think you need to take to make your life more comfortable.”

       Reply ↓
36. Ann May 31, 2026 at 1:49 pm

    Iran’s president offers resignation, citing total takeover by IRGC commanders

    https://www.iranintl.com/en/202605312204?source=share-link

    Reply ↓
    1. Yves Smith May 31, 2026 at 2:10 pm

       Iran International is an anti-Iran outlet, funded by the diaspora.

       That does not make the report not true….but the President’s role is limited to domestic affairs. He was weighing in on the negotiations which was outside his ambit.

       I see nothing of the kind on Twitter or Aljazeera, so this looks like fake news.

       Reply ↓
       1. Ann May 31, 2026 at 2:35 pm

          Thanks, Yves.

          Reply ↓
       2. Yves Smith May 31, 2026 at 3:08 pm

          He tweeted in the last 2 hours, not consistent with resigning.

          Reply ↓
       3. Yves Smith May 31, 2026 at 3:12 pm

          Axios and Iran International are both fake news. Ignore them.

          — Seyed Mohammad Marandi (@s_m_marandi) May 31, 2026

          Reply ↓
          1. Ann May 31, 2026 at 3:53 pm

             Got it, thanks.

             Reply ↓
       4. jrkrideau June 1, 2026 at 7:57 pm

          Just as a minor point, President Pezeshkian was an IRGC member—a medical doctor—during the Iran–Iraq war. Many senior gov’t figures are IRGC veterans of that war including the Supreme Leader.

          Reply ↓
37. Ann May 31, 2026 at 1:57 pm

    Russia signs $16.5 billion deal to build first nuclear power plant in Kazakhstan

    https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/russia-signs-agreement-build-nuclear-power-plant-kazakhstan-2026-05-28/

    Brazil identifies 2 possible Ebola patients, as WHO reports some recoveries in Congo

    https://www.cbsnews.com/news/5-ebola-patients-recovered-who-chief-treatment-center-opens-eastern-congo/

    Data reveals Irish alumina factory exporting more product to Russia than government claimed

    https://kyivindependent.com/data-reveals-irish-alumina-factory-exporting-more-product-to-russia-than-government-claimed/

    Cyprus police arrests two more Palestinians on suspicion of planning attack against Israeli targets
    https://en.philenews.com/local/cyprus-terrorism-investigation-arrests-remands-palestinians-live/

    France requests emergency UN meeting amid Israeli advance in Lebanon

    https://www.rfi.fr/en/international/20260531-france-requests-emergency-un-meeting-amid-israeli-advance-in-lebanon

    Reply ↓
38. Ann May 31, 2026 at 2:05 pm

    $9 Trillion Collapse Machine

    https://znetwork.org/znetarticle/9-trillion-collapse-machine/

    Trump Admin Renames Iran’s $300 Billion Reparations Demand an ‘Investment Fund’ to Avoid a Political Firestorm at Home

    https://www.ibtimes.com/trump-admin-renames-irans-300-billion-reparations-demand-investment-fund-avoid-political-3803535

    Trump says ‘cancel’ America 250 concert

    https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5903008-trump-america-250-concert/

    New solar desalination breakthrough makes fresh water without toxic brine

    https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/05/260530053418.htm

    After weeks of boasting that he’s destroyed Iran’s armed forces, Trump now says ‘we actually left their military alone’

    https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-iran-military-war-interview-b2986745.html#comments-area

    The Trump Administration Is Refusing to Follow the Laws Protecting Domestic Violence Survivors

    https://www.thenation.com/article/politics/trump-domestic-violence-vawa/

    Reply ↓
    1. Screwball May 31, 2026 at 3:03 pm

       $9 Trillion Collapse Machine is quite the read. Thanks for posting.

       Reply ↓
       1. Ann May 31, 2026 at 3:51 pm

          You’re welcome, Screwball.

          Reply ↓
          1. tyaresun May 31, 2026 at 8:34 pm

             I don’t post much but read all your links. Thanks.

