Gender reveal explosion in Waukee second example in as many days of celebration attracting police presence Des Moines Register
New elevation data triple estimates of global vulnerability to sea-level rise and coastal flooding Nature
Extreme fire weather could be the worst ‘in recent memory’ LA Times
Despair for Many and Silver Linings for Some in California Wildfires NYT. The front page teaser reads: “Wildfires Highlight the Divide Between California’s Rich and Poor.”
FCC: Marin cell sites failed broadly amid Kincade fire Marin Independent Journal (JBird4049).
California shows the difficulties of hardening the nation to climate change Editorial Board, WaPo. I’m not sure what dead metaphor would be correct, but “hardening” is wrong. The last thing we need is more impermeable surfaces….
Greta Thunberg declined a climate award because the world needs more action, fewer awards CNN
Vatican cardinals linked to missing millions and financial scandal Catholic News Agency (boz).
The Allure and Limits of Monetized Fiscal Deficits Nouriel Roubini, Project Syndicate (Skippy).
Brexit
U.K. to Destroy Commemorative 50p Coins in Brexit Meltdown Bloomberg (vlade).
Will Boris Johnson’s high stakes election gamble backfire? FT
Why UK election outcome is impossible to predict Politico
Johnson would really rather lose this election, but may not get what he wants Tax Research UK
Could Boris Johnson have passed his Brexit Bill? The UK in a Changing Europe
Tusk says farewell:
To my British friends,
The EU27 has formally adopted the extension. It may be the last one. Please make the best use of this time.
I also want to say goodbye to you as my mission here is coming to an end. I will keep my fingers crossed for you.
— Donald Tusk (@eucopresident) October 29, 2019
Venezuela
Journalist Max Blumenthal Arrested And Charged In Political Prosecution ShadowProof
Weaponizing Venezuela’s ex-ruling elite Yasha Levine
Syraqistan
A Sudden-Seeming Power Shift in the Middle East Consortium News
Led by Sanders, Democrats vow to press Israel on Palestinian state Agence France Presse
Saudi Arabia is $3.4B behind on its payments for Canadian LAVs CBC
India
The explosive truth about the link between Chinese fireworks and India’s dim Diwali South China Morning Post
The Koreas
South Korea compares Japan’s ‘rising sun’ flag to swastika as Olympic row deepens Guardian
In South Korea’s dangerous shipyards, subcontracted workers are most at risk Reuters
China?
Xi’s in Charge: What the Fourth Plenum Tells Us about Xi Jinping’s Hold on Power CSIS
China’s Communists hold key meeting amid rising challenges AP
China Steelmaker Default Sparks Debt Contagion Fear in Province Bloomberg
Sri Lanka’s ‘debt trap’ port thriving, Chinese owners claim Nikkei Asian Review
The factory workers at the frontline of US-China relations FT
U.S. set to disappoint Asia with downgraded delegation for Bangkok summits Reuters
Pompeo Drops the Niceties on the Quad: What Now? The Diplomat
New Cold War
Ukraine, separatists both pull back heavy weapons from east AP
RussiaGate
The Frenzy About Russia Has Undermined Progressive Agendas Normon Solomon, Truthout. Apparently, after three years of hysteria about RussiaGate, it’s not featuring in the impeachment “inquiry” at all. Odd.
Impeachment
Democrats unveil impeachment procedures The Hill (Resolution).
White House Ukraine Expert Sought to Correct Transcript of Trump Call NYT
Trump Transition
Is Trump Facing 1960’s-style Revolts? The American Conservative. No.
Navy Reduces Punishment for SEAL in War Crimes Case NYT. While John Yoo has tenure and gigs as a talking head, and Gina Haspel heads the CIA. It’s a funny old world.
Democrats in Disarray
Chelsea, Lately The former First Daughter is, at 39, trying to figure out what her own life looks like. New York Magazine. “It’s not hard to imagine she wouldn’t have at least been considered as a choice by a President Hillary Clinton for, say, secretary of Education or Health and Human Services.”
Guillotine Watch
A decade after massive bailout, AIG celebrated on Capitol Hill Politico
‘OK Boomer’ Marks the End of Friendly Generational Relations NYT. Because a 75-year-old Walmart greeter and a 75-year-old billionaire are more alike than different. The Times agnotology desk was working overtime on this one.
Class Warfare
State of Health Among American Men Reveals Death and Despair Bloomberg. Everything’s going according to plan!
When Talking About Social Determinants, Precision Matters Health Affairs
How the Rich Are Different: Hierarchical Power as the Basis of Income Size and Class Blair Fix, SocArXiv
Democracy is Hard Work Grassroots Economic Organizing. Important.
Jenny Sabin Studio’s “Ada” Embeds AI in Architecture at Microsoft Architect (Nippersmom).
Silicon Valley should take Josh Hawley’s big war on big tech seriously ReCode
Maybe It’s Not YouTube’s Algorithm That Radicalizes People Wired
Everything is Amazing, But Nothing is Ours Alex Danco
Antidote du jour (via):
Bonus antidote:
Warthogs living in Uganda have learned to rid themselves of annoying ticks by seeking out the grooming services of some accommodating neighbors: a group of mongooses looking for snacks https://t.co/LnMG2bk4Hn pic.twitter.com/aHbD0aMWP3
— Massimo (@Rainmaker1973) October 27, 2019
That’s one relaxedx warthog.
See yesterday’s Links and Antidote du Jour here.
