TRIVIA: Musk Is The LAST PERSON On Earth Who Should Be Talking About ANYONE'S "Looks".

Elon apparently thinks Lupita is "not pretty enough" -- to play Helen of Troy.

. . .Musk added that Nolan has “lost his integrity” by casting the Oscar-winning actress, 43, in the role....

Okay -- look, Elon's views are... odious -- and irrelevant. Mr. Nolan has ALREADY decided.

But let's be clear -- the guy at right has zero room whatsoever, to speak. . . about anyone else's looks.

Z E R O.

Out.

नमस्ते

Rotors That Can Whir -- With Stable Atmospheric/Dynamic Properties -- On Mars, At Above Mach 1? That's A Tough Materials Engineering Problem, For The 2030s.

The next time we fly choppers, on Barsoom, it may be in the mid-2030s, and perhaps four or more will be encircling the Martian globe, at a time. . . that is the vision of the aptly named "Project Skyfall" at NASA | JPL.

Because the Martian atmosphere is only about 1% as dense as Earth's (but her gravity is out of proportion, to the atmosphere -- at about 1/6^th of Earth's -- that's. . . heavy lifting!), these rotors must spin much faster -- much, much faster -- to generate adequate lift, for flight operations -- with real payloads aboard. And the lift dynamics must remain stable -- even in Barsoomian dust devils, should these choppers fly through them.

This, in turn, means we'll need rotor blades that won't disintegrate, when spinning at more than the speed of sound. Yikes.

That is a materials engineering challenge of the first order. One the NASA team is now tackling. Here's that story:

. . .The rotor blades that will carry NASA’s next-generation helicopters to new Martian heights broke the sound barrier during March tests at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California. Data from the tests, which took place in a special chamber that can simulate environmental conditions on the Red Planet, indicate that the fastest traveling part of the rotor blade, the tips, can be accelerated beyond Mach 1 without breaking apart. Data gathered from 137 test runs will enable engineers to design aircraft capable of carrying heavier payloads, including science instruments.

“NASA had a great run with the Ingenuity Mars Helicopter, but we are asking these next-generation aircraft to do even more at the Red Planet,” said Al Chen, Mars Exploration Program manager at JPL. “That’s not an easy ask. While everything about Mars is hard, flying there is just about the hardest thing you can do. That’s because its atmosphere is so incredibly thin that it is hard to generate lift, and yet Mars has significant gravity. . . .”

Yep -- I love a challenge -- where science is at the forefront.

These brilliant and fine people. . . will meet the moment. I know they will. Onward. [And yes, I went off, in search of some good news today. . . we sorely need it.]

नमस्ते

Ebola 2026: Another Eight Deaths Overnight, And WHO Now Includes Neighboring Uganda, In The Outbreak Alert...

This is very troubling news, out of WHO -- but it is what logically flows from gutting international public health aid, in these countries. We must all be certain that Elon Musk and Donald Trump are not able to shirk responsibility for these excess deaths. [And RFK, Jr., herre stateside, as well -- with his nonsense about vaccines being dangerous.]

In any event, here is the story now including Uganda in the outbreak:

. . .The World Health Organization declared the Ebola disease outbreak caused by a rare virus in Congo and neighboring Uganda a public health emergency of international concern on Sunday, after more than 300 suspected cases and 88 deaths.

WHO said that the outbreak doesn’t meet the criteria of a pandemic emergency like COVID-19, and advised against the closure of international borders. . . .

WHO said on X that a laboratory-confirmed case has also been reported in Congo’s capital, Kinshasa, which is about 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) from the outbreak’s epicenter in the eastern province of Ituri, suggesting a possible wider spread. It said the patient had visited Ituri and that other suspected cases have also been reported in North Kivu province, which is one of Congo’s most populous and borders Uganda. . . .

There is no approved vaccine for this apparent variant of Ebola. This is not the Sudan version -- it is called "Bundibugyo". That in turn is is very tough news -- in two countries short on the sorts of resources needed, for full arrest of the viral spread.

Onward, resolutely just the same.

नमस्ते

Supporting The "Super-Spreader" Theory, For This, The Andes-Virus H., A Man Has It -- In Vancouver, BC -- But His Wife Does Not. Both, Ex-Hondius.

