I drove cross country yesterday, a week after Hurricane Helene, on GA19 between Lumber City and Dublin. About 50 miles from the vandalism. There is no power; the road signs were black and every intersection was 4 stops. Power and phone lines are down. At least 20% of homes sustained significant damage from wind or falling trees. In all locations the trees were leaning at a 45 degree angle from the 60-90 mph wind. One pecan grove was completely flattened, which happens in many similar farms; pecans are a major cash crop for many in rural Georgia. The cotton crop will not be harvested. Soybeans looked similarly damaged. Elsewhere several large trucks were sitting on their sides. Lines of marketing clothes on front porches. Some shops are open for cash only. Gas pumps are powered by generators where available.
At least a dozen of the country’s churches have towers on the ground. Two pictures are attached. That’s the demolished utility pole in front of the brick Beulah Baptist Church. I carefully stepped around the wires down Multiply by 1000 to get the full effect. We couldn’t stop in the worst places to take a picture because the shoulders of the road were covered with branches and logs that had been removed from the road. My favorite dogtrot house on this route was complete, with cypress siding and a new metal roof.
Trump’s signs have been changed. I’ve heard that FEMA doesn’t really exist and that the situation in Georgia isn’t much better. After previous storms the Georgia National Guard was out in force the next day. They must have been on another road. I counted repair trucks from at least 15 companies in the Southeastern United States. Those in line are local heroes. Otherwise, these people in the rural areas are largely ignored, or so it seems.
Syndemics
DR Congo begins mpox vaccination campaign with the aim of stopping the outbreak France24
Alleged cases of the German Marburg virus were found not to be Politico
China?
Chip battle: China says breakthrough in silicon chips could clear technology barrier South China Morning Post
China is willing to take full control of Portugal’s power grid amid Europe’s inetia Euractiv
Africa
Mercenary Politics: Algeria’s Response to Wagner in Mali RUSI
Quiboloy’s arrest – where the self-proclaimed ‘Son of God’ plays politics Channel News Asia
Syracistan
Israel hits Lebanon with massive wave of FT strikes
The Israeli invasion of Lebanon displaced a quarter of the country’s population PBS
Moments later a huge explosion rocked the Beirut BBC
France’s Macron wants to stop arms sales to Israel, then makes a U-turn Middle East Eye
Israel Targets French Gas Stations in Lebanon Amid Conflicts with Macron FES News. Great if it’s true.
How Netanyahu is ‘running rings’ around Biden FT
Inside the State Department’s Arms Pipeline to Israel ProPublica
US official says Israel hasn’t confirmed it won’t attack Iran’s nuclear facility Anadolu Agency
How Iran Built Russia’s Air Defense Network: What Are Its Strengths and Limitations Today? Military Watch
Revealed: How Mossad boobytrap 5,000 Hezbollah pagers with explosives in secret compound built TWO years ago – and the hidden feature that allowed it to wreak havoc Daily Mail
As religious wars escalate, Israeli officials consider ‘going quietly’ The Guardian
The health sector plays an important role in promoting peace in Gaza and the Middle East Croakey
The breakup of Europe
Why European leadership wants war Al Jazeera
National Lockstep? New Left Review. In Belgium.
The New Cold War
Ukraine, NATO membership and the West German FT model
JD Vance’s Point of Action for Peace in Ukraine The American Conservative
Ukraine left in security limbo and consequences of Zelensky’s US trip unclear WaPo
****** SITREP 10/5/24: Post-Ugledar Landscape Unfurls into Dark Ukrainian Future Simplicius, Simplicius the Thinker
Russians attacked warehouses and trucks in Odesa – photo Ukrainska Pravda
****** Oligarchs from Putin’s party acquire land in Crimea affected by massive construction projects Ukraine Pravda
Ukraine seizes $6 million in jewelry from officials accused of helping dodgers South China Morning Post
The largest Cypriot bank has closed about 20,000 Russian accounts from 2022 Ukrainska Pravda
****** Notes on Ukraine in the Long Crisis Communist Study Group
The Biden Administration
Joe Biden, Interim King American Conservative
After a day of official whiplash, Biden’s plan to cancel student loans is back on PBS
2024
Trump returns to site of failed assassination bid, vows to fight ‘enemy within’ France24
State wars to win US FT elections
Act to Restore President Bob Bauer, Legislature
Clinton Legacy
Hillary Clinton Declares ‘We Lose Total Control’ If We ‘Don’t Measure and Monitor’ More Social Media Content
A digital clock
Why WordPress founder Matt Mullenweg has gone ‘nuclear’ against tech investing in Silver Lake CNBC
Matt Mullenweg: ‘WordPress.org is just for me’ The Verge
Assange
A Very Rare Victory Craig Murray
The Final Frontier
Centaur, an icy body in space, shoots out many jets of hot gas. What’s going on? WION
it’s 420
Happy Aeon
Class War
‘They’re just crazy’: Boeing jets prepare for long haul FT
National Planning Organization Amazon Releases Staff Notes
Here’s How Loper Bright Takes Workers’ Rights Away From Workers
How to get a Nobel prize (2024) and more statistics from only 24 scientific ‘families’ (2016)
Identity, Partial Concepts of Relations 3 Quarks Everyday
Antidote du jour (Tony Hisgett):
Bonus antidote:
– trailcam (@Trail_Cams) October 5, 2024
See yesterday’s links and the Antidote du Jour here.
