day two hundred forty seven (13. 966)

A US federal judge allows Trump’s ten billion dollar defamation suit, for implicating that Trump encouraged the January Sixth rioters to storm the Capitol, against the BBC to proceed—though under UK law, the plaintiff must appear in court for deposition. The White House threatens Democratic lawmakers with criminal investigations if they carry through with their promises to subpoena and investigate cabinet officials and other allies of the American president, whom has definitely retracted his earlier statements of accepting the outcome of the midterm election. Housing and cost living crisis prompt a general strike in Spain, with millions of workers walking off the job. Parliamentary speaker Ghalibaf and chief negotiator says Washington must announce their decision on Tehran’s latest proposal, as Vance and Rubio argue over peace or a continued naval blockade and Trump adds that the US did not start the war and Iran and America have been fighting since 1979. Ukrainian drones disable more Russian refineries. Saudi backed forces of the Yemeni regulars push back on the Houthi advance.

day two hundred forty six (13. 962)

With eleven Democrats missing the vote, the US house of congress narrowly blocks the impeachment bid for Hegseth, Republicans loosing their bald majority in January. The GOP elects Ohio congressman Jim Jordan to replace Speaker Johnson as minority whip. Amid ongoing talks between Tehran and Washington, parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf says that Tel Aviv has redoubled efforts to drag the US into an endless war with Iran. Pezeshkian accuses US and Israeli of environmental crimes at COP31. UN peacekeepers come under fire in Tyre whilst IDF blocks aid from entering flood ravaged Gaza. US treasury secretary Scott Bessent moved out of his DC mansion to a military base after intelligence reveals credible threats on American officials, upset over Operation Economic Outcast. One of Russia’s last independent news outlets, Novaya Gazeta, ceases publication, succumbing to wartime censorship and pressure from Moscow. US supreme court clears the way for construction to begin on a section of the Border Wall through Texas’ pristine Big Bend national park.

day two hundred forty four (13. 956)

The US announces plans to expand its month long naval blockade of Iranian ports to overland supply routes called Task Force Iron Gate. Qatari mediators reach a compromise with Iran, allowing inspection of nuclear facilities in exchange for reopening the Strait of Hormuz. The COP31 climate summit begins in Antalya, informed by the prospect of demand destruction for petroleum and America’s retreat from commitments. Israeli president Herzog tasks Gadi Eisenkot with the first round of forming a government, seen to possibly heal rifts with US and the West relations as public opposition mounts in the UK and Germany over sales of arms and demolition equipment—with the American suspension of military aid, which apparently Tel Aviv saying that they didn’t need it and Trump eliminating the talking point, conversely to stopping the vote on comprehensive immigration going through during his interregnum so as not to deprive the GOP of a campaign position. France braces for fresh waves of protests, Mouvement des gilets jaunes joining student demonstrations.

8x8 (13. 955)

highland refusal: an open letter to the NYT crossword editor about Orkney Scots, the canonical home of Groundskeeper Willie, and the problem of other dialectical misappropriation—via Web Curios  

sweet are the uses of adversity: Trump’s downfall through the lens of Shakespeare’s As You Like It 

stay in your lane: a bizarre 1970 animated short about how daily routines strip us of our individuality  

grands magasins dufayel: monumental Parisian department (the Palace of Novelty, the first offering consumer credit) store hidden in premium office space  

taking it in stride: the mechanics of walking are working against shoe-laces with every step—see also  

pivot table: Maria Tomazou made a “pointless” film in MS Excel—see previously here and here—via Waxy 

the ugly car that sucks has died: Elon Musk, following his half a billion wasted interfering with Texas politics, announced the discontinuation of Cybertruck production—see previously, see also  

banderole: audio, video, disco means I here, I see, I learn in Latin—a nice personal motto (from “mutter”) or slogan (from the Scottish Gaelic sluagh-ghairm for “battle cry”—which comes at the top of a heraldic achievement whilst a motto goes at the bottom)

day two hundred forty two (13. 953)