As CIDRAP's Executive Director, Michael Osterholm, indicated just under two days ago, it is increasingly likely that this Andes-Virus H. was sent over the air, on the Hondius liner, by a so called "super-spreader". That would explain a husband being positive (from the spreader) -- but then he did not transmit to his wife (since the husband was not a super-spreader). So it may be less about the strain of Hantavirus, itself -- and more about the host carrying it, onboard -- a super-spreader.

Thus, it may well turn out to be something unique -- about the biological makeup of the person who was the "index case" -- onboard the liner. . . now over two weeks ago.

In any event, here is the latest word, out of the UK's Guardian, tonight:

. . .Canadian officials said on Saturday that a test for one of the four Canadians currently quarantining in British Columbia after being exposed to the hantavirus while on board the cruise ship where the outbreak occurred indicated a positive result.

Speaking at a news conference, Dr Bonnie Henry, British Columbia’s provincial health officer, said the individual developed mild symptoms, including fever and headache, two days ago, and that the individual and their partner, who had also been on board the cruise ship where they had been isolating together, were transferred to a hospital in Victoria for assessment and testing.

Henry said that on late Friday evening the test results for the individual who had been experiencing mild symptoms came back positive, but she stressed that the results were currently “what we call a presumptive positive” and that the samples have been sent to the national microbiology lab in Winnipeg for confirmatory testing. Results from those tests were expected to be confirmed over the course of the weekend, Henry said. . . .

Onward -- and I did cash a $53.50 ticket -- on a $6 exacta box bet, with Napolean Solo winning the Preakness, and Iron Honor coming in second. I also had Great White, the Japanese horse who threw his mount before the start of the Derby (I was figuring he would be very ready to run, but alas -- he finished out of the money). So it goes -- babygrrl is in the air now, to Heathrow.

नमस्ते

In One Elapsed Day, Fatalities Leapt By 23% From Ebola In The Ituri Provincial Capital City, Bunia -- In The DRC...

This Ituri Ebola outbreak, in the remote eastern wilds of DRC. . . is plainly a runaway. Nearly 300 are sick now, and 15 more people have died, overnight. The total now stands at 80 deaths, but it certain to rise, in the coming days and nights.

This is from PBS | NPR reporting:

. . .At least 80 deaths have been reported in Congo's new Ebola disease outbreak in the eastern Ituri province, authorities said, as health workers raced Saturday to intensify screening and contact tracing to contain the disease. Officials first announced the outbreak on Friday, with 65 deaths and 246 suspected cases.

Meanwhile, Associated Press journalists in Ituri's capital, Bunia, interviewed locals who recounted their fears and constant burials.

"Every day, people are dying. . . and this has been going on for about a week. In a single day, we bury two, three, or even more people," said Jean Marc Asimwe, a resident of Bunia. "At this point, we don't really know what kind of disease it is," said Asimwe. . . .

This is what happens when the US turns its back on real preventative public health funding -- thanks to Musk and Trump. I wish I had more upbeat, happier news today -- but I. Do. Not.

नमस्ते

In STAT+: The Common Themes Emerging -- From The Twin Outbreaks -- Ebola And Hantavirus... Listen To An Expert, Here.

This cannot be repeated often enough: RFK, Jr. and his fellow "non-sciency" Luddites. . . are increasingly endangering us all.

As the whole world hops on jets, trains or ocean liners -- no outbreak will remain local and isolated for very long. . . not without real, thoughtful (and yes, sort of expensive) advance preparation methods, well-vetted and at the ready. That is her central object lesson -- and she well-knows. Do go read it all:

. . .These outbreaks are biologically different, geographically distant, and epidemiologically unrelated. But together they reveal something deeply important about the current state of global health: Outbreaks are becoming more frequent, more complex, and increasingly difficult to contain in a world that is less prepared than it should be.

For years, experts warned that Covid-19 would not be the last major infectious disease crisis of our lifetimes. Yet only a few years later, the world appears to be moving in the opposite direction of preparedness. Public health funding is under strain. Trust in health institutions has eroded. Global coordination mechanisms are increasingly challenged by geopolitical tensions. In some countries, scientific expertise itself has become politicized. . . .

