Author Archives: Yves Smith

The Presentation of Video Evidence in Court Can Hold Sway in Cases Like the Beating Death of Tyre Nichols

Video is tricky, even when the user isn’t trying to spin its audience.

An Inconvenient Apocalypse

Authors Jackson and Jensen argue that we need an acopalypse, as in a full recognition of conditions, to make radical envirnmental changes.

Annual Services Inflation Rages at New Four-Decade High, Monthly Overall CPI Hottest Since June

Inflation is still very much with us….as if you didn’t know that.

CalPERS’ Refusal to Put Clearly Insolvent Long-Term Care Insurance Plan in Bankruptcy Increases Harm to Policyholders and Makes Board and Responsible Executives Liable

CalPERS continues to behave badly.

Slavery and the British Industrial Revolution

An update on the debate on the role of slavery in Britain’s growth during the Industial Revolution.

Links 2/14/2023

Understanding Money and the Dollar System: Radhika Desai & Michael Hudson at Geopolitical Hour

Michael Hudson and Radhika Desai discuss the dollar regime and its prospects.

The Gold Standard

A primer on the gold standard, including a discussion of its implications.

The Gas Stove Panic

The recent Biden campaign to restrict gas stove in homes is decidely inorganic. What might be behind it?

Is Civilization at Stake in Ukraine?

An effort to deflate the hype over the probable loss of the war by Ukraine does not go far enough.

The Correlation Between Oil Prices And Inflation Isn’t Straightforward

More debate about the role of energy price increases in consumer inflation.

ChatGPT Is a Data Privacy Nightmare. If You’ve Ever Posted Online, You Ought To Be Concerned

More reasons to regard ChatGPT as CheatGPT.

Elite Splits Over Ukraine Shed a Tiny Bit of Light on Factions

It is possible to infer a few things from recent Ukraine push-and-pulling, but none of it is reassuring.