Qatari Sheikh Al Thani urges Tehran and Washington to reach a peace deal immediately and not wait for the perfect moment as more US ballistics strike Qeshm island. Following Israel’s inconclusive elections, president Isaac Herzog faces decision on which camp gets to make the opening attempt to form a government, Netanyahu or opposition leader Eisenkot. The unconvincing narrative on the Iran war costing his party control of congress, Trump claims that the military intervention saved Israel from imminent destruction. Ghoul Stephen Miller replaces departing Susie Wiles as White House chief of staff. Torrential rains flood displaced persons camps in Gaza. Saudi forces narrowly intercept a Houthi launched cruise missile over Riyadh. De-sanctioned diesel tankers from Russia have been diverted and are apparently no longer heading to US ports and are perhaps going to Havana to break the American embargo on the fuel-starved county. Moscow supplies Iran with ninety helicopter missile launchers. Buoyed up solely by irrational exuberance over Trump’s Super Intelligence, a major sell-off in the markets of AI stock sublimates trillions in valuations as tech companies foresee more regulations under a Democratic government in the US. A spate of bomb threats disrupt flights across Europe.

day two hundred forty one (13. 951)

Tehran, through Qatari intermediaries, reportedly sends a nuclear compromise to Washington for review whilst awaiting the seven original conditions as agreed in the MoU to be satisfied. The American president says that the rest of Iran may be destroyed with rebuilding taking a quarter of a century. Civil defence chief Gholamreza Jalali formulates an emergency economic plan in case of renewed Israeli-US aggression. The Revolutionary Guard asserts that any country helping or hosting American forces is a legitimate target. Midterm election results present a new calculus for the Knesset to build a coalition government, informing negotiations. Trump issues a reminder that he is still in charge, whilst Secretary of War Hegseth announces he is unimpeachable.

day two hundred thirty seven (13. 939)

Reversing an earlier announcement of tele-rallies, Trump is attending campaign events in the final days before the midterm elections in once bulwarks of the GOP, Kansas and Iowa, that have turned into battlegrounds over his unpopularity and poor handling of the economy and foreign relations. It is very much in the Republican playbook to crash the break the budget and sever diplomatic ties, after inheriting stability, and leave it to the Democrats to clean up the chaos and get the blame for the sabotage and slow turn-around. Meanwhile, the media is too fixated on the run-off between Dans Sullivan in Alaska to address the allegation that Trump raped Miss Switzerland or how the administration purchased a vote-tabulation machine to reverse engineer it and exploit vulnerabilities through AI-aided hacking. Palestinian vice president Hussein al-Sheikh holds high level talks with European delegates, accusing the IDF of targeting Gazan police officers and urging the perpetrators of violence be held accountable. Iranian foreign minister Araghchi awaits US response on their framework for reopening Hormuz. King Charles arrives in Antigua and Barbuda for the Commonwealth Conference and apologies for the UK’s slave trading past, though prime minister Burnham does not believe that reparations should be on the table. The Anglican communion, whose clergy also owned enslaved individuals, has independently established a fund of one hundred million pounds for affected communities and research into the legacy of Britain’s role in the transatlantic trade.

new zoo revue (13. 928)

The recursively named Louisiana Hospital for the Insane of Louisiana, established in 1906 on the grounds of a formerly segregated facility “to accommodate the insane of both races” and to provide relief for the overburdened state prison system, still in operation today, is exemplary of a shift in in-patient care that informed the craft and occupational therapy associated with mental institutions of the era, spanning from Victorian attitudes of enlightenment and outreach to Mid-Century Modern journaling. Via Messy Nessy’s Cabinet, we are directed toward a weekly newsletter published by inmates, Hospital Banner—containing news, observations and various submissions from patients with light editorial control from staff.

day two hundred twenty eight (13. 910)