[The author, Dr.] Krutika Kuppalli is an infectious diseases physician in Dallas. Her work focuses on emerging infectious diseases, outbreak response, vaccine policy, and clinical care of complex infections. She has extensive experience with Covid-19, mpox, and Ebola, including working for the World Health Organization. . . .

Kennedy and his ilk will be remembered most, when history of this time is written -- as a procurer /enabler of hundreds of thousands of excess- and completely- preventible. . . deaths. Deplorable.

नमस्ते

On Tuesday May 19, The French Guiana Spaceport Will Host A Launch Of A Joint EU / Chinese Mission Called... "SMILE"...

This will be around 11:50 pm Eastern US time.

But it will be on the 18^th, our time (our night before) -- while it is almost dawn, in Central Europe. Do tune in, assuming there is no weather event that might push the launch out of limits -- near the Eastern Equator off South America:

. . .Smile (the Solar wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer) is a joint mission between the European Space Agency and the Chinese Academy of Sciences. It will give humankind its first complete look at how Earth reacts to streams of particles and bursts of radiation from the Sun. . . .

ESA will be broadcasting live as the European-Chinese Smile mission launches at 04:52 BST/05:52 CEST on 19 May 2026. Smile will launch on a European Vega-C rocket from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana. Dates/times subject to change at short notice [due to weather and overhead traffic, among other matters]. . . .

Tune into ESA Web TV directly or via the ESA YouTube livestream to follow the launch live.

The launch programme will run from 05:30–07:09 CEST [11:50 pm, to 1:10 am Eastern US time on May 19]. . . .

Now you know. Multinational cooperation is the rule. . . in space science. Politics? Not. So. Much. Onward, just the same.

नमस्ते

In Mere Hours, Psyche Will Slingshot Around Mars... Images In a Week Or So, Via Slower Downloads...

As we mentioned on Monday, the speedy craft will come in on a vector such that it "sees" only a faintly illuminated crescent of Mars. . . but will see nearly the full disk, in sunlight -- as it whips by and gains speed, out toward Jupiter.

We will show that mini-movie (made of the still frames Psyche will shoot) when NASA | Goddard posts it.

In the mean time, know that even with all the heartache in the world, this is still an astounding time to be alive -- and to be able to join in the wonder. . . of space science discoveries. Onward, to image an all-metal (mining / some distant day?) asteroid called Psyche, come 2029.



नमस्ते

65 Are Already Dead, From "The Fire, This Time" -- Ebola Has Reappeared, In The Remote Eastern Ituri Province, Of DRC...

Well, this is highly discouraging. But not remotely. . . surprising. Thanks, Musk and Tangerine 2.0. And the numbers are already well out of hand, with over 246 suspected cases, and 65 dead, as of this morning -- there will undoubtedly be many, many more, this time.

You'll recall that two times ago, with USAID working in concert with WHO, the deaths ended at four -- and there were only ever 12 who fell ill. In this outbreak -- we are already well behind the control curve. Damn. Here's that, from the UK Guardian:

. . .An outbreak of Ebola has killed 65 people in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, according to African health officials.

There have been 246 suspected cases of the deadly haemorrhagic fever reported so far in Ituri province, which shares borders with Uganda and South Sudan.

Officials at the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) said they were concerned about the risk of further spread. The area is home to mining towns where people are constantly coming and going, making infectious disease control challenging.

The DRC has had 16 outbreaks of Ebola since the virus was identified there in 1976.

Dr Michael Head, senior research fellow in global health at the University of Southampton in the UK, said: “The Democratic Republic of the Congo often sees fatalities from Ebola. There is likely a perfect storm of factors that cause these regular outbreaks. Close human contact with animal reservoirs, most likely bats but possibly also primates, is one factor. Other concerns include the movement of people between rural and urban environments, the tropical climate, and the high rainforest coverage. . . .”

During the 2014-16 outbreak in west Africa there were an estimated 28,000 cases and 11,000 deaths. . . .

People, this is the real, on the ground, human cost of Trump/Musk's gutting of USAID, last year. Damn.

नमस्ते

CIDRAP: Many -- Even Those With Public Health Credentials -- Are "Missing The Point", Re The Andes-Virus H. Outbreak... "Super Spreaders"

This is an excellent interview piece. Do go read it all.

