day one hundred sixty (13. 707)

The EU issues another condemnation of continued political executions in Iran whilst Lebanon outlaws the death penalty. Houthi rebels maintain their hold on the junctions to the Red Sea. A grounded Russian tanker is leaking oil off of the coast of Oman—threatening environmental damage greater than the Exxon Valdez. Even if markets are still failing to acknowledge realities, the the International Energy Agency assesses that the world is burning through petroleum reserves.

solformørkelse (13. 706)

synchronoptica

one year ago: more Waren on the Müritz (with synchronoptica) 

two years ago: the Philadelphia experiment 

three years ago: a gruesome border wall on the Rio Grande plus assorted links to enjoy

four years ago: Sea Org Day, the Model T (1908) plus more links worth the revisit

five years ago: Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971), the 1984 Olympics closing ceremony, a collection of ephemera for events cancelled during the pandemic, more on a Roman snack bar, more WikiHow illustrations, a Barilla handbag plus Avon paperbacks

six years ago: US Space Force, campaign tickets, the IBM personal computer (1981) plus the martagon lily

day one hundred fifty nine (13. 705)

Revealed that Trump called off his last massive attack on Iran because the Saudi crown prince threatened to divest all US bonds—the American president claims that he retains the options of letting the country‘s economy to continue to deteriorate or resume military strikes (despite depleted stockpiles, et al)—

more traditional Gulf nation allies recognising the US as an unreliable partner and a liability with limited sympathy for the illegal war of choice launched with Israel, as evidenced by new coalitions forming and global bracing for an energy shock and economic depression soley deferred by China’s artificially lowering demand and deflating prices. The IDF starts wildfires south of Beirut to discourage residents from returning.

blåvand strand (13. 704)

synchronoptica

one year ago: Malchow on the Müritz (with synchronoptica)

two years ago: assorted links worth revisiting plus the invention of hip-hop

three years ago: content culling, racial tensions in the US plus dual-hatted creatives

four years ago: Le Freak (1978) plus the FBI search Mar-a-Lago

five years ago: Ghostbusters (1984) plus more links to enjoy

six years ago: even more links, anthropic limitations on the search for alien life plus the start of the Long Count Calendar (3114 BCE)

day one hundred fifty eight (13. 703)

Reportedly, recompense to the insult to Carter and the grace and favour of Reagan in timing the release of the hostages to Reagan‘s 1981 inauguration, the Revolutionary Guard claims that they will engage in no further negotiations with Trump and will wait until the next administration takes office in January of 2029 to resume talks—Tehran assuming that there will be future elections in the US and/or Trump lasts the rest of his term. Meanwhile, seemingly completely disconnected with reality, Trump declares that the seaway has been fully demined and that the Hormuz is open under American control—with the US seeking monetary compensation from Iran.

house elf (13. 702)

We‘ve heard of several road construction projects diverted or completely derailed in Iceland to avoid encroaching on the dwellings of supernatural beings according to local lore. We learn, however—and not for the first time, fans of the Harry Potter franchise have successfully petitioned to reroute a multimillion pound energy project linking County Wexford in the Republic of Ireland with a pebbly beach in Pembrokeshire, Wales, which would have cut through the shrine to the memory of the fictional familiar Dobby.

The submarine copper cables connecting the Republic of Ireland to the UK national grid, following a rather massive outcry, was shifted to avoid the memorial—though in the process could possibly have damaged an archaeological site, an actual Bronze Age tomb with grave goods not fully excavated and conserved.

vejers strand (13. 701)

synchronoptica

one year ago: Waren am Müritz (with synchronoptica)

two years ago: social media platform formerly known as Twitter suing advertisers for leaving, assorted links worth the revisit plus more isometric renderings

three years ago: non-traditional anniversary gifts plus assorted links to revisit

four years ago: the Treaty of Verdun (843) plus more links to enjoy 

five years ago: the opening of the Louvre (1793), cartoonist Raoul Servais plus antique recipes for those on restricted diets

six years ago: a public bath in Sweden, Mamie Smith’s Crazy Jazz plus joyful rule-breakers

day one hundred fifty seven (13. 700)

Houthi rebels in Yemeni strike an oil refinery in Saudi Arabia. Netanyahu rejects Trump‘s Board of Peace deal for Gaza on grounds that it makes Israel look weak ahead of national elections and demands full Hamas disarmament. The US president says he has turned away from military action against Tehran and wants to stick with economic pressure—adding that he is only semi-negotiating with Iran. Oil prices swing higher as the Revolutionary Guard insists that their list of terms, including reparations for two wars, the lifting of the US naval blockade, unfreezing of assets, removal of sanctions and withdrawal of American troops from the region, must be met in full before the Strait of Hormuz will be reopened under joint Iranian-Omani control. Not seen in public since the start of the war, the government is preparing to release images of the Supreme Leader.