Amid unrelenting attacks from the Houthis, Saudi Arabia postpones hosting UN World Data Forum, days after cancelling its “Davos in the Desert”—the annual flagship Future Investment Initiative conference aimed to diversify its portfolio away from being a petrostate. The headquarters of Saudi-Aramco is evacuated over safety concerns for remaining staff. Though the White House defers with a GLOMAR response, sources familiar with the planning confirm to the press that Washington and Tel Aviv are in the process of finalising a renewed series of strikes on Pickaxe Mountain and Iranian petrochemical facilities, not wanting to further exacerbate markets (though they are reacting) in the last days to the run-up to the respective countries’ elections. Even if the ultra-conservative government of Netanyahu is ousted, Palestinians hold out little hope for reform or improvement as the opposition refuses to entertain a two-state solution. US troops withdraw from bases in Kuwait, Qatar and Jordan, as the Revolutionary Guard announces a total ban of American service members and vessels from entering the gulf region and threatens to attack personnel and US assets.

day two hundred twenty seven (13. 908)

Iran’s shadow fleet of tankers, given a brief respite in June to openly sell its oil-at-sea, have gone empty with no chance to reload, sparking greater fears of supply deficiencies, particularly for theAsia-Pacific region. The Revolutionary Guard simultaneously strikes four vessels conducting ship-to-ship oil transfers in the northern Persian Gulf, the common practise for moving cargo without transiting under Iran’s terms. The US president asks Google to rename the Atlantic the Trump Ocean—we’ll see if they comply, having opened up this slippery slope. Elon Musk threatens Democratic representatives with a congressional probe on dissenters (who would dare to suggest he cut Starlink for Ukraine—including the Canadians and Europeans building alternatives to the satellite network) as the US state department unveils plans to only hire and promote MAGA acolytes. Washington and Tel Aviv make plans for resuming joint major combat operations in Iranian infrastructure after their respective elections—Netanyahu touting in a campaign even what other nation on Earth the size of New Jersey could be fighting wars on six fronts and winning as the US quietly reduces its footprint in the region.

day two hundred twenty two (13. 889)

Fresh out of lung surgery, Pope Leo calls Vladimir Putin to appeal for the people trapped in the Russian occupied city of Oleshky to allow for humanitarian aid and evacuation. EU leaders meet in Brussels to come up with a workable budget and pledge more support for Ukraine. Zelenskyy confirms that the Starshield defensive arm of Starlink services are partially restored but not fully up to speed, demurring on reporters’ questions whether the Ukrainian leader is being ill-used as a scapegoat by Trump over the upcoming election. The Revolutionary Guard has re-mined the Strait of Hormuz with a super tanker exploding. More US senators demand action over illegal West Bank settlements as a UN reports cites the death of over three hundred fifty children and the continued suffering of eight hundred thousand Gazan residents since last year’s ceasefire. White House press secretary Katie Zachariah fired after five days on the job after inflating her credentials.  Trump signs an EO exempting Russia from sanction legislation, the package passed in honour of Lindsey Graham over the summer.  Saudi-led forces hold off Houthis from taking Taiz, claiming to have destroyed two of their missile launchers whilst the rebel group continues to shell the Yanbu in the Red Sea region of the kingdom.

day two hundred fifteen (13. 866)

Israel forces the closure of the UK consulate in occupied East Jerusalem over sanction threats directed at illegal settlements in the West Bank. Hurricane Isaiah takes a quarter of oil refineries in the Gulf of Mexico off-line. Tankers, including those cleaving to the route off the coasts of Oman and Qatar, come under fire, slowing maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz to a trickle again. Fighting rages between Yemeni regulars and rebels as Houthis launch deadly strikes at Saudi airports. Newly obtained footage reveals the extent of damage sustained to US bases across the Middle East as troops posture towards abandonment and retreat. Despite issuing new demands, including the possibility of compromise of nuclear enrichment, the American president declares he has no interest in making a deal with Tehran and orders the military to prepare to resume hostilities imminently.