The estimable CIDRAP is trying to help the leadership of our feckless federal response effort. . . learn a few things -- about viral epidemic vectors. Here's that, without any additional ado:

. . .Michael Osterholm, PhD, MPH, director of the University of Minnesota's Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP), which publishes CIDRAP News, said the media and even some public health officials are missing key elements of the hantavirus outbreak on a Dutch cruise ship.

During a Q&A with CIDRAP News, he explained how and why superspreaders are key to understanding the Andes strain of hantavirus, why close proximity is only part of the consideration, and why he doesn’t think this outbreak is the next “big one.”

Per the World Health Organization, the outbreak that began on the MV Hondius cruise ship traveling from Argentina to Europe has resulted in 11 cases. Three patients have died since April 11.

Today, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed that no Americans have been sickened so far in this outbreak. The agency said it is monitoring 41 people for the virus, at least 18 of whom are being quarantined in biocontainment units. . . .

Michael Osterholm: There have been over 100 cases of hantavirus in Argentina this past year and no reports of person-to-person transmission. It’s a rare phenomenon, but it happens. Transmission likely involves superspreaders, individuals -- for reasons not clear -- who transmit at high rates via the respiratory route to other humans.

We have a model for that with SARS [severe acute respiratory syndrome] and MERS [Middle East respiratory syndrome], a handful of cases who really drove the activity in a given outbreak. . . .

"From an HVAC [heating, ventilation, and air condition] standpoint, a cold-water cruise ship is all about keeping the ship warm. It’s not a cruise ship in the Caribbean, where people are drinking martinis on the deck; this ship poses different issues.

Many of these ships have lots of air that gets moved around inside the actual ship. This is why we can have cases who were not exposed in close proximity, or close physical contact. It’s all about who is swapping air, and we are not talking about that. Investigators need to think about who swapped air with whom. . . ." [said Osterholm.]

Do go read it all. It is excellent -- top to bottom. Onward, now -- with my babygrrl flying back to Heathrow tomorrow night, and then. . . on to Morocco for a month, in a week's time. Woot!

नमस्ते

Just As We Said, Not Even Two Days Ago -- Danco Labs Remains Very Good Law: Abortion Pill Stays On Market, By Mail...

Welp. Alito can't just "crook" everything he wants. Nope. This issue was decided last term by these same Supremes, in favor of Danco Labs.

Here is that summary order -- I will not quote from either the Thomas or Alito dissents to the 7-2 decision overruling the radical hard right Fifth Circuit:

. . .The applications for stay presented to JUSTICE ALITO and by him referred to the Court are granted.

The May 1, 2026 order of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, case No. 26–30203, is stayed pending disposition of the appeal in the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit and disposition of a petition for a writ of certiorari, if such a writ is timely sought. Should certiorari be denied, this stay shall terminate automatically. In the event certiorari is granted, the stay shall terminate upon the sending down of the judgment of this Court. . . .

Now you know. Onward.

नमस्ते

The Oracle Gambit, To Eclipse EPIC... In US Health Care Data Control... Is Not Coming As Easily As Mr. Ellison Hoped, Back In 2022.

As a rule, I think control of US health care data will not lead to any Armageddon -- unless AI ends up making actual point of care decisions, without doctor input at the local provider level. That said, I do worry a fair bit about "data leakage". . . to insurers, who then jack up premiums [in a back door form of "pre-existing condition" exclusions, person by person] -- even though doing so is theoretically unlawful after the ACA of 2010 passed (or Obamacare, if one prefers).

And -- as will likely be seen in future posts, I am deeply, abidingly skeptical of the ethics of the Ellison controlled company. I worry that he would sell out, in a heartbeat -- to Trump or others -- for enough money. . . even where he's signed binding firewall contracts.

And thus, I do view with some suspicion the addition of two CEO level health care provider company executives to his Oracle board. Will this make the providers more. . . pliable, vis a vis Oracle's world building ideas in big data / AI in health care delivery? We will keep a weather eye on all of it -- but here is the latest, from HealthCareDive:

. . .Dr. Tomislav Mihaljevic’s appointment comes months after Oracle named another healthcare leader, former Quest Diagnostics CEO Stephen Rusckowski, to the board. . . .