             Reply ↓
       2. amfortas May 31, 2026 at 6:58 pm

          my question(and yes, thanks, Ann) is why havent the 3 individuals in the top foto been taken out behind the paint shed, yet?
          for humanity?
          i shot a rattlesnake just night before last.
          same kinda deal.
          a critter threatens me and mine, i eliminate it.
          ive shot coyotes and coons and rabid skunks and superfluous cats(for the birds, lizards, etc)
          these folks are obviously a threat to the human race.
          altman and andreesen are the most explicit, imo, in their disdain for humanity.
          their hoped for god made of sand is the end all be all, and we all must be sacrificed on that altar.
          fuck those people.
          fie!
          why do we give them money?
          or attention?
          were they at a bus stop in san antonio spouting such nonsense, they’d be taken to jail(since texas doesnt have a mental health system to speak of).
          but they’re billionaires, somehow,lol…so its all cool. end the human race to make their silicon godhead.
          thats just fine.
          i will cook any one of them if they ever cross my path. feed them to chickens, and sink their bones in the humus of my gardens….for the P & K….so that can at least be useful.
          Fie!

          Reply ↓
          1. Alice X May 31, 2026 at 9:26 pm

             My ears alone.

             Reply ↓
       3. Butch May 31, 2026 at 7:56 pm

          Agreed!

          Reply ↓
    2. Carolinian May 31, 2026 at 3:23 pm

       Re Trump cancels–sounds like the concert is off after yet another pouty Don post. Now if he will only resign just to show all those who don’t appreciate his stable genius presidentin’.

       Afterwards the Constitution will have to be amended to forbid presidential candidates who are mentally under the age of five.

       America 250–hard to get it right!

       Reply ↓
       1. Samuel Conner May 31, 2026 at 4:45 pm

          I’ve been wondering whether there is anyone in DJT’s circle who is giving him at least a little bit of “heads up” about the implications of supply constraints that will bite increasingly hard in coming weeks and months.

          If he can’t alleviate the real economy consequences of shortages by accommodating Iranian demands (higher de facto authorities evidently have a veto over that), he might want to not be so much in the public eye as the misery intensifies.

          That will be painful, I imagine.

          Reply ↓
       2. The Rev Kev May 31, 2026 at 7:08 pm

          If Trump can’t have a 250 concert that celebrates MAGA, then America doesn’t get its 250th anniversary concert. It’s a mixture of spite and petulance.

          Reply ↓
       3. Wukchumni June 1, 2026 at 12:48 am

          Until the pugilists that beat each of other up by any means necessary also resign en masse by holding an arm aloft to signify defeat in the octagon, it’s still very much game on…

          America, fvck yeah!

          Reply ↓
39. Ann May 31, 2026 at 2:34 pm

    More than 10,000 lawyers have left the Trump administration leaving multiple agencies understaffed, report says

    https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-administration-lawyers-jobs-staff-b2986740.html

    Vanilla Ice Defends Performing at Trump’s Freedom 250 Concert: ‘I Don’t Even Vote’

    https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/vanilla-ice-donald-trump-freedom-250-concert-defense-1235570375/

    Van Hollen Says Democratic Party Must End Whitewashing, Admit ‘Complicity’ in Gaza Genocide

    https://www.commondreams.org/news/van-hollen-israel-democrats

    Proposed NDAs for federal workers spark diverse backlash

    https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5901850-nondisclosure-agreements-federal-workers-trump-administration/

    Proposed new US funding rules: We can cancel any grant at any time | Peer review now optional, political staff would screen grants for forbidden topics

    https://arstechnica.com/science/2026/05/the-office-of-management-and-budget-tries-again-to-cripple-us-science/

    Gaza-bound aid convoy dissolves in Libya after activists arrested at Sirte crossing, ten in custody

    https://www.jpost.com/international/article-897810

    Latest Indicator of Political Discontent: 43% of Voters Dissatisfied With Both Parties

    https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/29/polls/dissatisfied-voters.html

