Leftovers

• Bert Hubert ☛ George Orwell's review of Russel's Power: A New Social Analysis

  I had previously learned a lot from this book review by George Orwell, which is actually a lot more than a book review.

  Recently I had cause to look it up again and found it had vanished from the searchable internet. With some sleuthing I have recovered a copy of the review from the internet archive.

  Orwell’s review was first published in The Adelphi in January 1939. The review can also be found in its original (scanned) form, also on the internet archive.

• Science

  • Science Alert ☛ A NASA Study About Houseplants Has Been Widely Misread, Scientist Says

    The science was sound. The problem is something else.

  • Science Alert ☛ The Y Chromosome May Be Vanishing. What Does It Mean For The Future of Men?

    Big changes are coming.

• Hardware/Mining

  • The Straits Times ☛ Massive 11,000-carat ruby discovered in Mandalay, says Myanmar

    The Mogok rubies are the most expensive in the world.

  • Tom's Hardware ☛ Internet archival sites struggling to preserve the internet because of skyrocketing hard drive prices due to the Hey Hi (AI) boom — Wayback Machine and Wikimedia punished by stratospheric storage pricing and stricter anti-scraping measures blocking the wrong bots

    Hard drives are so expensive now that archival efforts are being hurt as a result of the Hey Hi (AI) boom snatching all production lines. Organizations like Wikimedia and the Internet Archive are just about keeping up with the rising costs, but individual preservationists have given up for the time being. This is all on top of websites blocking scraping bots because of AI.

• Health/Nutrition/Agriculture

  • The Straits Times ☛ What cues India can take from China to fix its foul air and water

    India’s poor air is driving much needed investment away from the country.

  • Hong Kong Free Press ☛ Hong Kong urged to step up rodent checks despite no local residents on hantavirus-hit cruise ship

    An infectious disease specialist has called on Hong Kong authorities to step up rodent checks, despite confirmation that no residents from the city were on board the hantavirus-hit cruise ship in the Atlantic Ocean.

  • France24 ☛ Hantavirus outbreak risk to public is 'absolutely low', WHO says

    The World Health Organization on Friday reiterated that a hantavirus outbreak risk to the general public is "absolutely low". Three passengers from the MV Hondius have died while others have fallen sick with the rare disease, which usually spreads among rodents. The vessel has around 150 people on board and is expected to arrive in the Spanish Canary Island of Tenerife on Sunday.

  • The Straits Times ☛ No Malaysians on board hantavirus-hit MV Hondius cruise ship

    Dr Dzulkefly said the infection should not be taken lightly, as its complications can potentially be fatal.

  • Latvia ☛ Latvia's rats are prodigious disease carriers

    Every third rodent examined in Latvia is infected with leptospirosis, while every sixth rat carries panhantaviruses, some of which can cause serious health problems in humans, according to tests by the Food Safety, Animal Health and Environment Research Institute "Bior". However, the most common type of hantavirus in Latvia is not the same as the one recently detected on a Dutch cruise ship which has caused an international scramble to trace contact persons.

  • Bridge Michigan ☛ Opinion | I watched kratom steal my sister. Michigan has to stop this now

    A bill in the Michigan House would ban the growth and sale of kratom and its synthetic derivatives in Michigan. It is a straightforward response to a documented public health crisis, and it needs to pass.

  • New York Times ☛ Dihydroxyacetone Man Plans to Fire F.D.A. Commissioner Marty Makary

    Dr. Makary has been a supporter of the Make American Healthy Again Movement but made some enemies in the administration over vaping, the abortion pill and rejections of new drugs.

  • WhichUK ☛ Do you really need to eat 30 plants a week?

    It's a popular piece of health advice, but it can be daunting. We investigate whether the science backs it up, and what really matters for your gut health

  • France24 ☛ French couple on hantavirus cruise ship says ‘no panic onboard’

    A French couple who is currently travelling on the MV Hondius, which was recently hit by a hantavirus outbreak, has issued a statement urging media not to “overdramatise” the situation, adding that there is “no panic” among the passengers onboard. "To call this an epidemic is wrong. To imply it's a pandemic is dishonest,” they said.

