2025.06.29

[lsanderson]

‘Explosive increase’ of ticks that cause meat allergy in US due to climate crisis
Unusually aggressive lone star ticks, common in the south-east, are spreading to areas previously too cold for them
Oliver Milman
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jun/29/lone-star-ticks-increase-climate-crisis

‘Lidar is lame’: why Elon Musk’s vision for a self-driving Tesla taxi faltered
The company’s rollout of its new driverless cars has gotten off to a wobbly start – and rival Waymo remains well ahead
Nick Robins-Early, Dara Kerr and Johana Bhuiyan
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/jun/29/elon-musk-tesla-robotaxi

Tens of thousands defy Hungary’s ban on Pride in protest against Orbán
Crackdown on Pride is part of effort to curb democratic freedoms ahead of a hotly-contested election next year
Lili Rutai in Budapest, and Ashifa Kassam
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jun/28/tens-of-thousands-defy-hungarys-ban-on-pride-in-protest-against-orban

Meera Sodha’s vegan recipe for Thai-style tossed walnut and tempeh noodles
Rice noodles topped with a rubble of tempeh and walnuts and tossed in garlic oil and a sweet, salty and tangy hot sauce
Meera Sodha
https://www.theguardian.com/food/2025/jun/28/vegan-thai-walnut-and-tempeh-noodles-recipe-meera-sodha

America's dive bars are disappearing. Montana didn’t get the memo
The state boasts cozy venues featuring buffalo mounts, barbecue and bras on the wall – but the mark of a great bar is always the people
Janie Osborne
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-interactive/2025/jun/28/montana-dive-bars

'Proud to be gay': K-pop star on coming out to the world
Yvette Tan BBC News Reporting fromSingapore
Juna Moon BBC Korean
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn5kx7wn1nzo

Comments

[minnehaha]

Ticks that cause a meat allergy? How is this even possible?

K.

Good Question

[lsanderson]

Good question. I've seen occasional articles about it over the last mumble years. I don't think anyone has come up with a cure, but it's a known reaction. It's an unusual food allergy because it has a delay before it hits. Most food allergies, like peanut, are much faster and easier to pin to the cause.

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/alpha-gal-syndrome/symptoms-causes/syc-20428608

Re: Good Question

[minnehaha]

Poison ivy allergy is also delayed.

K.

[pameladean]

It's a red-meat allergy involving animals that the ticks habitually bite, or animals related to them. Here's what Mayo Clinic says:

"In the United States, the condition usually begins with the bite of the Lone Star tick. The bite transfers a sugar molecule called alpha-gal into the body. In some people, this triggers a reaction from the body's defenses, also called the immune system. It causes mild to severe allergic reactions to red meat, such as beef, pork or lamb. It also can cause reactions to other foods that come from mammals, such as dairy products or gelatins."

I'm pretty sure this includes venison and goat, anecdotally, but I haven't found a source for that in a quick search.

P.

Ittsa mamal thing

[lsanderson]

Rabbits, goats, pigs, beef, venison, etc. That leaves birds, reptiles, and fish as safe enough to eat.

[pameladean]

I've bookmarked that tempeh-walnut dish, wow! I would have to replace my dead food processor first, though.

P.

I really like her recipes

[lsanderson]

I thought about spamming you with the recipe, but decided against it with the number of unusual ingredients -- vegan fish sauce, black vinegar, and Laoganma crispy chilli. I suspect it could be made with a knife but more work and less fun.