    Ebola Veterans Are Aghast at Trump’s Plan for the Outbreak

    https://www.thebulwark.com/p/ebola-trump-administration-treatment-facilities-usa-kenya

    U.S. and Iran still without deal to end war after Trump says he’s not in a ‘hurry’

    https://www.cnbc.com/2026/05/31/still-no-deal-to-end-us-iran-war-trump-says-hes-not-in-a-hurry.html

    Reply ↓
    1. The Rev Kev May 31, 2026 at 7:12 pm

       ‘ Proposed new US funding rules: We can cancel any grant at any time | Peer review now optional, political staff would screen grants for forbidden topics’

       American R & D is done. Stick a fork in it. Unless of course it is about developing weapons.

       Reply ↓
40. Carolinian May 31, 2026 at 2:59 pm

    Since art appreciation was a recent topic around here this is interesting. Monet, AI, Orson Welles, Picasso

    https://www.theamericanconservative.com/what-makes-a-monet-a-monet/

    On X, criticism of the Monet image ranged from anti-AI suspicion to anti-art dismissal. Some users suggested that if a Monet could be so easily replicated by machines, then what, precisely, made Monet’s work so remarkable in the first place? This way of thinking is frequently seen in online discussions that cast doubt on the validity of modern and contemporary painting, especially when it involves artists who are thought to be unduly cynical or disengaged from traditional mastery. Institutional validation rather than technical competence is core to such arguments, and artists such as Cy Twombly, Mark Rothko, and Basquiat often become shorthand for a broader skepticism about contemporary painting in general. On the opposite end of the spectrum, anti-AI commenters insisted that artificial intelligence is fundamentally incapable of producing a genuine masterpiece, since it lacks the subjective interiority that is associated with artistic greatness.

    What both responses reveal, however, is less a disagreement about artificial intelligence than a shared uncertainty about how art is recognized at all. Whether through suspicion of contemporary painting or faith in a human “soul,” each position returns to the same assumption: that authenticity resides somewhere beyond interpretation. However, the history of forgery, reproduction, and artistic self-branding indicates otherwise. From Welles to Picasso to Monet himself, meaning has never truly been separate from how it’s seen. The question isn’t whether the image is real or fake, but what the viewer is required to believe in order to see it at all.

    Reply ↓
    1. amfortas May 31, 2026 at 6:13 pm

       jeez. is this really where we’re at as a former civilisation?
       ive been to Rothko’s Chapel, many times, and the adjacent Menil Collection for various traveling exhibitions…all long ago, mind you.
       Rothko is certainly not for the more literal minded,lol…but the space is remarkable.
       one of my high school buds had his funeral there.
       to think that a mynah bird built from sand could produce the same sort of depth and nuance is just silly.
       consider the Blues…or Jazz…could AI replicate Miles? maybe…i like to think i’d be able to tell, right quick.
       could it do Louie Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald?
       I doubt it.
       mom, for all her faults, was an art history buff and an artist, herself…so ive been steeped in such things for as long as i can remember…and music, which was my artform…one cannot fake it.
       the Truth comes through.
       thats why i hated the 80’s,lol…all that corporate formulaic bs.
       and theres an impressionistic 4′ high middle fanger right over there at the walkin gate to the wilderness bar made from the hardened root of an oak tree that died maybe 50 years ago and laid out in the sun, back when we it used to be hot and dry around here.
       can AI do that?
       it can copy, sure. But it cannot see within that bit of wood what i did, which caused me to set it aside and take chisels and a wire-wheel to it.
       to bring out what i saw within it.
       jeez. why do these folks want so badly to replace us?

       Reply ↓
       1. Robert Gray June 1, 2026 at 4:01 am

          > [AI] cannot see within that bit of wood what i did, which caused me to set it aside
          > and take chisels and a wire-wheel to it.
          > to bring out what i saw within it.

