Lambert and I, and many readers, agree that Ukraine has sparked the worst information environment ever. We hope readers will cooperate in the comments to reduce the fog of war – real fog and stage fog. None of us need more cheerleaders and linkless repeat memes; there are platforms. Low-value, unlinked pom pom-waves will be hit immediately.

It’s not just a polite request to someone new here. We have written a site policy, and those who commented have accepted these terms.To avoid having to resort to the nuclear option of shutting down comments altogether until more sanity prevails, as we did in the 2015 Greek bailout talks and Immediately after the 2020 electionwe will ruthlessly mediate and blacklist violators.

– Yves

PS Also, before further emphasizing the moderators we’ve already highlighted, please read Our website policy:

Please don’t write to ask why a comment doesn’t appear. We do not have enough bandwidth to investigate and respond. Complaining about moderation decisions/stumbling blocks using the comments section earns troll points for reviewers. Please don’t do this. If we come across these comments, they will also be deleted.

Connecticut mechanic finds art worth millions in dumpster Smithsonian

Smelly feet or something sweet?Cultures around the world respond to smells in the same way science

climate

Veteran wildland firefighter explains why he quit Wildfires today. “Watching a massive exodus of our operational knowledge is one of the most tragic evolutions I’ve witnessed.”

Forest fires sparked by lightning in North America will increase Guardian (Re Silc).

Invading pear trees are reshaping the region’s landscape Greater Washington

#Coronavirus disease

Deadline: covid-19 exposes a deadly betrayal of the world’s healthcare workers British Medical Journal. And there are absolutely no political consequences. This is extraordinary.

You are a witness to crime bezel. Legacy of ACT-UP; from 2021, still closely related.

* * *

die laughing at the grill dinner Greg Goncalves, The Nation. I’m not the only one scoffing at this.

Covid.gov failure is worse than unforgivable Bloomberg. Just like when healthcare.gov first launched. We didn’t learn anything:

For example, the instructions for finding and getting free masks are complicated: Clicking “Learn more about masks and where to get them” just takes you to the Centers for Disease Control’s standard explainer about masks. This page is out of date – as of this writing, it was last updated in August 2021 and still highlights illustrations of cloth masks instead of the more protective N95 and KN95 models. 1 and very difficult to navigate. Among the many different links, there is indeed one that promises to help you find free masks. But once you find that locator, you learn: “This tool shows a list of pharmacies that offer free masks (N95 masks). it doesn’t show their current stock. (emphasis on original.) I initially tried using the link on a mobile device, but found only one distribution location listed in my zip code. I later tried searching again on my computer and found more locations listed , but requires an invisible (and therefore unobtrusive) scrolling interface to see other locations. Anyway, trying to contact one of the pharmacies listed led me to a long tree of phones, and nothing about current availability at the end information.

* * *

After infection, one in five people contracted long-term COVID.Vaccinations, masks and better indoor air are our best protections dialogue

An experimental COVID drug was so successful that they closed the trial early wealth. n=210. Sabi Sabrin.

Lessons from the Tobacco War on the Vaccination War New England Journal of Medicine

We may be watching the COVID ‘season’ for years to come buzzing

China?

Coronavirus: Shanghai sees record 3,200 cases with Covid-19 symptoms as mass testing finds Omicron lurking in isolated households South China Morning Post. Comments, worth reading in full:

The authorities in Shanghai *made it clear *they *won’t* follow these same zero-coronavirus protocols and not go into early lockdown with less than 100 cases. They will put “the economy first”. https://t.co/rRsTNEqr79 pic.twitter.com/33Ui1Upu4z

— Naomi Wu, Mechanical Enchantress (@RealSexyCyborg) April 15, 2022

China lockdown worries businesses as shipping uncertainty mounts Bloomberg

The ultimate demise of China as a role model for Covid-19 national review

Myanmar

Myanmar boycotts Songkran to protest military junta, streets dry France 24. But the junta is doing what it can:

This is Taylor Swift of the Junta ? pic.twitter.com/9JvzwllhXA

– Kevin Lynn (@Kevin_linnn) April 14, 2022

Ukraine crisis prompts China to back Myanmar junta USIP

Burmese postcard problem Lowy Interpreter

Thousands of Sri Lankans celebrate New Year at anti-government protests Channel News Asia. Sounds like occupation:

Syria

Israeli Army Attacks Palestinian Worshipers at Al-Aqsa Mosque Middle East Eye

UK/EU

Why Oxford University in the 1980s held the keys to Britain’s ruling class Financial Times background:

#BREAKING The taste-starved archipelago, a global epicentre of money laundering and tax evasion, spent KSh495B on dental services in 2019, despite widespread dental disease associated with a traditional bland boiled tooth decay diet, but no national strategy to prevent tooth decay.