synchronoptica

one year ago: assorted links worth the revisit (with synchronoptica) plus cartoonist Rein Raamat

two years ago: boating on the Röblinsee 

three years ago: spiralling landscapes, vintage text book cover art plus LEGO art

four years ago: the cast of Star Trek in an energy company advert plus Saint Reparata

five years ago:  your daily demon: Raum, Baghdad’s House of Wisdom plus a bi-directional typeface

six years ago: more links to enjoy, Les Misérables (1985), poorly drawn animals plus Trump requires wildlife conservationist organisations to celebrate America’s hunting heritage

seven years ago: visualising Wikipedia updates in real time, Trump abruptly withdraws from the Syria-Turkish border, Call Me By Your Monet, The Million Eyes of Sumuru plus discouraging frivolous lawsuits in the Middle Ages

eight years ago: the degrading web plus calling attention to the problem of space junk

 

day two hundred twelve (13. 858)

The Revolutionary Guard command claims that US forces in the Persian Gulf have retreated to a distance of a thousand kilometres from Iran’s borders and that the amount of oil transiting the Strait of Hormuz under American naval escort is negligible, pledging that the water will remain closed until Washington satisfies the pre-conditions it agreed to. Israeli developers have diverted water from Palestinian farmers in the West Bank for a tourist attraction called “Herod’s Pools.” The head of the Yemeni government in Aden announces major escalation in fighting Houthi rebels to wrest back control of Bab al-Mandeb. US pulls out B-2 bombers stationed RAF Fairford following arrests in foiled terror plot. The US is closely monitoring a suspected case of the pneumonic plague after the death of a technician in a Siberian research laboratory, fearing a genetically modified strain of the bacteria has escaped containment and prompting travel restrictions. Brazil heads to a presidential run off with polling between challenger Flávio Bolsonaro and incumbent Lula too close to call. A Kelvin Wave caused by El Niño conditions creeps towards southern California and Alaska, expected to raise coastal sea-levels by half-a-metre with a single crest and trough.

synchronoptica

one year ago: graphic designer Mikro Ilić (with synchronotpica) plus assorted links worth the revisit

two years ago: circumambulation plus a houseboat on the Havel

three years ago: a hike through the vineyards of Escherndorf 

four years ago: the tarot of Austin Osman Spare, the world’s mass transit systems plus Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1996)

five years ago: more links to enjoy plus Tubular Bells

 

six years ago: Civilisation comes to American audiences (1970), Athens’ underground, the blessed Rosario Longo, a glass model of the coronavirus, IKEA’s back catalogue plus apologies in good standing

seven years ago: late Thursdays in Germany, more links to check out plus more poetic graffiti

 

eight years ago: an outstanding collection of vintage travel posters, legislating Scotland on maps plus more memorable fonts

 

 

day two hundred six (13. 840)

US troops completes its withdrawal of troops from Iraq after two decades. Frustrated that the White House press pool isn’t covering his daily activities non-stop, the American president has launched Trump TV, whilst tax-payer funded propaganda spots are aired on commercial networks, justified as public service announcements. Hegseth announces a further twenty percent reduction in generals and admirals. US tariffs on Canadian exports go into effect. Settlers attack villagers, burn homes in the occupied West Bank and IDF planes continue the bombardment of souther Lebanon. US fuel economy standards are considerably relaxed, in hopes of making new automobiles cheaper, more expensive to operate.

synchronoptica

one year ago: the Chicago Tribute switches to standard spellings (with synchronoptica) plus more adventures in the Alsace

two years ago: sea birds in a hurricane plus a Schoolhouse Rock!-style explainer for Project 2025  

three years ago: another fiscal cliff edge for the US 

four years ago: the Mayak disaster (1957) 

five years ago: assorted links to revisit

six years ago: Star Trek tarot,  the Feast of the Archangels, the cartoons of R Cobb plus more links to revisit

seven years ago: more Theremin maestros plus more Middle English vulgarities

eight years ago: the Munich Agreement (1938) plus the Suprematism movement

 

day two hundred five (13. 839)