          Well, you see what you see, obviously, but I don’t want to agree with you that the objet was there within the wood, somehow waiting for you to bring it out. That’s the same as saying that the David was somehow lurking in that piece of rock ‘waiting’ for Michelangelo’s ministrations. In my opinion, such a view denigrates art, lowering it to the level of science. Scientists make discoveries, i.e., they find things that are there. Maybe no-one else has ever noticed them before but they have to be there in order to be found. (Indeed, if, after a discovery is made, others who go to the same place cannot see the same thing — ‘replication’ — then the discovery is debunked.) In contrast, an artist creates something that could not / never would exist save for his or her talent.

          Reply ↓
    2. Acacia May 31, 2026 at 10:56 pm

       I’m with Amfortas on this one.

       Of course, we can look at the fortunes of art in the twentieth century, from Duchamp, Dadaism, Warhol, Kostabi, Koons, et alia, and Welles’ F is for Fake is a highly-entertaining ride though one circuit.

       But a “shared uncertainty about how art is recognized at all” … ? Come on.

       This is not about human artists exploring the limits of art. This is not about what happened in the last century, with experiments to take the artwork outside of the gallery, outside the museum, etc (e.g., Robert Smithson). Or the explorations of Joseph Kosuth, or Beuys, etc. This is about machines designed and developed by people who clearly HATE human artists and have general CONTEMPT for humanity.

       This is about apps that have been developed by strip-mining the Internet, by using terabytes of stolen data — stolen images, stolen artworks, stolen movies, anime, music, plundered literary works, etc. etc. — in order to build “models” that are then sold for money to produce fake works and fake people (and the latter, fake people, are being used for the manipulation of politics, as well).

       This is all about THEFT, and helping capitalists to screw human workers even more.

       Are these people and the apps they build going to produce art? Give me a break.

       Reply ↓
41. Ann May 31, 2026 at 3:48 pm

    US to pull jets, destroyers and submarines from NATO as part of European drawdown

    https://www.politico.eu/article/us-to-pull-jets-destroyers-and-submarines-from-nato-in-a-broader-european-fallback/

    US considers Trump visit to Israel in September

    https://www.israelhayom.com/2026/05/31/us-considers-trump-visit-to-israel-in-september/

    California Senate passes first-in-nation ban on AI chatbot toys over safety fears

    https://www.ivpressonline.com/news/california-senate-passes-first-in-nation-ban-on-ai-chatbot-toys-over-safety-fears/article_121fa4a9-eff3-4226-abb8-ab974fe4b555.html

    Christians in Jerusalem fearing rising violence

    https://www.dw.com/en/christians-in-jerusalem-fear-rising-violence/svideo-77300082

    Removing Unnecessary and Counterproductive Restrictions on Access to Federal Lands

    https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2026/05/removing-unnecessary-and-counterproductive-restrictions-on-access-to-federal-lands/

    Florida Congressman Calls for Subpoena of Acting AG Todd Blanche in Epstein Files Probe

    https://cbs12.com/news/local/florida-congressman-calls-for-subpoena-of-acting-ag-todd-blanche-in-epstein-files-probe

    Trump’s 250th Celebration Is a Fiasco

    https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/2026/05/trump-250-truth/687384/

    White House economic director downplays Americans’ economic anxiety amid high gas prices and inflation

    https://abcnews.com/Politics/white-house-economic-director-downplays-americans-economic-anxiety/story

    Trump tells agencies to align with study calling for narrower childhood vaccine recommendations

    https://www.news4jax.com/news/politics/2026/05/30/trump-tells-agencies-to-align-with-study-calling-for-narrower-childhood-vaccine-recommendations/

    Reply ↓
42. PockyLips May 31, 2026 at 4:57 pm

    I’ve recently read many articles by competent liberal authors on The Guardian, Substack, etc. These writers typically explain the horrible facts about some aspect of our world: AI &Oligarchs, the health care situation, income inequality, and increasing military spending as in William Hartung’s “Reining in the Pentagon”.

