Author Archives: Yves Smith

Links 8/24/2024

Kamala’s Failed Opportunity

In her DNC speech, Kamala Harris embraced Republican language on the economy. So how deep does her purported progressivism run?

Gift Card Scams Generate Billions for Fraudsters and Industry as Regulators Fail to Protect Consumers − How One Fell into the ‘Fear Bubble’

Remarkable detail of how a gift card scammer successfully worked a mark, even with a bank and police trying to intervene.

The Death of the Engineer CEO: Evidence that Short-Termism and Financialization Had Become Ascendant

A look at how some turning points in the history of Corporate America, such as CEO changes of guard, explain how America hollowed itself out.

Patient Underwent One Surgery but Was Billed for Two. Even After Being Sued, She Refused To Pay

A patient stares down a fabricated surgery charge. But what does it say about the prevalence of billing fraud that this matter went to court?

The DNC Fiddles While the World Burns

The party convention demonstrates how dangerously disconnected the DNC is about our disastrous strategies in Ukraine and the Middle East.

Who Invented Syntax?

So how did language, and specifically syntax, develop?

Links 8/21/2024

Can Plastic Waste Be Transformed Into Food for Humans?

Using bacteria to take a bite out of plastic pollution is not new. But can the same microbes be used as a food source?

What Should You Do to Prepare for the Climate Change Storm?

Do you stand your ground or seek out a climate haven? Some resources to help you decide.

Links 8/20/2024

Robots and Wage Polarisation

Quelle surprise! Introducing robots into workplaces slows wage growth, particularly among factory labor.

The Status of Europe’s Autonomous Movements

The EU leads in managing autonomous and separatist movements in its states, but non-EU countries can be more vulnerable to outside interference.