Iran denies a role in the apparent plot to bomb an airbase in England. Indirect talks between Washington and Tehran continue in New York via Qatari mediators with both sides rejecting reports of compromise—Iran not pausing its nuclear programme and the US not offering sanction relief. The Supreme Leader issues a statement reasserting that Iran is the sole custodian of the Strait of Hormuz. A comprehensive framework for the withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon stalls at the American department of state, whilst US senator Bernie Sanders calls for an end of military aid to Israel following the state banned Arab parties from elections, disenfranchising Palestinians and leaving them not representation in the Knesset. Netanyahu holds secret meetings with the United Arab Emirates. Russia strikes Ukraine Academy of Sciences as ten-thousand North Korean troops prepare to mobilise. Ebola cases surpass eight thousand in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Europe braces for the next energy shock as fuel prices continue to climb and the US diesel export ban looms. OpenAI scraps the release of its latest frontier model over safety concerns.

day two hundred four (13. 837)

Israeli attacks on Gaza intensify as settlers again storm the Al-Aqsa mosque complex in occupied East Jerusalem. Trump’s Board of Peace excludes UNRWA from participation in any future rebuilding plans for Palestine, fulfilling a long-standing demand from Tel Aviv as the country’s far-right finance minister calls for all out war in the West Bank. Following Trump’s rejection of Tehran’s roadmap to reopen the Strait of Hormuz in seven days if Washington honours their promises and continues negotiations in good faith and awaiting reports from intermediaries rather than the American president’s verdict for an official response, Iran is securing alternative overland trade routes with Türkiye and through the Caspian Sea on its northern border. Renewed military action seems a distinct possibility, an inevitably as the US naval blockade of Iranian ports continue and the Islamic Republic claim the seizure of an American autonomous submarine. Five individuals are apprehended plotting a suspected terror attack on RAF Fairford, which hosts US airforce bombers engaged with attacking Iran—Tehran already citing third-country cooperatives as legitimate targets.

show dna (13. 834)

Though suspect of the network presently as a tool of state propaganda, we were intrigued by this gala group photo staged for the fiftieth anniversary of the Columbia Broadcasting System to spot the cross-overs and continuity of retained actors in recurring roles and cameos plus producers, directors and anchors.
The key was a bit morose, prompting one to consider the talents we have lost, though many are still with us, like Bill Macy, Dick Van Dyke, Carol Burnett, Lynda Carter, Julie Kavner (as Rhoda’s sister) and Ran Rather from CBS News. The last one made me wonder if one could use AI to generate a Sgt Pepper’s type template for any group photo (one can apparently, which takes away from the encomium) or if it was just a typo.  How many celebrities do you recognise?

day two hundred three (13. 833)

Though smacking somewhat of appeasement, Denmark’s placating of Trump’s ego with the signing ceremony of the Greenland treaty by granting the American president the arrangement that the US has always had since 1951—it is more masterful than at first glance, with one clause, easy to overlook—that it only remains valid if the US remains a member, albeit an unreliable one at present, in the NATO alliance. Reportedly Trump rejects the Iranian offer to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within seven days if the US honours the conditions of the MoU, signed by Trump’s own hand at the Élysée Palace back in June, announcing bombing will likely resume in November. We think at least that is what he is saying as, despite a federal injunction against stripping CNN’s and other news outlets White House credentials, Trump is ignoring the order and his statement was unprofessionally captured by an aide under whirling helicopter blades, other agencies in the press pool refusing to cover the president in solidarity. Declaring Iranian airspace closed and diverting all civilian flights, the US is hopeful that Operation Economic Outcast will further squeeze the Islamic Republic into further concessions, and personally benefitting from the chaos jointly with Israel through markets manipulation and stock-flipping to the tune of a couple of billion dollars, the corrupt regime is not motivated for a swift end to the conflict. Rumours circulate in the US military regarding a possible to deployment to the Caribbean and presumably the invasion and annexation of Cuba, emerging just after Trump hosts Xi in Washington—suggesting that action on Taiwan might be imminent and one might be cover for another. We don’t suspect, however, that Trump could keep quiet about such a conspiracy. Denied by the courts his efforts to curtail voting-by-mail—though judges allow the sharing of registries with ICE and DHS to track down non-existent, non-citizen voter—we wonder what the October Surprise will be ahead of elections. To avoid War Powers Act limitations, Trump has already downgraded Iran to a forever conflict, Venezuela went too swiftly, but a hot war with Havana might, in the estimation of the administration qualify as a national emergency to suspend voting. Trump likes to cite Ukraine’s skipped elections, ignoring the fact that it is in their constitution, whilst the US has no such provisions. All of this is just speculation on the internet but in this dumb timeline, we wouldn’t be surprised if in the situation room, someone whispers to Trump, “Mister president, the Germans are on to us.” The US approves a four hundred million dollar weapons package for Ukraine, though no Patriot missiles for the batteries it has been licensed to build, and destroys another Russian oil refinery in Krasnodar, ignoring Trump’s earlier call for a ceasefire on agriculture and petroleum infrastructure.