    These authors do a great job of explaining the problem but never actually propose any solutions. For example, the closest Hartung gets is this, “Given the pace of destruction and chaos being visited upon us, it’s important to act now and continue to do so until we build enough power to rein in the war machine . . . “ Sorry, that is so general that it’s meaningless. And I just saw The Guardian article “Our tech overlords are planning for conscious AI to conquer the cosmos. What could go wrong?” by Eduardo Porter. He actually has a section called “What is to Be Done?” which implies that taking national political power is impossible. His solution is that we should “hope” things get better.

    Obviously, these major problems exist because bad people are exercising national political power. Decentralized resistance at the local level is typically not very effective (think Occupy Wall Street). Historically, major change occurs through a political organization that takes power and changes course. But modern liberal writers rarely discuss this. They spend a lot of time analyzing the stances and plans of the oligarchs and the wealthy but never attempt to articulate the philosophies and plans of a possible opposition, let alone discuss how the political organization should be done.

    Obviously, in modern America there are two basic choices: remove all corporate/oligarch/AIPAC influence from the Democratic party immediately OR creation of a new party that represents the public interest(DemExit). I implore these prominent authors who are in the public eye to begin proposing actual political actions in their doomsday articles.

    People like Chris Hedges refuse to lay out any kind of proposals whatsoever. And Noam Chomsky was the same way. Those two writers have enough influence to help lay the groundwork for a political solution. I don’t understand how they can write such excellent criticism of the powers-that-be and then not provide any suggestions for how to effect change. That’s like a doctor who has studied a disease for his whole professional life refusing to make any statements about how to treat or mitigate that disease.

    There is a dearth of leadership and organization on the left. MAGA has a written framework for political action – Project 2025. The left has nothing, and these liberal authors can’t even take the first tiny steps towards creating such a framework. Historically, literate organizations have always dominated illiterate organizations.

    Reply ↓
    1. Acacia June 1, 2026 at 10:12 am

       Well, Chris Hedges has advocated for third parties.

       He supported the Movement for a People’s Party. I believe he supported Cornel West. He has a relationship with the Green Party. He even tried to run as a Green Party candidate in New Jersey, but ran afoul of some FCC regulation that would have prevented him from also hosting a TV show.

       For some years now, Hedges seems to have been advocating the second of the two basic choices that you mention (which, fwiw, I think is the more sensible of the two choices).

       Maybe I’m not following your point, but don’t these qualify as “actual political actions” … ?

       Reply ↓
43. Ann May 31, 2026 at 5:15 pm

    A New ‘Wounded Bear Caucus’ in the Senate Means More Trouble for Trump – Why the GOP’s split with the White House over a $1.8 billion fund could be first of many public fights

    https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/a-new-wounded-bear-caucus-in-the-senate-means-more-trouble-for-trump-ac1f5439

    Trump’s new immunity deal with the IRS is a classic con man move

    https://www.houstonchronicle.com/opinion/letters/article/donald-trump-irs-taxes-settlement-22279408.php

    How Maine’s lobster revolt could cost Trump the Senate

    https://www.ft.com/content/281a6693-1d4f-44be-857c-85cc29ea2694

    The least surprising headline ever: ‘Blowing up boats hasn’t slowed cocaine traffic to U.S.’

    https://reason.com/2026/05/29/the-least-surprising-headline-ever-blowing-up-boats-hasnt-slowed-cocaine-traffic-to-u-s/

    Trump’s proposed $250 bill is everything the Founders despised

    https://reason.com/2026/05/29/trumps-proposed-250-bill-is-everything-the-founders-despised/

    Trump administration prepares to put his face on $250 bill even as law prohibits it

    https://www.nbcnews.com/video/trump-admin-prepares-to-put-his-face-on-250-bill-even-as-law-prohibits-it-264207941535

