Extra, Extra
Snake Oil From a Fish? “As an excellent source of heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids, daily fish oil supplements are a popular way to keep the risk of cardiovascular disease at bay. About 20% of adults older than age 60 in the United States frequently use these products with the aim of supporting heart health.” So why does this headline feel so predictable? Fish oil supplements may raise risk of stroke, heart issues, study suggests.
+ Money Whoas: According to a recent poll, “55% believe the economy is shrinking, and 56% think the US is experiencing a recession, though the broadest measure of the economy, gross domestic product (GDP), has been growing. 49% believe the S&P 500 stock market index is down for the year, though the index went up about 24% in 2023 and is up more than 12% this year. 49% believe that unemployment is at a 50-year high, though the unemployment rate has been under 4%, a near 50-year low.” Majority of Americans wrongly believe US is in recession – and most blame Biden.
+ Creating a Monster: “The New York Times identified hundreds of civilians abducted in the largest campaign of forced disappearances of the war. It all led back to one man. America’s Monster. The culture of lawlessness and impunity he created flew in the face of endless promises by American presidents, generals and ambassadors to uphold human rights and build a better Afghanistan. And it helps explain why the United States lost the war.” NYT (Gift Article): America’s Monster: How the U.S. Backed Kidnapping, Torture and Murder in Afghanistan.
+ Getting Some Recognition: “Spain, Ireland and Norway said Wednesday that they would recognize a Palestinian state on May 28, a step toward a long-held Palestinian aspiration that came amid international outrage over the civilian death toll and humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip following Israel’s offensive.”
+ The 4th of July: “Rishi Sunak has called a surprise early election for 4 July in a contest that will see Keir Starmer try to take power for Labour after 14 years of Conservative-led government.” Here’s the latest from BBC.
+ Modi Operandi: “Interviews with political figures, experts, and activists revealed a sustained campaign where Narendra Modi’s government threatens American citizens and permanent residents who dare speak out on the declining state of the country’s democracy. This campaign has not been described publicly until now because many people in the community — even prominent ones — are too afraid to talk about it.” Vox: “Everyone is absolutely terrified”: Inside a US ally’s secret war on its American critics.
+ The AIs Have It: Charlie Warzel on OpenAI’s Scarlett Johansson debacle. “On its own, this seems to be yet another example of a tech company blowing past ethical concerns and operating with impunity. But the situation is also a tidy microcosm of the raw deal at the center of generative AI, a technology that is built off data scraped from the internet, generally without the consent of creators or copyright owners … At the core of these deflections is an implication: The hypothetical superintelligence they are building is too big, too world-changing, too important for prosaic concerns such as copyright and attribution. The Johansson scandal is merely a reminder of AI’s manifest-destiny philosophy: This is happening, whether you like it or not.” (Even ChatGPT is like, “Yeah, that sounds about right.”) I covered this topic in yesterday’s lead item: That’s What Her Said. Meanwhile, Tech giants pledge AI safety commitments — including a ‘kill switch’ if they can’t mitigate risks. Self regulation by big tech? I wouldn’t believe that pitch even if it were delivered in ScarJo’s voice.