– Gathara (@gathara) April 13, 2022

Asylum seekers deported from Israel to Rwanda warn those who stay: ‘Don’t come here’ Haaretz. From 2018, still closely related.

Marine Le Pen capitalizes on cost of living concerns as French runoff vote looms foot

new less cold war

Biden official admits U.S. refused to talk to Ukraine and NATO ahead of Russian invasion Responsible governance

Ukraine conflict is a US/NATO proxy war, but Russia is expected to win it decisively – Scott Ritter mr online

China’s response to Ukraine is about the US (not Russia) diplomat

Welcome to “RuZZkiy Mir” Yevgenia Kovda (MR).

* * *

Ukraine live update: Russia appears to be close to taking Mariupol Now

Russia accuses Ukraine of helicopter attack in cross-border attack Global News. The final paragraph: “‘If such incidents continue, the consequences for the armed forces of the Russian Federation will be attacks on decision-making centers, including Kyiv, which the Russian army has so far not done,” the Defense Ministry said.

EXCLUSIVE: ‘What did the Russians do to him?’ Family outrage marches in handcuffs on Moscow state TV after ‘beating’ British fighter, arrested with Ukrainian in battle in Mariupol, head cuts, swollen eyes Daily Mail. “Captured earlier this week after his team ran out of food and ammunition.”

Russian Mercenaries in Great Power Competition: Strategic Superman or Weak Link? RAND Corporation

* * *

Flagship of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet sinks off Odessa maritime executive

Sinking Moscow may be biggest naval loss in 40 years driver

* * *

Russia SMO Day 49 – A Few Notes on the Propaganda War (Update!) hunter. More about Moska.

NED funds main Ukrainian propaganda agency Kyiv Independent covert operations magazine

EXCLUSIVE: Russian Geoeconomics Tsar Sergey Glaziev introduces new global financial system cradle. Big as real. (Not sure about this venue; no about page or job contact page.)

caribbean

Former Honduras leader Hernandez to be extradited to US next week BBC

Biden administration

The Unintended Consequences of Student Debt Relief Wall Street Journal

supply chain

The average delivery time of semiconductors breaks through the half-year mark register

CF Industries: Union Pacific cuts fertilizer shipments, delays deliveries and blocks new rail orders green stock news

China’s COVID-19 outbreak brings new impact on shipping market Greek Shipping News

Our famous free news

Elon Musk urges Twitter to be more transparent, calling platform a ‘de facto town square’‘ The Wall Street Journal. Quote:

Elon Musk:

“I’m not playing the back-and-forth game. I went straight to the end. It’s a high price and your shareholders will love it.” pic.twitter.com/4hJjHm4EdU

— Brian Chapatta (@BChappatta) April 14, 2022

Elon Musk and Tickets to the End of the World Matt Stoller, major

Elon Musk’s Twitter ‘threat’ to restore free speech sparks panic in Liberals. Today at 3pm ET. Glenn Greenwald

health care

Nursing homes are in crisis. We can’t look away any longer. New York Times. Oh, I think we can.

Americans are crazy: Gonorrhea and syphilis hit record highs in 2020 gizmo

Decentralization: A Moral Obligation Endpoint News. Reform clinical trials.

Class struggle

San Francisco housing rationing by scoring homeless trauma. By design, most are ineligible. ProPublica. Classic PMC Complex qualifications + ethics.

Blanco Milanovic – The Evolution of Karl Marx: A Review of Kevin B. Anderson’s “Marx on the Edge” Branko Milanovic, Brave New Europe

The 12 Best Ways to Get Your Car Out of the City – New Research Ranks dialogue

How Japan built a city where your kids can go out and run errands slate

The antidote of the day (pass):

Additional Antidote:

Check out yesterday’s link and antidote du Jour here.