    UK military looks at allowing lethal strikes without human approval — Remarks reflect debate inside NATO to compete with adversaries deploying autonomous weapons systems

    https://www.ft.com/content/a21607ce-c25b-40ab-bd9c-e0262d344c8c

    Trump plans to appeal order allowing all importers that paid struck-down tariffs to seek refunds

    https://apnews.com/article/tariff-refunds-trump-court-appeal-7209128eeee29c565c4ea5a6892f73c6

    Trump’s cuts to intervention programs could increase violent crime, experts say

    https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/may/31/trump-federal-funding-cuts-crime

    California Will Soon Have More Than 300 Data Centers. Where Will They Get Their Water?

    https://insideclimatenews.org/news/29042026/california-data-center-boom-water-issues/

    ‘Cartoon villain’ Hegseth shredded for ‘cringe’ pep talk to Navy soldiers about Iran

    https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/pete-hegseth-iran-war-speech-b2986235.html

    The U.N. Is Going Broke as the U.S. and China Withhold Billions

    https://www.wsj.com/world/the-u-n-is-going-broke-as-the-u-s-and-china-withhold-billions-bd1fae5e

    Reply ↓
44. flora May 31, 2026 at 6:26 pm

    From Breaking Points:

    Dems Attack Surging Auto Mechanic In CA

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9FWK1L8lL5M

    File under: Dem estab sucks

    Reply ↓
45. Ann May 31, 2026 at 7:43 pm

    Texas Supreme Court orders Dallas judge to stop requiring masks in her courtroom

    https://www.keranews.org/government/2026-05-29/texas-supreme-court-orders-dallas-county-judge-stop-mask-mandate-dmetria-benson

    Iran’s acting defense minister promises ‘new surprises’ as nuclear deal talks stall

    https://www.turkiyetoday.com/region/irans-acting-defense-minister-promises-new-surprises-as-nuclear-deal-talks-stall-3221029

    India and Russia Expand Rare Earths Partnership Amid Global Critical Minerals Race

    https://chemindigest.com/india-and-russia-expand-rare-earths-partnership-amid-global-critical-minerals-race/

    Trump has turned Republicans into the anti-Black party

    https://thehill.com/opinion/5902141-trump-racist-attacks-black-community/

    Rep. Olszewski: The Supreme Court Needs Term Limits

    https://www.newsweek.com/rep-olszewski-the-supreme-court-needs-term-limits-opinion-12003288

    Left-wing YouTube pundit Cenk Uygur banned from entering UK

    https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/left-wing-youtube-cenk-uygur-banned-uk-z87xfv89b

    AIPAC is funneling pro-Israel money to candidates and covering its tracks | With its brand toxic in some Democratic primaries, the lobbying group has set up portals to steer donors to campaigns without attaching its name

    https://forward.com/news/828070/aipac-pro-israel-network-donations/

    Trump administration wants nuclear startups to use plutonium for their reactors

    https://techcrunch.com/2026/05/26/trump-administration-wants-nuclear-startups-to-use-plutonium-for-their-reactors/

    “Casting Us Aside to Die”:Cuban and Other Third-Country Nationals Deported from the US to Mexico

    https://www.hrw.org/report/2026/05/27/casting-us-aside-to-die/cuban-and-other-third-country-nationals-deported-from-the

    Reply ↓
46. amfortas May 31, 2026 at 7:49 pm

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gd467ea91HA
    sirius report. been followin them on twitx for a good while, dont know who they are, but they feel solid…as far as it goes.
    confirming chaos and depression forthwith.
    ie: hard to argue with the aussie guy’s assessment, given what we have learned on NC.(Thanks, Yves. i am a broader mind than i was ere i found you and Lambert…and with significantly more depth…hope yer drunk on a thai beach or somethin, because you definitely need a break)

    Reply ↓
47. Ann May 31, 2026 at 8:06 pm

    U.S. Military Is Quietly Guiding Ships Through the Strait of Hormuz

    https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/31/business/us-military-guides-strait-of-hormuz.html

    Reply ↓
    1. MicaT May 31, 2026 at 10:19 pm

       I can’t believe that multiple US navy war ships have transited the straight multiple times in both directions in the last few weeks to physically protect and escort any ships in or out of the gulf.

