Wednesday, September 17, 2025
Updates: Concept Anchoring in Biomedical Science and Its Resolution
How concept anchoring creates attachment to and supports funding for not-so-hot ideas, such as in Alzheimer’s research.
Target Just Became the Latest US Retailer to Stop Accepting Payment by Checks. Why Have So Many Stores Given Up on Them?
Retailers and banks are discouraging the use of checks. Why?
IT Staffing Agency Smoothstack Traps Tech Workers in “Modern Day Indentured Servitude”, Federal Suit Alleges
Smoothstack, with some Fortune 500 clients, demanded its employees stay at the company for about two years or face fines up to $30,000.
2:00PM Water Cooler 7/16/2024
~ Today’s Water Cooler: Politics, syndemics; Keystone Cops at Trump’s assassination attempt; unelecting Biden effort continues privately; the Republican National Convention and J.D. Vance ~
Targeting Corporate Landlords, Biden to Unveil National Rent Control Plan
Rent has become unaffordable in many US cities. But Biden makes a gesture about it only when his campaign is floundering.
UK Government and Israeli Energy Firm Are Preparing to Drill for Oil in Disputed Seas Off Falkland Islands (Malvinas)
London’s newfound ambitions in the South Atlantic Sea are unlikely to meet much resistance from the Milei government.
A New Era of Endless Labor Shortages? A Critical Analysis of McKinsey’s New Report
A McKinsey report focusing on an extremely high job vacancy ratio in recent years cherry-picks data about the state of the U.S. labor market.
Devastation in Gaza Poses an Increasingly Serious Problem for Starmer
“Starmer’s stance on Gaza has already reduced support for Labour – and that will only worsen in the coming months”
2:00PM Water Cooler 7/15/2024
~ Today’s Water Cooler: Politics, syndemics; Judge Cannon throws out Smith’s case; Trump’s would-be assassin appeared in a Blackrock ad; unelecting Biden: how’s that going? Bird flu~
Israel’s Inertial Genocide
An update on Israel’s horrific campaign against Palestinians.
Investments in Hospital Infrastructure Reduced Mortality in the US South
The cost-effective investments in healthcare infrastructure disproportionately benefited historically marginalised groups, had long-run benefits, and complemented, rather than substituted, medical innovation.
As NATO Bids Farewell to Reality, Moscow and Beijing Pursue Win-Win Deals With Türkiye
Beijing Promises More Investments, US Threatens More Sanctions. Türkiye starts to buy into Shanghai Cooperation Organization security architecture
