In an ever-changing world, numerous topics demand our attention—from cultural insights to pressing global challenges. This compilation endeavors to provide a snapshot of various issues currently making waves, while also introducing some light-hearted moments to lighten the mood.
10 Metal Albums That Are Actually Scary-Sounding Metal Injection (Michael T)
Mental Hospitals at the Movies JSTOR (Micael T)
Life is mostly status competition Aporia (Micael T)
How dangerous is alcohol really? Overton via machine translation (Micael T). It is important to remember: getting into a car is the most dangerous activity people participate in regularly, a risk that increases significantly in areas with a high volume of motorbikes.
#COVID-19/Pandemics
Ebola death toll in DR Congo passes 5,000 Aljazeera
US measles cases top 4,800 as the disease surges in multiple states CIDRAP
I’ve been unwell for over a month and at times quite incapacitated. The younger friend from whom I contracted this illness, who I met for coffee outside just one week after her symptoms began, is still feeling ill.
There is a very strange illness circulating right now.
It seems to incapacitate people for at least a week.
Not flu.
Not “Covid,” based on the ineffective PCR tests.It appears to be hitting the 55+ demographic the hardest.
Has a name been assigned to it yet?
— Carole Mac (@HerbsandDirt) October 26, 2026
Climate/Environment
World’s oldest cave paintings under threat as wildfires rage across Indonesia Independent
Ocean’s ability to absorb carbon is weakening as climate change intensifies, UN warns UN
The deep ocean’s protective effects against warming have altered since 2016. No one knows the implications. The Conversation
Unusual and catastrophic landslides are occurring throughout the far north. Grist
China?
Last year, Americans traveled to China for a $10,000 cancer drug. Now, it’s priced at $200,000. Kevin Walmsley
Southeast Asia
Jewish leaders and their relatives, along with 19 firms, are under scrutiny following the revocation of citizenship. Bangkok Post
European Disunion
Is the Eurozone on the brink of a new sovereign debt crisis? Economics Observatory
Annalena in Uppsala: Baerbock can’t evade her political responsibilities. Nachdenkseiten via machine translation (Micael T)
Volkswagen faces a deepening crisis, reporting its worst loss since the ‘Dieselgate’ scandal. This is Money
Germany’s fascination with Lithuania analyzed. Scott Ritter
France’s heavy-handed policing strategies: The acronyms of a police state. Nachdenkseiten via machine translation (Micael T)
The French Senate supports a ‘Rioters Pay’ bill, potentially imposing $11,000 fines on protesters. CNBC
Old Blighty
Tax revenue from North Sea oil and gas projected to be ‘close to zero’ in five years, according to OBR. The National
Israel v. The Resistance
Families in Gaza prepare for a fourth winter filled with wind, rain, and floods in makeshift camps. Aljazeera
The Mecca Alliance: A potential regional defense or Washington’s latest strategy? The Cradle
Ben Shapiro’s mask has finally been lifted. Tucker Carlson
Iran War
How Iran targeted U.S. bases, resulting in billions in damages. Wall Street Journal
Live updates: IRGC confirms four tankers using ‘unauthorized’ routes have been hit in Hormuz. Middle East Eye
Iran’s secret military network is managing to bypass the US blockade. Reuters
As stated yesterday, Iran has dismissed the U.S. stance, although it remains open to diplomatic dialogue:
Two supertankers carrying over 2 million barrels of oil, along with three other vessels, were attacked yesterday while aiming to avoid the designated Iranian Navy route.
The diplomatic negotiations appear to be at an impasse. Exchanges of letters and mediators between Iran, Qatar, and Pakistan continue with little progress; thus, war remains a possibility.
The U.S. and Israel are ramping up preparations for a potential military operation against Iran. Numerous U.S. aircraft, equipped with munitions and interception missile systems, have arrived at the Ovda and Nevatim air bases in southern Israel, where several F-35I squadrons are stationed.
Additional U.S. military transport planes have been deployed to bases in Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar.
Dozens of aerial refueling tankers sent by the U.S. military are now stationed at Israeli airbases rather than at Ben Gurion Airport.
— Elijah J. Magnier 🇪🇺 (@ejmalrai) October 31, 2026
Trump can initiate conflict, but it remains to be seen if he can conclude it. Now he aims for island-hopping strategies. Larry Johnson. Note that former Marine Scott Ritter disagrees (see here) and contends that any planned operations are intended to disrupt, particularly regarding oil-export infrastructure.
