Introduction
This compilation of insightful articles spans a variety of topics, from literary reflections to scientific breakthroughs, examining critical social issues and exploring the implications of ongoing global events. By delving into these subjects, we gain a deeper understanding of the world around us.
What Makes a Great Bookshop? Culture Dump (Micael T)
Why Every Great Story Follows the Same Ancient Pattern Classical Wisdom (Micael T)
Stunning Fossil Discovery Challenges the Origins of Animal Life Science Daily (Kevin W)
First Real-Time Brain-Controlled Hearing Device Neuroscience News
Arts and Cultural Engagement ‘Linked to Slower Pace of Biological Aging’ The Guardian
Do Young People Suck? Lyman Stone (Micael T). Trust me, this piece is worth the read.
Shame them, shun them, ban them, beat them! Experimental History (Micael T). An important discussion.
Hantavirus
WHO Officials Warn of More Possible Hantavirus Cases in Coming Weeks CBS. It seems we’re trying to address problems after they’ve already escalated.
Woman Diagnosed with Hantavirus After Cruise Ship Visit on Artificial Lung in ‘Final Stage of Supportive Care,’ Doctor Reports People. While it may seem sensationalized, as we noted during the COVID pandemic, a cautious approach is vital, especially with diseases that have high fatality rates. Prioritizing commerce over public health has led to inadequate messaging meant to normalize activities. If masking had not been so heavily demonized, it could have served as the simplest precaution in vulnerable communities.
It’s disheartening that we still need to emphasize the obvious:
Physical measures that can protect against COVID-19, including masks, air purifiers, and ultraviolet sterilizers, can also protect against hantavirus. This is different from biological protection measures, such as vaccines. Therefore, the most effective way to deal with a new…
— Adam Wong (@Engineer_Wong) May 12, 2026
COVID-19/Pandemics
It’s probably worth noting that there was a nearly 50% jump in COVID detections in England last week based on the NOIDS causative agents data, which is incomplete.
— tern (@1goodtern) May 12, 2026
‘Very Contagious’ Parvovirus Spreading Throughout Northern California SFGate (Paul R). The symptoms are mild but pose risks for pregnant women and may affect the immunocompromised as well.
Climate/Environment
Thousands of Trout Released into Stockholm’s Stream Mitti (Micael T)
New May spark plumes indicate that El Niño is rapidly intensifying, with 8 out of 10 models pointing toward a super event, and four projections indicating it could be the strongest on record.
Across all 693 ensemble members, the mean reaches +2.8˚C, consistent with the strongest El Niño recorded. pic.twitter.com/9pDxNxAkXz
— Ben Noll (@BenNollWeather) May 10, 2026
Global Fire Outbreaks Hit Record High as ‘Unprecedented’ Heat Extremes Loom, Scientists Warn Reuters
Wildfires Are Climbing Europe’s Mountains as Heat Dries Forests Earth
EXTRAORDINARY HEAT WAVE
Weeks of lethal heat with thousands of records set in every African nation.There has never been an event like this:
‼️Today, temperatures reached 47°C in Algeria, Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, Senegal, Chad, Mauritania, and Sudan. May is set to break records again in Ouahigouya with 44.9°C. pic.twitter.com/vHebe76meU
— Extreme Temperatures Around The World (@extremetemps) May 11, 2026
Australia’s Rainfall Deficiencies Deepen Across Eastern States E+E Leader
In terms of global ocean temperatures, @NOAANCEI has reported that April 2026 was the second-warmest April on record, trailing only 2024. Ocean temperatures were 0.95°C above the 20th-century average, which is about 1.13°C higher than the mean of 1880–1920.
The striking point is that this is happening at… pic.twitter.com/OfSPPIxDVp
— The Global Warmer🔥🌏 🔥 (@TheGlobalWarmer) May 11, 2026
Wild Blueberry Farms Across Maine Struggling as Climate Change Disrupts Growing Seasons Inside Climate News 🙁
China?
Trump’s Visit to China Observed for Signs of Stability and Tangible Gains South China Morning Post
Trump Flies to Beijing — But Who’s Really Desperate? Think BRICS
Elon Musk and Tim Cook Among CEOs Joining Trump on His China Trip BBC. Some readers had expressed skepticism regarding Trump’s ability to gather an entourage.
Washington Imposes New Sanctions on China-Iran Oil Network Ahead of Trump’s Visit to Beijing The Cradle (Kevin W). Humiliation looms for the US, and China is acutely aware of this.
Trump-Xi Summit: Trump to Urge Xi to ‘Open Up’ China DW. A simplistic request likely to resonate well in the US.
Trump-Xi Summit to Illustrate That Everything Has Become Leverage Asia Times (Kevin W)
China Reiterates Strong Opposition to U.S. Arms Sales to Taiwan Xinhua
Africa
How Nigerians Are Adjusting to Heat Waves Amid Severe Power Outages Global Voices. This challenge may soon spread to more countries.
South of the Border
Trump Shares Image Showing Venezuela as the ’51st State’ Following Comments on Possible Annexation Anadolu Agency
CIA Intensifies Covert Operations Against Cartels with Lethal Actions Inside Mexico CNN (Ann)
European Disunion
Was a European figure bribed by Team Trump to sabotage Airbus sales?
A TOP EUROPEAN OFFICIAL today suggested that the west could ground planes sold to China. “Europe could withhold software updates for more than half of all Chinese commercial aircraft,” stated Mark Leonard, director of the European… pic.twitter.com/RccGoKQyKj
— Nury Vittachi (@NuryVittachi) May 11, 2026
Europe’s Energy Ministers Avoid Crisis Meeting Euractiv
EU Plans to Ban Brazilian Meat Imports Starting in September Euronews
French Jobless Rate Surpasses 8% for the First Time Since 2021 Bloomberg
Old Blighty
Jess Phillips Resigns from Ministerial Position, Telling Starmer ‘Deeds, Not Words, Matter’ After PM Refuses to Step Down BBC. A change seems to be brewing.
