Two percent of the population is actually pretty huge. Historically, 3.5% has been the threshold after which change has almost always happened.

No, wait! Please do explain why you are going to bed.

Aside from the actual effect of the resumption of rare earth exports, Trump’s apparent priority given to the issue signals to Beijing just how reliant the U.S. is on China in this regard — something that would not have gone unnoticed by Xi.

Xi never came calling

Just one day before the June 5 call, Trump wrote on social media: “I like President XI of China, always have, and always will, but he is VERY TOUGH, AND EXTREMELY HARD TO MAKE A DEAL WITH!!!”

His conversation with the Chinese leader would have further reinforced Xi’s tough image — not just for a Chinese audience, but for international observers as well.

This was certainly encouraged by how China described the call. According to China’s official statement, Xi “took a phone call from U.S. President Donald J. Trump” – the subtle implication being that it was Trump who initiated the call.

This framing promotes the idea that Xi holds the upper hand. The Chinese statement also highlighted that the Geneva talks were “at the suggestion of the U.S. side,” implying that China did not back down in the face of Trump’s trade pressure — and that it was Trump who ultimately blinked first.

It goes on with lots of interesting details. Worth the read.

Hey, I think I've seen you before! Didn't you play in the "look at all those chickens" movie? Love your work.

Since I didn't know:

"Parasocial" refers to a relationship or connection felt by a person towards someone they do not know personally, typically a celebrity, character in a media, or public figure. This relationship is one-sided, meaning the other person is unaware of the connection.

If the F-35 was made solely out of aluminium, like an equal-mass paperweight, the price of the raw material would be about 0.013 million USD per aircraft. In reality it sells for about 80 million. I doubt it's price will soar because of the cost of aluminum.

We just let them do it.

I hope my country stops participating in Eurovision. There's no saving it.

I get the impression this is a video-only thing because you need multiple vantage points of the scene. You can still extract a single frame in the end of course (like the article itself does), but you'll need to shift around meaningful distances, like attack submarines do with Target Motion Analysis.

That's 25 attoseconds, no?... If so, that's impressive.

The power record holder right now is the Măgurele laser in Romania, at 10 PW, but it lasts a thousand times longer, at 25 femtoseconds I believe. I can't find clear info on pulse duration anywhere. They do intend to decrease pulse durations it seems.

Porque no los dos?

𝗕 𝗥 𝗔 𝗛

I think "blitzkrieg" matches somewhat: don't stop to engage every stronghold, just drive around them, isolate them, and cut off their support networks.

That's the longest time I've ever heard someone take to build up a comeback. Be on your guard!

This doesn't make sense to me. The ultimate value of shares is in the dividends they represent, no? If there are no dividends ever, what are they sharing in? Is it just a postponement until future dividends? A share in control of activities?

I get that there'll be speculation that will keep values increasing, and selling can net a profit, but what does the last share-holder get?

Twitter links get a downvote from me, sorry.

Why are you guys getting so personally triggered by a one-word comment? They said it's performative. Yes, the liberals do it too. Is this a sports game? Are we keeping scores? Is your team winning?

I don't think the world applauds that at all. The US used to be the good guys. Very flawed but still "good" as things go. Now they're just dangerous and thrashing wildly...

In Soviet America, a wrong turn takes your life.

Disagree. Just because luck saved your ass doesn't mean what you did wasn't stupid.

Winning a round of Russian Roulette doesn't make you a genius.