Mihaljevic has worked at Cleveland Clinic for more than 20 years, joining the health system’s department of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery in 2004. He previously served as CEO of Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, and held a director position on health technology firm GE Healthcare’s board, according to the press release.

“Tom’s perspective will be invaluable as Oracle continues to help healthcare organizations use technology to improve outcomes for patients and providers,” Oracle CEO Clay Magouyrk said in a statement.

Mihaljevic’s election, which brings the size of Oracle’s board to 13, comes as Oracle has expanded its focus on healthcare.

The technology giant acquired electronic health record vendor Cerner for more than $28 billion in 2022. And last year, Oracle released a new artificial intelligence-backed EHR. The records system allows providers to use voice commands to navigate the EHR, which Oracle argues should lessen the amount of time clinicians spend digging through patients’ health data. . . .

Do stay tuned. Ellison and Musk have long struck me as similarly flawed human beings -- on ethical / moral development dimensions. We shall see. Onward.

नमस्ते

Given How Wildly Contagious This Cruise Liner Version Of Hanta- Appears To Be... Maybe It Should Carry A More Specific Name...

While we should strive not to "demonize" any one country or area, with any naming convention for a potential viral epidemic -- facts are facts.

This current strain of hantavirus is propagated human to human, more than occasionally without prolonged close contact, it seems -- based on the case histories of the Hondius cruise vessel passengers. And it is pretty darn lethal, if not treated promptly. And. . . there is no proven mRNA or other vaccine -- for this particular strain at the moment.

All of which, taken together. . . leads me to propose that it be called the Andes-virus H. It is as different as different can be, from the North and Central American Hantavirus (and from the Chinese version). [This naming idea is roughly akin to the Mpox more dangerous version being called Clade 1b, as opposed to Clade 2.] The mis-information, out of one Houston doctor -- carried by a Houston TV station on Monday. . . has me thinking this way. I won't link him, but he made a lot of statements about New Mexico/Texas style hanta- -- essentially poo-pooing the danger of human to human transmission. He is badly mis-informed. And the TV news just ran with it.

While there are only a handful of US cases of the Andes-virus H., at the moment. . . his comments are singularly unhelpful. Here is a better assessment, from a different US doctor:

. . .Public health officials emphasize hantavirus rarely spreads between people. It is typically contracted when people accidentally inhale the virus found in rodent waste during routine activities like sweeping, cleaning infested spaces or sleeping around contaminated areas. [That is still true.]

However, the type involved in the Hondius outbreak, according to the World Health Organization, is the Andes virus, the only known hantavirus to spread between people.

It’s endemic to South America. A 2018 hantavirus outbreak in Argentina killed 11 people after the disease spread at crowded events, leading to 34 infections. . . .

This strain is far more transmissible than the New Mexico, Texas, or so-called "Four Corners area" hantavirus. Trust that.

And know that a name. . . carries power. Trust that, as well -- we need to distinguish between the New Mexico version and the Andean / Argentine one. Onward.

नमस्ते

One Of The Best Suggestions I've Seen -- Related To "Pushing Back", On The "Five, Plus One Concurring" Justices' Decision -- In Louisiana v. Callais...

Carolyn Shapiro -- an esteemed and learned colleague, writing at SCOTUSBlog.com -- has not only nailed what is broken in the six Justices' decision. She has now offered a roadmap for essentially undoing it. [One earlier backgrounder of mine, on it all.]

Her novel suggestion is to use the "guarantee clause" of the Constitution, that "[t]he United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government" -- which is effectively denied by disenfranchising people of color and LGBTQ+ voters. . . as Ruby Red lower courts applying Callais, and MAGA Governors, in extending it -- are attempting, day by day.

