Yearly Archives: 2023

Thresholds of Perception: “Do I Wake or Sleep?”

“I learn by going where I have to go.” –Theodore Roethke, The Waking

The Top Ten Takeaways From Hamas’ Sneak Attack on Israel

Some initial observations about Hamas’ surprise strikes into Israel.

Links 10/8/2023

Palm Oil: The Ingredient Behind Human Rights Abuses and Eco-Destruction That’s Probably in Your Home Right Now

It’s not the oil palm plant that is the problem, but rather the way it’s grown.

Links 10/7/2023

Michael Hudson: A BRICS+ Bank: How Would It Really Function?

Michael Hudson clears up some of the considerable confusion about what a new BRICS “currency” would amount to.

How U.S. Hospitals Undercut Public Health

The U.S. health care industry is one of the world’s worst polluters, causing many of the deaths it seeks to prevent.

2:00PM Water Cooler 10/6/2023

~ Today’s Water Cooler ~

American Society Wasn’t Always So Car-Centric. Our Future Doesn’t Have To Be, Either.

The surprising history of the car in the U.S. offers hope for a shift toward more climate-friendly transportation options.

Links 10/6/2023

First Peru, Now Ecuador: US Southern Command Escalates Its “War on Drugs” in South America

In 2009, Ecuadorians voted in a referendum to remove all US military presence from the country. Now, thanks to an agreement signed in the dying days of Guillermo Lasso’s scandal-tarnished government, US troops are coming back.

Rob Urie: Americans Are Unleashing Monsters They Have No Idea How to Contain

How Americans, or at least their putative leaders, are pursing policies that are deranged and increasingly authoritarian.

Why Are Thousands of Kaiser Health Care Workers on Strike? 5 Questions Answered

An overview of the issues in and the magnitude of the strike at the Kaiser health system.

2:00PM Water Cooler 10/5/2023

~ Today’s Water Cooler ~

Crisis Risks Looming, UK Edition

While a UK crisis is not yet brewing, there are plenty of worrisome developments that could keep moving in the wrong direction.