  • New York Times ☛ We’re at the Dawn of the Ozempic Era — and It’s Really Weird

    One in eight American adults is taking GLP-1s. What does that mean for how we relate to our food, bodies and one another?

  • Science Alert ☛ One Type of Fat May Accelerate Brain Aging, But Scientists Say There's a Fix

    Midlife actions make a difference.

  • Science Alert ☛ Coffee May Protect Against Aging, And Caffeine Isn't The Main Reason

    Scientists have found a new clue.

  • Science Alert ☛ Scientists Engineer Blood Clots That Stop Severe Bleeding in Seconds

    A potential life-saver.

  • Science Alert ☛ One Critical Factor Predicts Longevity Better Than Diet or Exercise, Study Finds

    It's vital for almost every aspect of our well-being.

  • Science Alert ☛ What Are You Actually Swallowing When You Take Probiotics?

    "Finally, I found the actual ingredients."

• Proprietary

  • So-Called 'Artificial Intelligence' ('AI') / LLM Slop / Plagiarism

    • dwaves.de ☛ Google Hey Hi (AI) and the yolo-mode

    • New York Times ☛ Meta’s Embrace of Hey Hi (AI) Is Making Its Employees Miserable

      As it adapts to the artificial intelligence era, the company is pushing many of its 78,000 workers to use the technology, and preparing to lay some of them off.

    • Tom's Hardware ☛ Senator at center of Utah Hey Hi (AI) data center debate gets physical, slaps phone out of reporter’s hand — reporter covering cases of harassment against his business

      Utah State Sen. Jerry Stevenson (R.-Layton) got into a physical confrontation with an ABC4 reporter as they tried to cover the harassment being made against his employees by people against the proposed Box Elder County data center.

    • Tom's Hardware ☛ AI data center bans are rapidly multiplying across the US — 69 jurisdictions block new builds, with four moves noted as permanent

      More jurisdictions across the United States have been enacting a data center ban, with the total number of active bans reaching 50 as of April 2026.

    • Futurism ☛ Scammers Furious That Their Fellow Criminals Are Using AI, Saying It’s Unethical

      "Stop posting Hey Hi (AI) s**t."

    • Futurism ☛ Cursed New Hey Hi (AI) Service Writes a Mother’s Day Card and Mails It to Your Mom, Without Any Human Involvement Except Inputting Your Credit Card Details

      "Your Hey Hi (AI) can finally send your mom a real card."

  • Social Control Media

    • France24 ☛ Inside TikTok's prostitution recruitment networks

      How the social control media platform, TikTok, is becoming a key tool for criminals to recruit women and girls into prostitution networks. Also, Myanmar's military government has expanded its ban on menstrual products, claiming resistance groups use them as first aid for injured fighters. Annette Young talks to women's health consultant, Henriette Ceyrac, as to why this is fast becoming a health issue for the nation's women and girls.

• Defence/Aggression

  • France24 ☛ Middle East war back on? UAE responds to fresh attacks, US and Iran trade fire

    The United Arab Emirates says it's responded to fresh missile and drone attacks by Iran this Friday. The strikes come hours after the US says three of its navy destroyers in the Strait of Hormuz were targeted. President The Insurrectionist ordered retaliatory strikes - but then downplayed the hostilities and said the ceasefire still stands. Analysis by Douglas Herbert, FRANCE 24 international affairs commentator.

  • New York Times ☛ Latest on the Iran War: U.S. Fires on Tankers as Tehran Accuses Washington of ‘Reckless’ Attacks

    Iran’s foreign minister accused Washington of undermining diplomacy. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the U.S. expected to hear from Tehran on Friday.

  • Defence Web ☛ Mali attacks: Tuareg grievances hold the key to peace

    The precarious security situation in Mali took a turn for the worse in late April 2026.

  • New York Times ☛ Two Men Are Convicted of Spying for China in Britain

    The men were arrested in 2024, accused of surveilling dissidents from Hong Kong in Britain. The case sent a chill through pro-democracy protesters who have fled the territory.

