Links for you. Science:
We can’t fight opioids by controlling demand alone
Ancient life awakens amid thawing ice caps and permafrost
A deadly, drug-resistant fungus has swept the globe—here’s how it spreads
Maggots: A taste of food’s future
Hurricane And Earthquake Scales Often Confuse People – Why That’s Dangerous
Other:
Hungry, Scared and Sick: Inside the Migrant Detention Center in Clint, Tex.
2020 Dems’ opposition builds against Trump judges (too little, too late?)
John Delaney’s debate claim that ‘Medicare for All’ will shutter hospitals is unsubstantiated
What the Concentration Camps of Bosnia Can Teach Us About the Abuse of Immigrants on the U.S. Border
Italian Artist Peeta Blends Graffiti and Abstract Forms Into Optical Illusion Murals
Americans “Shockingly Willing to Kill Civilians”? Nope.
Check out early photos of the ‘Lawn’ exhibit at the National Building Museum, opening July 4
Americans deserve a paid vacation, should be mandatory
George Nader: How a convicted paedophile became key to an Emirati hook-up with Trump
Trump says his company has stopped hiring undocumented immigrants — but his former housekeeper says that’s not true
Border Profiteers
A Former Industry Insider Reveals How Drug Companies Jack Up Prices
The Border Patrol Is the American SS
Real Americans don’t ask
Understanding why right-wing populism succeeds
‘Do You Support Busing?’ Is Not the Best Question
Bret Stephens Is Who He Thinks “We” Is
Armed militias are breaking the law — and the Border Patrol might be, too
Elizabeth Warren’s first law review article blasted an anti-busing court ruling
Trump’s 4th of July fiasco exposed a common myth about his fans and revealed the disturbing truth
mikethemadbiologist
Another great take-down of Stephens:
https://theconcourse.deadspin.com/god-man-fuck-you-bret-stephens-1835987319
Maggots: the wonder-food of the future. Another piece hyping these critters listed as advantages the following.
They Reproduce Like Crazy
They’re Almost Indestructible
They’re Space-Savers
They’re Self-Harvesting
They Eat (Almost) Everything
They Grow Like Crazy
They’re Super Clean
They Eat Like Crazy
They Are Little Energy Packets
They Are Waste-Free
They Taste Great!
I searched the link and the text from which the above 11 items came, and wasn’t too surprised there was no mention of “parasites”, “fungus”, or “virus”. “Bacteria” came up once only in the sense the maggots “naturally destroy harmful bacteria that might be present in their food.”
Now let’s take a look at the pairing of this story and the one above it.
### A deadly, drug-resistant fungus has swept the globe—here’s how it spreads ###
**** Maggots: A taste of food’s future ****
Fungi are opportunistic. The Irish found that one out the hard way when their potato crops got infested and at least a million starved to death. Already it’s been demonstrated these maggots can be infested with fungi. Unless the normal rules of evolution have been repealed, I’m going to assume opportunistic viruses and bacteria will quickly discover these Great Tasting Little Energy Packets as well. The wiki says at least one parasite already exists.
**** In West Africa, Dirhinus giffardii has been found to be a parasitoid of H. illucens pupae and decrease egg production. It has been found to reduce stocks by up to 72%. ****
I’d be surprised if many more don’t turn up if and when Monoculture Maggot Manufacturing goes into effect. Won’t the little guys be fed filth of all kinds and sources? Won’t the workers become overworked robots like in the chicken industry of today? The relentless drive towards “efficiency” will ensure somebody skips on ‘recommended’ sanitation practices.
I’ll be skipping these Tasty Little Treats until somebody bribes enough congressmen to enure they won’t be accurately listed in the ingredients section of the Dried, Seasoned, and Wonderful-Tasting Maggot Chips.