Links 12/25/2020
Merry Christmas, for those who celebrate it! And regardless, hope you have a relaxed day and get some good grub!
We’re having a cold snap here in Alabama, and even some snow flurries in the area! How about you?
Whilst it’s tempting to stay huddled up in the warm today, why not take a festive stroll or head to the garden while dinner is cooking? It’s great to get outdoors whatever the weather ❄️🎅☃️ #Christmas pic.twitter.com/xmIaYHKxJf
— SomersetWT (@SomersetWT) December 25, 2020
Portugal outrage after Spanish hunters massacre 500 wild animals BBC (resilc).
The Butt Pajamas Will Follow You Forever Gizmodo (dk). I have yet to see this ad and I look at hundreds of sites a day. Hope it stays that way.
The Tasting Menu at the End of the World Eater. Glenn F: “Quite an amazing article about resilience and not giving up in the face of climate change.”
I was today years old when I learned about “human wine decanting” 😱
Infectious diseases is NEVER boring! pic.twitter.com/mV95bwd48O
— Ilan Schwartz MD PhD (@GermHunterMD) December 24, 2020
The Army’s New Howitzer Just Hit a Target 43 Miles Away. On the Nose. Popular Mechanics: “But can’t fix the algorithm to deliver Covid vaccine.”
Scientists set a path for field trials of gene drive organisms | PhysOrg. Chuck L: “What could go wrong?”
In exile from the dreamscape aeon
#COVID-19
Coronavirus: Hong Kong imposes 21-day COVID-19 quarantine for visitors Al Arabiya
Science/Medicine
Africa CDC: New virus variant appears to emerge in Nigeria Associated Press (J-LS). Yes, folks. Possible third new variant.
New study shows coronavirus capable of entering the brain, has similarities to HIV StudyFinds
What’s Your Risk of Catching COVID? These Tools Help You Find Out Scientific American (Robert M)
Moderna COVID-19 vaccine may cause side effects for those with cosmetic facial fillers: FDA Fox
Study investigates effects of COVID-19 vaccine on male fertility Local10. Watch anti-vaxxer make hay with this.
UK/Europe
Covid: France rewards frontline immigrant workers with citizenship BBC
US
Dark days: Experts fear the holidays will fuel the US crisis Associated Press. Resilc: “It amazes me to see the airports full, although 70mil + did vote for Trump, and there are lots of Demozzz flying too.”
U.S. to Require Negative Coronavirus Tests for Airline Passengers From U.K. Wall Street Journal. Both PCR and antigen tests accepted.
Hospital Workers Start to ‘Turn Against Each Other’ to Get Vaccine New York Times
Early access to the coronavirus vaccine sparks lobbying from companies and unions Washington Post
Texas National Guard Sent to Overwhelmed El Paso COVID Morgues Military.com
L.A. County records 140 COVID-19 deaths in one day, a new record MSN (J-LS)
Locked-down California runs out of reasons for surprising surge Politico (J-LS)
As temperatures plummet and pandemic rages, homelessness in Michigan poised to explode WSWS
Black Doctor Dies of Covid-19 After Complaining of Racist Treatment New York Times
California man ‘kills fellow Covid patient with oxygen tank’ BBC
Nursing homes face daunting task of getting consent before they give coronavirus vaccines Washington Post (UserFriendly)
Dr Anthony Fauci turns 80 – and even his birthday surprise obeyed Covid rules Guardian
U.S. states enlist medical, nursing students to give out COVID-19 vaccine Reuters (resilc)
Finance/Economy
House GOP rejects unanimous consent on $2,000 direct payments The Hill
‘Complete clusterf—’: Trump leaves Washington in limbo Politico
Veto Corleone Heisenberg Report (resilc)
Brexit
The Guardian view on a Brexit deal: relief that leaves a bitter taste Guardian (Kevin W)
This Brexit deal does not bring real sovereignty – whatever Boris Johnson wants you to believe Independent
Britain and the European Union agree on the hardest Brexit Economist
Key moment yesterday: Johnson claiming his Trade Reduction Treaty didn’t impose non-tariff barriers on the half of British trade that is with the EU. Forced to correct, he claimed new red tape would ‘galvanise’ exporters!