Here's a link to it all -- and a bit, of her. . . genius argument:

. . .In Louisiana v. Callais, the Supreme Court, in an opinion by Justice Samuel Alito, eviscerated Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. There is so much incisive commentary about this devastating opinion that I hesitate to attempt to add to it. You likely already know that the opinion effectively overrules the provision of the VRA designed to ensure that minority voters are able to have meaningful representation in multimember elected bodies, it turns the Reconstruction Amendments on their heads by making them vehicles for race discrimination, and it drastically restricts Congress’ authority under the 15th Amendment. You may know that it effectively reverses a 2023 case and turns two of Alito’s dissents into law. You probably know that the [six of them deny] doing any of these things. And you undoubtedly know that this opinion, which is an electoral gift to the Republican Party, has already triggered yet another round of congressional redistricting to eliminate districts that were drawn to comply with Section 2, thereby eliminating a slew of safe Democratic seats, and that the impact at the state and local level will be extreme. . . .

So I’ll take a slightly different tack, which is to consider one tactic that might ameliorate at least some of the harm Callais is already causing. I believe that Democrats absolutely must make restoring and protecting democracy, and in particular multiracial democracy, their top priority. To do so, I think they should (among many other things) turn to the guarantee clause, which provides that “[t]he United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government.” The clause provides an opportunity. (That said, as I’ll revisit at the end of the column, no single law or constitutional provision will fix what ails our country and our democracy. Think of this column as describing just one tool in the toolbox and encouraging others to be even more creative). . . .

This is a very good start. Onward, resolutely. Ever, onward.

नमस्ते

There May Be An Uncrewed Launch To The ISS Friday Night, From The Cape... We Shall See.

Weather has delayed this launch tonight, now for a third time.

And yes, it is a SpaceX Dragon hauling the load of resupply stuff. Here's the latest, from NASA:

. . .NASA and SpaceX now are targeting no earlier than 6:05 p.m. EDT Friday, May 15, for the launch of the company’s 34th commercial resupply services mission to the International Space Station. Watch NASA’s live launch coverage beginning at 5:45 p.m. on NASA+, Amazon Prime, and the agency’s YouTube channel.

Teams stood down from Wednesday’s launch opportunity due to inclement weather producing anvil cloud launch violations around Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. The next launch opportunity allows for cargo packed inside Dragon to be refreshed and supports phasing for arrival to the space station.

The Dragon spacecraft will dock to the orbiting laboratory at approximately 7:00 a.m. Sunday, May 17. NASA’s live rendezvous and docking coverage will begin at 5:30 a.m. on NASA+, Amazon Prime, and the agency’s YouTube channel. . . .

We shall see. And (best news of all!) the extended trip to France -- and the Greek Isles -- for the month of September 2026. . . is coming together nicely, via our excellent travel agents. Grin. . . .

नमस्ते

Conn. Now Sees Its First Clade 1b Mpox Case -- As The Three Year Outbreak Rumbles... Onward.

This is not surprising, but it would suggest that eventually, almost every state will see at least a handful of the more serious Clade 1b mpox cases.

Here is the latest, on the now nearly three year outbreak in the US:

. . .The Connecticut Department of Public Health announced Wednesday that it has identified the state's first case of clade I mpox.

The person with the case of mpox recently traveled to Western Europe, where the virus is currently spreading, according to DPH.

The virus has primarily affected gay and bisexual men. DPH is urging people at risk to get vaccinated ahead of the summer travel season.

"Mpox hasn't gone away, and we want people to be protected, especially as many in our community prepare for travel, festivals, and gatherings this summer," said DPH Commissioner Manisha Juthani. "The vaccine is safe, effective, and widely available. Completing the two-dose series is the best way to protect yourself and your partners. . . ."

Do follow the CDC and WHO advisories. Get vaccinated if you are in a higher risk group, and/or traveling to the EU this Summer. Onward.

नमस्ते

Maryland Federal Trial Court Schedule Set -- For Ending Todd Blanche's Nonsense -- Re Mr. Abrego Garcia...

As we said yesterday, the sides now have an ordered schedule for briefing the few remaining contested issues, before the able USDC Judge Xinis.

This may well obviate the silly "appeal" Blanche ordered the AUSAs under him to take, as well:

. . .Upon consideration of the Joint Status Report filed by the Parties on May 13, 2026, (ECF 174) the Court hereby ORDERS the following briefing schedule for Petitioner’s Motion to Resolve Outstanding Claims in Petitioner’s Habeas Petition (“Motion”):

1. By Wednesday, May 27, 2026: Petitioner shall file his Motion.

2. By Wednesday, June 10, 2026: Respondents shall file their opposition to Petitioner’s Motion, if any.

3. By Wednesday, June 24, 2026: Petitioner shall file a reply to his Motion.

Dated: May 13, 2026 | /s/ USDC Judge Paula Xinis. . . .