  • Hong Kong Free Press ☛ Hong Kong denies link to UK national security case after trade officer convicted of spying on activists

    The Hong Kong government has denied any link to the high-profile UK court case after its trade officer was convicted of spying on overseas activists.

  • The Straits Times ☛ South Korea Parliament drops constitutional amendment vote tied to martial law

    The move came after South Korea was rocked by Yoon Suk Yeol’s imposition of martial law.

  • The Straits Times ☛ South Korea begins probe into ship fire in Strait of Hormuz amid Iran dispute

    The ship suffered an explosion and fire in the engine-room area on May 4 while anchored near the UAE.

  • The Straits Times ☛ South Korea’s arms exports face competition as Japanese weapons hit the market

    Japan’s lifting of restrictions on arms exports marks a significant shift from its post-WW II pacifist defence policy.

  • Tom's Hardware ☛ North Korean fake remote worker scam lands two Americans 18-month prison sentences for hosting laptops — US firms unknowingly shipped laptops to “employees” who secretly worked from overseas via remote desktop, generating $1.2 million for Pyongyang

    Two Americans have been sentenced to prison for helping North Korean operatives infiltrate nearly 70 US companies through fraudulent remote IT jobs, enabling overseas access to company laptops via RDP and generating over $1.2 million for the regime.

  • New York Times ☛ Taiwan Breaks Political Deadlock to Approve $25 Billion U.S. Arms Purchase

    With time running out, Taiwanese lawmakers approved funds for buying U.S. weapons, fearing they could lose support if they didn’t act now.

  • New York Times ☛ China Sees a ‘Giant With a Limp’ as U.S. Drains Weapons on Iran War

    America’s ability to deter China in a war over Taiwan is weakened, Chinese analysts say, giving Beijing leverage in an upcoming summit with Hell Toupée.

  • The Straits Times ☛ China confirms attack on oil tanker in Strait of Hormuz earlier this week

    China's foreign ministry confirmed on Friday that an oil products tanker carrying Chinese crew was attacked in the Strait of Hormuz, and expressed deep concern about vessels affected by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

  • New York Times ☛ U.S. Targets Iran’s Missile and Drone Program With Sanctions

    The new measures are focused on Chinese companies that supply Iran’s military with materials to make drones.

  • The Straits Times ☛ Vietnam adds hundreds of acres in South China Sea island-building effort

    It is also constructing specialised infrastructure in the Spratly archipelago: US think-tank

  • Satellite imagery shows Philippine construction on two islands in disputed Spratlys

    Experts say the runway and port expansions will increase readiness amid Chinese escalations in the South China Sea.

  • Hong Kong Free Press ☛ Taiwan welcomes Paraguay leader as China increases pressure

    Taiwan rolled out the red carpet for Paraguay President Santiago Pena on Friday to shore up relations with its only South American ally, as Beijing urged Asuncion to sever ties with Taipei.

  • The Straits Times ☛ US concerned by Taiwan defence delay ‘concession’ to China

    Taiwanese President Lai said while he appreciated the funding, this was only the first step.

  • Russia, Belarus, and War in Ukraine

    • LRT ☛ Ruling party leader says Lithuania should be open to dialogue with Minsk

      Lithuanian Social Democratic Party Chairman Mindaugas Sinkevičius has urged the president and government to agree on a long-term strategy toward Belarus, saying dialogue with Minsk should not be ruled out.

    • LRT ☛ Lithuania condemns IOC’s move to lift ban on Belarusian athletes

      Lithuania’s Foreign Ministry on Thursday condemned the International Olympic Committee’s decision to ease restrictions on Belarusian athletes participating in the Olympic Games and other international competitions.

    • New York Times ☛ Many Russians in No Mood for Celebration on Kremlin’s Biggest Day of the Year

      As the country heads into Victory Day, the economy is stalling, internet restrictions are growing and the Kremlin is fearing Ukrainian attacks.

