Odds and Ends — 23 July 2026

@preparedwombat 79

2 days ago

oddsandends

Cryptocurrency, Investing, Money, Economy, Business, AI, and Debt:

Google Hit With $1 Billion Fine for Abusing Its Power in Europe

https://x.com/wilding_gyres/status/2079724659789177251

The Mechanisms Of Enshittification

How the things you buy get worse, who profits from it, and how to tell before you pay.

Flash Fiction:

I was only the second best runner on my high school’s track team. Don Ferguson almost always beat me, except on the days when he was hungover, which weren’t that often. I ended up with a lot of second place trophies.

But sometimes second best is good enough. Charlie Gibson was the third best runner on the team. Almost my equal, but not quite. Last summer when Charlie and I were hiking in the state park, a hungry grizzly chased the two of us. Being the third best runner on the team didn’t help him one bit.

Written for this prompt.

Coronavirus and Public Health:

Women have worse signs, symptoms of neurologic long COVID than men, researchers say

Over 11,000 cases of cyclosporiasis suspected in US: The states seeing spikes

Iran:

https://x.com/RadioFreeTom/status/2080034661548310798

Iran strikes on CIA facilities in Gulf prompt questions about possible Russian role

The Pentagon avoids questions as the US war with Iran escalates

Arab Allies Exasperated as Iran War Escalates

Washington’s Gulf Arab allies are increasingly frustrated as hostilities between the U.S. and Iran intensify, jeopardizing their national security and economies.
The Gulf states’ exasperation is underscored by their wide-ranging views on what the U.S. should do next.
Some officials believe President Donald Trump should escalate military operations by deploying ground troops in parts of Iran and perhaps even seizing its crucial oil export hub of Kharg Island, according to people familiar with the matter…
Some countries, among them Qatar, the main conflict mediator along with Pakistan, disagree about the need for expanded military operations and want to see immediate deescalation, said the people.

https://x.com/joncoopertweets/status/2079914267524862098

Trump Says Fallen Soldiers Supported the Iran War

President Trump on Wednesday witnessed the return of four young Army soldiers recently killed overseas, telling reporters beforehand that each had died supportive of the deadly war he was waging with Iran.
Said Trump: “All of them said very strongly, ‘We cannot let Iran have a nuclear weapon.’ ‘They won’t have a nuclear weapon. So we’re going to honor them.'”

https://x.com/covie_93/status/2080023963317510572

Politics:

https://x.com/cabsav456/status/2079973424139763944

https://x.com/PhilNvestigates/status/2079760917080752404

Jim Jordan Refers Jack Smith for False Statements

Former special counsel Jack Smith could face potential criminal prosecution after Republicans accused the ex-prosecutor of misleading Congress about the scope of his investigation into President Donald Trump.
House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH) issued a criminal referral of Smith on Wednesday, arguing newly released records contradict Smith’s testimony to his committee that he did not obtain or review lawmakers’ text messages during his multiple probes into President Donald Trump.

https://x.com/covie_93/status/2080134839177494881

https://x.com/PrezLives2022/status/2080043922382819599

JD Vance’s Pandering Reveals Contempt for Base