Monday, April 27, 2026

Coffee Break: Has the Ellison Infotainment Empire Peaked?

The Ellison infotainment empire financed by father Larry and nominally helmed by son David, may have peaked with the shareholder approval of Paramount-Skydance’s purchase of WBD (Warner Bros Discovery).

Why Food Additives May Not Be FDA Reviewed

Discussing a decades-old FDA loophole for putting new ingredients into the country’s food supply.

Links 4/27/2026

Iran War: Narrative Dissolution as Ceasefire Continues Except in Lebanon

A western media distracted by Saturday night’s alleged attack on Trump is letting the Iran War narrative dissolve into several related streams as the ceasefire continues, except in Lebanon and the high seas.

Von der Leyen’s ‘Gaffe’ Hints at Pressure Building on Türkiye

Western capital has its meathooks firmly into Türkiye. What do western governments want in return? 

China Surpasses US in Research Spending – The Consequences Extend Far Beyond Scientific Ranking and Clout

The Make America Great Again mega yacht springs another leak. 

Links 4/26/2026

Iran War: Israel Strikes Lebanon, Trump’s Negotiations Rug Pull, the View from the UAE

Today’s Iran War update includes Netanyahu ordering strikes on Lebanon, Trump rug pulling “negotiations” in Pakistan, the MSM publishing more bad war news for the US, and some takes from the UAE and Israel.

The Sunday Morning Movie Presents: White Sun Of the Desert (1970) Run Time: 1H 23M Plus Naive Atheism Refuted!

White Sun of the Desert is a tale of high adventure set in the far east of Soviet Russia.

American “Micro-Militarism”

Or how defeat in the Iran War will accelerate American global decline.

Links 4/25/2026

Iran War: Waiting Is the Hardest Part, Back to Pakistan, USraeli Attack Incoming?

All of the ominous signs that have preceded previous “suprise attacks” on Iran are here: the markets are closed for the weekend, Kushner and Witkoff are headed to Pakistan for negotiations, and US forces are assembling across West Asia.

To Solve Homelessness, Fix the Economy

A dangerous right-wing solution to homelessness is to hide the unhoused in out-of-sight detention camps

Coffee Break: Alzheimer’s Disease Still a Mystery and Books Worth Reading

Part the First: Anti-amyloid Antibodies and Alzheimer’s Disease (AD).  A Cochrane review of monoclonal antibodies targeting amyloid plaques in AD has found that these drugs have little to no effect on cognitive function of AD patients.  Cochrane reviews are, to use one of the favorite tropes of the current administration, considered the “gold standard” of […]

Food Stamp Work Rules Don’t Increase Employment, Researchers Say

Quelle surprise! Punitive food stamp restrictions do not produce an increase in work levels.