    • RFERL ☛ Dihydroxyacetone Man Announces 3-Day Cease-Fire In Russia-Ukraine War; Zelenskyy Vows No Red Square Attacks

      US President The Insurrectionist announced a three-day cease-fire in the war between Russia and Ukraine, with both sides quickly confirming they had agreed to the truce along with a major prisoner swap.

    • RFERL ☛ Rubio Wraps Up Rome Visit With Sharp Warning To Iran Over Hormuz

      US Secretary of State Marco Rubio sought to steady ties with Italy and the Vatican during a visit to Rome shaped by disputes over Iran, NATO, and migration. He also defended Washington’s military posture in the Middle East and warned Tehran against trying to assert control over the Strait of Hormuz.

    • LRT ☛ He set himself aflame protesting Russia’s war – the Kremlin made sure no one found out

      An international investigation has uncovered how Russian authorities worked to conceal a self-immolation protest against the war in Ukraine, carried out in the heart of Kaliningrad on the third anniversary of the full-scale invasion.

    • France24 ☛ Russia forced to scale down its victory parade for the first time in almost 20 years

      The unilateral ceasefire declared by Russia on the eve of its national World War II commemorations crumbled right after it took effect. Ukraine and Russia launched major attacks against each other, forcing Russia to scale down its victory parade for the first time in almost 20 years. Story by Shirli Sitbon.

    • France24 ☛ Energy security vs climate crisis: Norway reopens three old gas fields

      Norway has announced it plans to reopen three old gas fields in the North Sea in order to boost Europe's supply. Already the largest supplier for the EU, Oslo also proposed 70 new offshore locations for oil and gas exploration. Environmental activists accuse the government of using geopolitical tensions and conflicts like the wars in Ukraine and Iran as an excuse to continue drilling for fossil fuels despite the climate crisis.

    • France24 ☛ Russia loses ground – but not the war – in Ukraine

      Moscow lost territory on the battlefield in April 2026 for the first time since Ukraine’s bold August 2024 incursion into Russia's Kursk oblast, according to an analysis published this week. Moscow's losses were equivalent to some 116 square kilometres across several areas of the front line.

    • France24 ☛ EU enlargement: New horizons, from East to West

      Nine countries are currently in the process of acceding to the European Union: North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Moldova, Ukraine, Georgia and Turkey. The European club seems to be growing ever more appealing, to the point where Iceland could also reintroduce a membership application.

    • France24 ☛ Dihydroxyacetone Man announces three-day ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia

      US President The Insurrectionist on Friday announced a three-day ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, starting on May 9. Aside from a pause in the fighting, the two warring sides will also engage in a prisoner swap, with 1,000 prisoners from each country.

    • Defence Web ☛ Zimbabwe warns citizens of Russian recruiting efforts

    • New York Times ☛ A Less Muscular Victory Day Parade Shows Putin’s Growing Vulnerability

      The event, shrunken because of security fears, adds to a sense that Moscow and other cities can no longer be insulated from the war.

    • The Straits Times ☛ North Korean leader Kim calls ties with Russia top priority in Victory Day message to Putin

      North Korea sent about 14,000 troops to fight with Russian forces during the ongoing war in Ukraine.

    • New Yorker ☛ For Putin, Problems (and Paranoia) Keep Mounting

      Drone attacks, internet blackouts, and a sudden downturn in the economy have marked one of the worst stretches for the Russian President since the start of the war in Ukraine.

    • Latvia ☛ Latvian National Guard training to protect critical infrastructure

      In what could barely be better timed given the May 7th drone strike incident on an oil storage facility in Rēzekne, the Latvian National Guard is in the middle of an exercise titled "Sakta 2026" which is running from May 6th to 10th, testing the principles of critical infrastructure protection.

    • Latvia ☛ It appears there were actually two drone strikes at Latvian fuel depot

      An fuel storage depot in Latvia's eastern city of Rēzekne was hit by military drones early on Thursday, May 7th not once, but twice, it has emerged more than 24 hours later.

• Transparency/Investigative Reporting

  • New York Times ☛ Compare the Purported Epstein Suicide Note to His Writings

    The New York Times has not authenticated the note. But some of its phrases are similar or identical to ones Jeffrey Epstein used in emails and another handwritten letter.