Starmer Confronts a Crisis as Wes Streeting Launches a ‘Coup’ to Secure the Top Position Middle East Eye
Israel vs. The Resistance
The Israeli military is planting and detonating explosives in southern Lebanon, leading to mass expulsions and destruction of critical infrastructure.
— Nicola Perugini (@PeruginiNic) May 12, 2026
Discord Over Israel Causes Rifts in Eurovision Politico. While I find Eurovision’s significance perplexing, questioning Israel’s legitimacy is a valuable endeavor.
Chinese Oil Tanker Tests Safe Passage Through the Strait of Hormuz OilPrice. Note: “If allowed to pass, this would mark only the third tanker carrying oil for China from the Persian Gulf during the war.”
U.S. Intelligence Indicates Iran Retains Significant Missile Capabilities New York Times. More updates in our daily Iran report.
New Not-So-Cold War
Russia Deploys Pacific Fleet to East China Sea to Safeguard Shipping from U.S. Armed Takeovers Military Watch
Lavrov Accuses West of Coercing Nations Not to Purchase Russian Oil TASS
Reflections on a Day Scott Ritter (Micael T)
Big Brother is Watching You Watch
They’re Attacking Online Anonymity, and Other Observations Caitlin Johnstone (Micael T)
Imperial Collapse Watch
What Happens When Americans Realize How Miserable We Are? Paul Krugman. A thoughtful analysis; however, it would have been beneficial had Krugman included discussions on inequality, as unequal societies tend to be less content.
Federalism for Anti-Fascists Chris Armitage
Trump 2.0
Three Republicans Thrown into Fiery Furnace for Refusing to Bow to Trump Statue Babylon Bee
$1.5 Billion Trump Tower Project on Gold Coast, Australia, Scrapped — Developer Calls Brand ‘Toxic’ ABC Australia (Ann)
McConnell Critiques Hegseth Over Pentagon Funding Strategy, Alienating Allies The Hill
How Trump’s $500 Million UAE Crypto Deal Compromises U.S. National Security for Personal Gain Center for American Progress
John Helmer: Iran Just Did the Unthinkable — China’s Response to Trump Changes Everything Dialogue Works. Helmer elaborates on Trump’s serious cognitive constraints.
Trump experienced one of his most troubling mental health episodes last night, posting over 55 times in three hours. Here is a list:
10:15 PM – Accuses Obama of plotting a coup in 2016
10:15 PM – Claims Obama collaborated with CIA to overthrow Trump
10:15 PM – Reposts a tweet stating Obama is a…— Harry Sisson (@harryjsisson) May 12, 2026
The Supremes
The Kitchen Where the Supreme Court Went to Die W. A. Lawrence
Our No Longer Free Press
It appears that Israeli intelligence was alerted to Nick Kristof’s upcoming NYT report featuring firsthand accounts and substantial documentation of systematic Israeli rape of Palestinian detainees, prompting a hoax article in the Daily Mail the next day to mitigate the potential PR fallout. https://t.co/sgNJe4KTGm
— Max Blumenthal (@MaxBlumenthal) May 12, 2026
Economy
Historic Spring Drought Threatens U.S. Crops Time
Tomato CPI up 15.1% year-over-year
Ground beef CPI rises 14.5% year-over-yearThis summer’s chili cook-offs are going to be pricey! pic.twitter.com/oznLq1A8Qd
— Tracy Alloway (@tracyalloway) May 12, 2026
Mr. Market is Off His Rocker
Shipping Sector Fears Fuel Shortages as Iran War Pressures Bunker Fuel Supplies Associated Press. Crucial topic discussed in our Iran coverage.
The Price Isn’t Right Arthur Berman
As the paper oil market rallies, the North Sea physical market witnessed its first trade at a **discount** to the Dated Brent benchmark since the onset of the war.
The ironies of the oil market: abundance and scarcity coexist.
— Javier Blas (@JavierBlas) May 12, 2026
AI
Where Are All the Data Centers? Ed Zitron
The Bezzle
Waymo Issues Recall to Address Flooding Issues TechCrunch (Kevin W)
Marc Andreessen recently revealed the system prompt he employs to enhance every LLM’s intelligence tenfold.
This technique is called the Anti-Glaze System Prompt.
Install it once, and your AI will stop pandering and start giving you accurate feedback.
Here’s what it does:
→ Eliminates “great question” forever
→ Eliminates… pic.twitter.com/f153qbxj8u— Guri Singh (@heygurisingh) May 12, 2026
Class Warfare
GM Laying Off Hundreds of Salaried IT Workers as it Streamlines Operations CNBC
There Is a Fire Sale on M.B.A.s Wall Street Journal. No archived or syndicated version available yet.
Antidote of the Day: Tracie H: “This is one I pulled up for Mother’s Day”:
As a bonus, here’s a touching moment between a dog and its owner:
While her owner struggled to lift a loaded wheelbarrow, her dog came rushing to assist her. ❤️❤️ pic.twitter.com/fmB4lzShZZ
— The Best (@Thebestfigen) May 12, 2026
For further insights, you can refer to yesterday’s Links and Antidote du Jour.
Conclusion
This collection illustrates the interconnectedness of various global issues, highlighting the need for awareness and action. As we navigate these complex topics, they encourage us to reflect on their broader implications and our roles within them.