‘Fuck business’. It’s why his Brexit deal will collapse
— Andrew Adonis (@Andrew_Adonis) December 25, 2020
Perhaps you can explain how the #Brexit that the Vote Leave Government has delivered matches the one they promised? #WeDidntVoteForThis and if you’re honest neither did you. We are all losers in this. pic.twitter.com/1gtrsx4A4r
— John Marshall (@mrjohngmarshall) December 25, 2020
Brexit trade deal: 11 curious and awkward details emerging from the small print Express. Consistent with our 50,000 foot take.
She Stalked Her Daughter’s Killers Across Mexico, One by One New York Times (UserFriendly)
New Cold War
Russian and Chinese bombers fly joint patrol over Pacific Associated Press
With Hacking, the United States Needs to Stop Playing the Victim New York Times
Syraqiastan
President Trump Threatens Iran Over Baghdad Embassy Attack Antiwar (resilc)
Iran Unveils Own Oil Tanker In “Goodbye Party” For Trump OilPrice
Big Brother is Watching You Watch
Dozens sue Amazon’s Ring after camera hack leads to threats and racial slurs Guardian (resilc)
The ACLU Is Suing For More Information About the FBI’s Phone-Hacking Lab Verge
Trump Transition
Inside Trump and Barr’s Last-Minute Killing Spree ProPublica (Dr. Kevin)
Opinion: Trump pardons corrupt lawmakers, but the real scandal is that the capital is still a swamp MarketWatch (resilc)
Blackwater, Iraq and President Trump’s Pardon New York Times. Resilc: “Just to open the door on bombing Iran.”
Biden
No, Joe, Don’t Roll out the Red Carpet for Torture Enablers CounterPunch
One of Germany’s most prominent economists, Hans-Werner Sinn, warns of hyperinflation; he links it directly to Hitler’s rise to power. A distortion of history: the rise of the Nazis was preceded by deflation, exacerbated by fiscal austerity. Thread /1https://t.co/hmAz0tsyuv pic.twitter.com/bqCFE5Dwec
— Philipp Heimberger (@heimbergecon) December 22, 2020
A perfect end to 2020 for the left Yasha Levine
She Noticed $200 Million Missing, Then She Was Fired ProPublica (resilc, Dr. Kevin). Just like CalPERS. PR is more important than stopping incompetence and abuses.
Hyundai purchases the company behind the world’s most famous robots DriveTribe (resilc)
Laptops, Desktop Sales See ‘Renaissance;’ Shortages Won’t Ease Until 2022 Reuters. Maybe Apple will have to reconsider ruining the experience for laptop customers.
We’re Outsourcing Our Self-Awareness to Silicon Valley New Republic (resilc)
XRP Cryptocurrency Crashes Following Announcement of SEC Suit Against Ripple TechCrunch
Facebook Managers Trash Their Own Ad Targeting In Unsealed Remarks Intercept
Is Amazon the next anti-trust target after Alibaba? Asia Times (Kevin W)
Guillotine Watch
Bill Gross’s Playing of ‘Gilligan’s Island’ Muted by Judge Bloomberg (Marshall)
Class Warfare
The Dark History of School Choice Diane Ravitch, New York Review of Books
A ski resort, a dream and greed: How a $350M fraud happened in Vermont’s poorest region Burlington Free Press (David L)
A Hard Look at Rent and Rent Seeking with Michael Hudson & Pepe Escobar YouTube (ca)
(resilc)
Antidote du jour. mgl: “My friend’s pet (possibly rescue) donkey in New Mexico”:
And a bonus from reader Teton Time: “Taken in the National Elk Refuge just adjacent to Jackson Hole”:
And I am very fond of this little ad, which I remember from my childhood. Flora posted it in comments:
See yesterday’s Links and Antidote du Jour here