• Environment

  • The Straits Times ☛ Malaysia plans cloud seeding for drought-hit ‘rice bowl’

    A drought in Malaysia's “rice bowl” north has delayed planting of the staple crop and raised supply fears.

  • Energy/Transportation

    • New York Times ☛ Greenpeace Suffers Another Blow in Court Fight With Energy Transfer

      In an unusual move, a North Dakota court said Greenpeace International shouldn’t be allowed to pursue a lawsuit in Europe, where it is based, against the company.

    • Futurism ☛ China Presses Pause on Self-Driving Taxis Nationwide After Issue Where They Blocked Streets. America Could Learn a Lot From That

      Why isn't the US doing the same?

    • The Straits Times ☛ Former China Eastern Airlines chairman indicted on bribery charges

      A former chairman of China Eastern Airlines Group has been indicted on bribery charges, China's top prosecutor said on Friday, the latest in a string of high-profile anti-graft actions as Beijing steps up a campaign against corruption.

    • The Straits Times ☛ Marcos says ASEAN fuel-sharing scheme still needs to be ironed out

      The grouping had produced a declaration calling for the ratification of the ASEAN Petroleum Security Agreement.

    • Futurism ☛ In Irony-Soaked Incident, Amazon Data Center Shuts Down Due to High Temperatures

      It'd be funny if it wasn't so dark.

    • The Straits Times ☛ Death toll rises to 37 from China fireworks factory blast

      The incident is the deadliest blast reported in China since 2019.

  • Wildlife/Nature

    • Science Alert ☛ Sir David Attenborough Is 100, And The World Is Celebrating a Living Legend

      His voice changed how we see Earth.

• Finance

  • Federal News Network ☛ USPS floats more financial aid from Congress as way to avoid running out of cash next year

    Postmaster General David Steiner said these funds wouldn’t be a “bailout” for USPS, but would subsidize increasingly expensive six-day delivery.

  • Ruben Schade ☛ eBay Australia’s changed fees

    eBay has updated how it charges Australian sellers. tl;dr: you can’t sell on eBay for free, despite their claims.

  • New Yorker ☛ Have Billionaires Gone Too Far?

    “We’ve seen them overplaying their hand,” the sociologist Brooke Harrington says. “They’re pillaging American cultural institutions. They’re pillaging democracy.”

  • Bruce Schneier ☛ Insider Betting on Polymarket

    Insider trading is rife on Polymarket: [...]

• AstroTurf/Lobbying/Politics

  • JURIST ☛ Virginia Supreme Court strikes down voter-approved partisan redistricting amendment

    The Supreme Court of Virginia on Friday struck down a voter-approved constitutional amendment authorizing partisan gerrymandering of the state’s congressional districts, ruling 4-3 that the legislature violated procedural requirements when proposing the change.

  • New York Times ☛ Virginia Court Strikes Down Redistricted Voting Map in a Huge Blow to Democrats

    The decision is a major victory for Republicans, wiping away a measure approved by voters to allow Democrats to gain as many as four House seats in the midterms.

  • American Oversight ☛ American Oversight Launches Investigation into Convicted Felon Admin’s Politicized Prosecution of Southern Poverty Law Center

    We’re seeking records related to the whistleblower-alleged political pressure, communications, and decision-making behind DOJ’s targeting of a leading civil rights organization.

    >

  • Marcy Wheeler ☛ Seb Gorka Orders Europe to Harbo[u]r His Kind of Terrorists

    Seb Gorka's attack on Europe for not defending what he calls freedom of speech, appearing in a counterterrorism policy that refuses to defend against terrorists whose ideology he shares, is a demand that Europe harbor his kind of terrorism.

• Censorship/Free Speech

  • Hong Kong Free Press ☛ Explainer: Hong Kong’s national security crackdown – month 70

    In April, the 70th month since Beijing imposed the national security law, the Hong Kong government applied to the court to seize assets belonging to Apple Daily founder Jimmy Lai, who is serving a 20-year prison sentence.

