Odds and Ends — 11 June 2021

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Coronavirus News, Analysis, and Opinion:

‘This IS INSANE’: Africa desperately short of COVID vaccine

China thought it had escaped blame for the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, but is facing a second reckoning

Evidence grows stronger for Covid vaccine link to heart issue, CDC says

A Political Rorschach Test

What was your first reaction when you heard this story? “Biden administration to buy 500 million Pfizer coronavirus vaccine doses to donate to the world.”

Cryptocurrency, Investing, Money, Economy, and Debt:

Very predictable: IMF response to El Salvador. Make sure you know how IMF works (and what the next steps will be):https://t.co/tIjfje4kn1https://t.co/wAH2t8qRTLhttps://t.co/lZhVeZ5iOx

— PlanB (@100trillionUSD) June 10, 2021

Crypto Finally Has a Reason to Exist

The core use case for crypto is called DeFi, a recently coined abbreviation for “decentralized finance.” DeFi doesn’t have a formal definition, but it typically includes the use of the blockchain to borrow and lend using auction markets; to trade in unconventional derivatives; to trade one set of crypto assets against another; and for unusual forms of insurance. The profit opportunities arise in part because the blockchain eliminates the need for traditional financial intermediaries, with their fees and associated regulations.

Banks are So Stuffed With Cash They Tell Companies: No More Deposits

Inflation Has Picked Up

Prices were up by 5 percent in May compared with a year ago, the largest increase since the Great Recession, continuing a steady climb in inflation even as policymakers insist on staying the course.

Politics:

McGahn confirms. We knew this. But still. Via the NYT:

Donald F. McGahn II, who served as White House counsel to former President Donald J. Trump, has told lawmakers that episodes involving him in the Russia report by the special counsel, Robert S. Mueller III, were accurate — including one Mr. Trump has denied in which the president pressed him to get the Justice Department to remove Mr. Mueller.

House Committee Drops Transcript From McGahn’s Closed Door Hearing

House lawyers focused on an episode where Trump learned that Robert Mueller had been appointed special counsel. Trump, the Mueller report revealed, said at the meeting “I’m fucked,” and demanded that Jeff Sessions resign from his position as attorney general.

Uproar after Argentina president says ‘Brazilians came from the jungle’

Well, that was fast: Man Who Slapped Macron Sent to Prison

Mike Pence Saved The Republic On Jan. 6 – And No One Is Talking About It, Not Even Him

‘Stop the Steal’ Protest Organizer Indicted for Jan. 6 Conspiracy

Don’t Cry for H.R. 1

The Republican party is barreling toward disregarding the actual vote count in a presidential contest. The John Lewis Act does not address this. It would permit the Justice Department to police voting rules that disproportionately affect minority voters in some states, but it is miles away from dealing with a problem like refusing to certify the Electoral College results.
There is something Democrats can do at the federal level to respond to the threat: They can amend the Electoral Count Act of 1887. Republicans would be unlikely to filibuster this law, so Democrats can pass it with a simple majority vote. No need to tangle with Manchin and Sen. Krysten Sinema over the filibuster.

China has created a 'dystopian hellscape' in Xinjiang, Amnesty report says

China is the elephant in the room at the G-7

AOC rips into fellow Democrats for taking Ilhan Omar's comments on the US and Israel's potential war crimes out of context

📽️ @PAHouseGOP leader has meltdown on House floor after it was raised that his caucus is 100% white in a chamber that is 70% male while pushing bills that hurt women's health, especially Black and brown women.

He had it stricken from the record then they shut down the floor. pic.twitter.com/xy1qwI8eYG

— J.J. Abbott (@jjabbott) June 9, 2021

Serendipity:

Heads up! The cardiovascular secrets of giraffes

Because of their height, giraffes require scarily high blood pressures — yet they escape the massive health problems that plague people with hypertension. Can clinicians learn from these animals?

Fashion for pointy shoes unleashed plague of bunions in medieval Britain

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Badge thanks to @arcange

Meme credit: soncoguy (source)



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