* * * Saudi Arabia’s war in Yemen relies on external munitions. The People’s Art of War (Micael T)
New Not-So-Cold War
Russian forces launched drone attacks on Ukraine, deploying 134 drones and hitting 20 locations overnight. Ukrainska Pravda
U.S. authorizes the sale of $2.1 billion in Patriot interceptors to Ukraine. NBC
The G20 ‘family photo’ was canceled due to protests concerning the presence of a Russian minister. BBC
NATO warns of a high price for any continued Russian aggression towards Ukraine. Reuters
Big Brother is Watching You Watch
Inexpensive aftermarket car screens are frequently equipped with spyware. The Drive
Imperial Collapse Watch
Triggering suicidal tendencies from Washington to Tel Aviv, Ottawa to Brussels, and beyond. Olivier Boyd-Barrett
INTEL Roundtable with Johnson & Ritter – Weekly Wrap 30-OCT. Judge Napolitano, YouTube. Notably, Ritter asserts that any attack on the Strait of Hormuz islands would be a disruption, not an occupation. More significantly, see at 14:00, highlighting this Newsweek article: U.S. Army prepares for potential large-scale military graves.
Rappers for regime change: How the CIA engages hip-hop artists globally. Mint Press
Trump 2.0
Trump’s situation has become increasingly precarious. W.A. Lawrence
Midterms
The Cook Political Report has shifted 14 races in favor of Democrats as the midterms approach. USA Today
Voters with lower engagement levels are increasingly leaning towards Democrats. G. Elliot Morris
Surprise! Polls are aligning with the betting markets today. Michael Shedlock
Record-high heating oil prices are shaping the narrative in the Maine Senate race. DropSite
El-Sayed: Trump called me Abdul Ramadan. Ramadan is the month in which Muslims fast. With groceries under his leadership getting so expensive, I wouldn’t be shocked if he said, “let’s just have Ramadan for everyone.”
“Why are you fasting?”
“I can’t afford food.”
— Acyn (@Acyn) October 30, 2026
Pelosi criticizes Abdul in the final campaign days. Breaking Points. Quite the spectacle.
Immigration
The White House Council of Economic Advisers’ perceptions of the costs of illegal immigration are distorted. Cato (resilc)
ICE has reported 36 detainee fatalities in fiscal 2026, the highest since 2018. Nation of Change
Our No Longer Free Press
The Legless Podcasters — Why some media outlets repeatedly misinterpret the intricacies of war. John Helmer
Australia’s “Antisemitism Envoy” posits that the pro-Palestine left holds Nazi-like views. Caitlin Johnstone (Micael T)
Economy
We’re all experiencing the repercussions of increased living costs driven by Republican policies—just look at a trip to Waffle House.
— Pete Buttigieg (@PeteButtigieg) October 28, 2026
AI
The new constraint in America’s AI expansion: a scarcity of affordable capital. Wall Street Journal. Here’s a simplified interpretation: only reckless investment will prop up AI, as its economic model is evidently unsustainable, even for investors seeking returns in an inflation-heavy environment.
Evidence of AI financial returns remains absent beyond the tech sector. Apollo
Investors may have reached their limits regarding AI bonds. Bloomberg
OpenAI reduces its funding target by $10 billion amid rising tech uncertainties. Financial Times.
The Bezzle
An overview of the $5.8 billion Binance hack: Confirmed details and ongoing speculations. Bitcoin.com (Micael T)
Private credit is confronting a challenging 2027. Seeking Alpha
Allegations suggest North Korean hackers have pilfered $6.3 billion from Binance, marking the largest crypto heist. Channel News Asia
Guillotine Watch
The Department of War is defending Musk amidst rising scrutiny. Caleb Ecarma
Class Warfare
Americans are resorting to credit for groceries and gas, leading to significant debt accumulation. New York Post
Antidote du jour (via):
And a bonus:
A clever African grey parrot named Rocco went viral for secretly using Alexa to order snacks and toys from Amazon while home alone.
Rocco, residing in the UK with his owner Marion Wischnewski, skillfully mimicked human speech to add items like strawberries, broccoli, ice cream treats, and toys to shopping lists, even attempting full orders.
His owner noticed strange items appearing in her Amazon cart, leading to the discovery of Rocco’s antics whenever he was unsupervised.
Originally rescued by the National Animal Welfare Trust, Rocco’s playful intelligence has charmed audiences worldwide, showcasing the remarkable abilities of African grey parrots.
— Massimo (@Rainmaker1973) October 29, 2026
A second bonus:
Failure is not an option.
[📹 Kitty Cruise] https://t.co/D5c8YFy2Cj
— Massimo (@Rainmaker1973) October 10, 2026
And a third:
Grey wolves howl and elicit responses from the entire forest.
— Nature Unedited (@NatureUnedited) October 29, 2026
You can find yesterday’s collection of links and the antidote du jour here.