  • New York Times ☛ Hegseth Is Sending Us a Warning

    The secretary of defense has argued that military retirees are subject to freedom of speech restrictions. Let that sink in.

• Freedom of Information / Freedom of the Press

  • Marcy Wheeler ☛ Kash Patel Changes His Mind about Sarah Fitzpatrick’s Sources

    In his lawsuit against Sarah Fitzpatrick, Kash Patel insisted none of her sources were in a position to know that he's a drunk. Now, he's demanding polygraphs from people who very much are in a position to know.

  • JURIST ☛ Press group requests investigation into violent attack against journalists in India

    The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) on Thursday called on authorities in India to investigate a violent attack against two journalists while covering the Health Minister’s visit to the eastern state of Jharkhand and to ensure that all perpetrators are held accountable.

  • Press Gazette ☛ Former BillBC content chief loses IPSO complaint after saying Gaza documentary mistake not her fault

    IPSO rules "reasonable basis" for Telegraph's claim that Moore was blamed for Gaza documentary.

• Civil Rights / Policing / Accessibility

  • New York Times ☛ Xia De-hong, 94, Dies; Persecuted in China, She Starred in Daughter’s Memoir

    “Wild Swans,” a best-selling 1991 memoir, told the story of a stoic mother holding her family together amid torture and imprisonment under Mao’s regime.

• Monopolies/Monopsonies

  • Futurism ☛ Meta Has Entered Its Death Spiral

    It's rotting away.

  • Patents

    • JUVE ☛ HP prevails in Munich in toner cartridge dispute against Ninestar

      In a series of lawsuits concerning various patents, Hewlett Packard Development is taking action at Munich Regional Court against several European and Chinese companies of the Ninestar Group. They all sell printer cartridges on platforms such as Amazon.

    • Unified Patents ☛ Acacia entity, Atlas Global, Wi-Fi patent monopoly challenge granted

      On April 22, 2026, after Unified filed an ex parte reexamination, the Central Reexamination Unit (CRU) granted Unified’s request, finding substantial new questions of patentability on all challenged claims of U.S. Patent 9,628,310, owned and asserted by Atlas Global Technologies, LLC, an NPE and Acacia Research entity. The ‘310 patent monopoly is directed to the format of HE LTFs (high efficiency long training fields) for various combinations of HE LTF modes and channel bandwidths in Wi-Fi transmissions.

    • Unified Patents ☛ Congruent Media app security patent monopoly challenge granted

      On May 7, 2026, four weeks after Unified filed an ex parte reexamination, the Central Reexamination Unit (CRU) granted Unified’s request, finding substantial new questions of patentability on all challenged claims of U.S. Patent 9,135,418, owned and asserted by Congruent Media Resourcing LLC, an NPE.

    • Dennis Crouch/Patently-O ☛ Sixteen Years of §101: What Actually Moves Examiners

      Sixteen years of monthly §101 office action data show USPTO administrative policy, not Supreme Court doctrine, drives examiner behavior on eligibility.

    • Software Patents

      • Unified Patents ☛ Malikie HEVC patent monopoly challenged

        On May 2, 2025, Unified filed an ex parte reexamination proceeding against U.S. Patent 10,778,989, another patent monopoly owned by Malikie Innovations Limited, an NPE and entity of Key Patent Innovations Limited. The ‘989 patent, formerly assigned to Blackberry Ltd., relates to a rolling intra prediction video codec method based on the H.264/AVC/HEVC standards.

  • Trademarks

    • Digital Music News ☛ Taylor Swift Legal Team Tears ‘Absurd’ Trademark Claims by Former Vegas Showgirl to Shreds, Threatens Legal Retaliation

      Taylor Swift’s legal team launches a counterattack against a former Vegas showgirl, accusing her of clout-chasing with her trademark infringement claim.

  • Copyrights

    • Digital Music News ☛ Studio Behind ‘Mixtape’ Explains Why the Game Has No Streamer Mode

      The studio behind indie video game Mixtape explains why the game has no streamer mode: because its licensed music makes up the “soul” of the game.