       I would need actual proof to believe that not just some words from the NYT

       Reply ↓
       1. ChrisFromGA May 31, 2026 at 10:35 pm

          I saw the same story over on X.com, and it appears to be less than meets the eye. It sounds like typical Trumpian exaggeration and half-truths. No physical escorts are happening, more like some sort of guidance via radio transmitters being turned off and communication with the US via electronic means, perhaps encrypted. The military source also refused to confirm what types of vessels are allegedly making it through. It could be just small craft, not anything big enough to make a material impact on cargo volumes.

          Reply ↓
48. Tom Stone May 31, 2026 at 10:15 pm

    I am happy to see Trump’s $250 bill will be produced no matter what the Courts say.
    There are a few formalities that are being ignored and the easiest way to comply with the law that prohibits any living person being pictured on US Currency seems straightforward.
    Laura Loomer would have a sad, but the Vance Family would be pleased as punch…Melamine has done a pretty good job of being Caesar’s wife but I bet she’d like a chance to cut loose with a Fabio lookalike.
    I don’t see much of a downside…

    Reply ↓
    1. The Rev Kev May 31, 2026 at 10:19 pm

       Read yesterday that there is some building associated with the Kennedy Center and there is the suggestion to rename it the First Lady Melanie Trump Center.

       Reply ↓
49. Ann May 31, 2026 at 11:09 pm

    Trump calls for physical audit of Fort Knox after $40M gold arrest

    https://finance.yahoo.com/markets/commodities/articles/trump-calls-physical-audit-fort-135601786.html

    Smotrich flies to Washington to meet Latin American leaders, expand Isaac Accords

    https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-897899

    Reply ↓
50. skippy June 1, 2026 at 2:10 am

    Interesting discussion over at Alexander Mercouris YT channel today about Mr Oreshnik submunition details and penetration capability @ 44:23. In that he mentions Gus over at Millennium 7 * HistoryTech YT channel. Good stuff starts at 5:30. its a good technical analysis.

    Best to watch Gus first and then listen to what Alexander has to say. Alexander notes a comment on the Millennium7 post about the submunitions actual make/energy potential. Alexander then notes he pinged someone about it and seems to confirm this data. It was also interesting to see a goggle notice in my feed from some Ukrainian expert[lol] about how the submunitions were just metal rounds not needing any special machining. Where Alexanders contact talks about it being on the lever of lithography used to make high end chips.

    For myself, since the beginning, when Mr Oreshnik was first used and all the West/Ukraine bent over backward to say it was just a light show and did very little damage save some holes in the ground I was sus. Why would Russia was all the time and effort, why use it on the first target or those since then. If this new data holds true then … whooboy ……

    Reply ↓
51. Raymond Carter June 2, 2026 at 2:00 am

    https://larrycjohnson.substack.com/p/does-iran-have-a-nuke-well-placed

    Larry Johnson reports his source in Iranian govt says they now have a nuclear bomb.

    Reply ↓
    1. Yves Smith June 2, 2026 at 4:41 am

       Based on my many years of reporting (as in also many more than Johnson), I have learned that single sources unless they can provide documentary evidence are not to be trusted. Even if they mean well they often do not have the full picture.

       And Escobar has a history of 1. plagiarism (I have seen documented evidence from one victim and allegations from others), 2. has flogged breathless rumors that later proved false and 3. touted AND fundamentally misrepresented a supposed Russian state backed payments platform (The Unit) that was clearly run by private interests, and I saw NO evidence of Russian backing. Hudson was beside himself over The Unit but unwilling to confront Escobar.

       So anything that comes from Escobar needs to be severely discounted. Disappointing to see Johnson ally himself with Escobar.

       Reply ↓