That is all -- for now.

नमस्ते

Merck Seeks To Lower Its Real Estate Tax Bill -- On Upper Gwynedd, PA... [Again?]

If memory serves, the company last appealed its Upper Gwynedd facility real estate tax bill in 2009, and then sought and obtained some TARP/ARRA/ bail-out money (for solar retrofitting), from Mr. Obama's programs to help the nation recover from the Cheney/Bush43 engineered 2008 meltdown in banking, real estate and general financings. This was after Merck had said it might close the facility as it acquired Schering-Plough's by then foundering operations.

The good news for the local communities, then is that Mr. Davis waited almost 16 years, during which time both real estate values, and thus taxes rose steadily -- before appealing, anew.

We will have to wait about a year to see if the company gets a reduction. . . and here's the latest -- from local outlets:

. . .County property records indicate the last appraised value of Merck’s property at 351 Sumneytown Pike as just under $108 million and estimated annual taxes of $3.4 million to the district, just under $590,000 to the county and just over $288,000 to the municipality each year, and their campus at 770 Sumneytown Pike as just over 315 acres last appraised at $398 million, with estimated tax bills of $12.8 million to the district, $2.1 million to the county and $1 million to the township. . . .

“As with any assessment appeal, we have engaged Merck in discussions in an attempt to resolve the matter in a way that honors our decades long community partnership. Thus far, they have indicated to both the school district and the township that they intend to maintain this mutually beneficial relationship,” [a spokesperson] said. . . .

Now you know. Onward.

नमस्ते

The French Hantavirus Patient Is Now Critically Ill; But The US Doctor Is "Symptom Free" -- In Bio-Containment Unit In Omaha...

The latest news is generally good -- most who've tested positive are experiencing only mild or no symptoms, but the one woman in France is in real danger -- with severe heart and lung problems. Yikes.

There will certainly be more than a few more weeks of a dribble of news like this. Here's the latest:

. . .Dr. Stephen Kornfeld speaks to CNN from a biocontainment unit at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, where he confirms he is the American patient reported to have tested positive for the hantavirus but says he "feels wonderful" and is not experiencing symptoms.

Spanish officials confirm that after testing positive once for hantavirus, the American now known to be Kornfield has since tested negative twice for the disease, meaning no Americans are among the nine confirmed cases of the illness.

A French patient confirmed to have the hantavirus is now critically ill with life-threatening heart and lung problems, a doctor at her Paris hospital confirms. . . .

Now you know -- don't let anyone tell you that this particular strain is not pretty severely contagious though. Yep -- off now, into the steel and glass canyons. . . and the chilly sunshine. Smile.

नमस्ते

The Able USDC Judge Xinis Has Put The Lie To Most Of The Blanche / Tangerine 2.0 Positions -- In Maryland, As To Mr. Abrego Garcia, This Afternoon.

You'll likely recall that (the idiotic AUSAs who are beholden to the MAGA AG, Todd Blanche), i.e., the lawyers for Tangerine 2.0. . . have filed an appeal complaining that USDC Judge Xinis isn't ruling on their specious motions rapidly enough.

Preposterous -- as we've shown, over and over. Today's hearing was one where most of the federales' positions were tossed, and now the remaining issue is to be briefed: when, and whether, an appeal may be taken -- if there is no final order from which to appeal. Here's the latest -- all good news, for Abrego Garcia, now:

. . .PAPERLESS ORDER

For the reasons discussed during today's Motions Hearing, the parties SHALL meet and confer and propose a Joint Briefing Schedule to resolve the remaining counts of the Petition by no later than 12:00 PM on May 13, 2026.

Signed by Judge Paula Xinis on 5/12/2026. . . .

Onward. These people are ruining their careers in the law, at least [but maybe they can work for Trumpian real estate ventures, as a door-person -- or catch on, as a crypto huckster, for $MELANIA, or the FIGHT - FIGHT - FIGHT token offering; or the "UN-" Truth Social (dying) platform]. YIKES.

नमस्ते