day two hundred one (13. 827)

France pledges to send fighters to Saudi Arabia to help repel Houthi rebels as other members of the alliance, Türkiye and Pakistan, join for an emergency military planning meeting . US sanctions on the entire industry force Iran to cancel some international flights. Tehran’s hardliners express anger and disappointment with Araqchi over meeting directly with Witkoff to layout terms for the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz while Pezeshkian says Iran wants America to return to the MoU before the midterm elections. Thousands of demonstrators protest the arrival of Netanyahu and the Israeli delegation in New York, calling for his arrest as a war criminal, causing the prime minister to fly home directly after his short speech to the UN. A judge orders that banned news outlets’ access to the White House to be restored as Trump hosts Xi for a lavish state dinner with tech CEOs.

day one hundred ninety-nine (13. 820)

As expected, previewed per a social media post, Trump’s remarks for the UNGA focused less on international issues and touted his domestic record of tremendous winning—tax cuts, the stock market buoyed by his manipulation, immigration enforcement—briefly making the rounds concerning the joint US-Israeli war of aggression on Iran, justifying it as a long ignored threat and promising to “drive them into Hell” if they don’t capitulate and make a deal, the continuing war Ukraine, pledging it will end, “I think, more quickly than people understand,” defending his actions in Latin America including his kidnapping of Nicólas Maduro and laying claim to Venezuela’s oil wealth, attacks on boats in the Caribbean, securing the border with Mexico and crippling embargo on Cuba (prompting the delegation to leave the floor in protest), his agreement with Denmark on Greenland (the signing ceremony follows shortly after his campaign speech), and the hemispheric bombast concluding with a rejection of “globalist scheme” to control AI with an impromptu and unbidden pitch to call the technology “super intelligence.” Trump declined to join former presidents at the quarter-century observance of the anniversary of 9/11 in NewYork City because he was told he could not make a campaign speech, and we wonder why he was given such a platform at the United Nations. The American president’s unquenchable thirst for attention which left several events without live-, mainstream coverage out of journalistic solidarity after banning three news outlets (wire-services pledging not to post pictures or footage until after midnight, hence the file photo of rants from 2018) from the White House acknowledges the presence of CNN cameras during his lengthy tirade, protesting that the network said that wouldn’t be covering him. The reporter responds that, “The United Nations allowed us in, sir.” He really takes the oxygen out of the room. Macron follows as significant sidebars proceed.

synchronoptica

one year ago: assorted links worth revisiting (with synchronoptica) plus Trump in talks with the Taliban

two years ago: Bilbo Baggins’ birthday, St Mauritius, first contact plus a presidential assassination attempt (1975)

three years ago: more links to enjoy plus a compact galactic grouping

four years ago: MERS-CoV (2012),  the premier of West Wing (1999), Putin addresses the public and announces a draft plus an early Hobbit computer game

five years ago: assorted links to revisit plus Fiddler on the Roof (1964)

six years ago: Ruth Bader Ginsburg lies in state, the last day of summer, even more links plus dazzling skylines made of dot-stickers

seven years ago: exploring the Messel Pit plus a highly idiosyncratic language

eight years ago: rehabilitating coral ecosystems with electricity, an AI makes college course catalogues, typhoon naming conventions plus an M-class exoplanet