~ Today’s Water Cooler ~
Saturday, June 21, 2025
Deceit Pays Dividends: How CEO Lies Can Boost Stock Ratings and Fool Even Respected Financial Analysts
Reaching not-necessarily-sound conclusions from turning a supposed lie-detecting AI on CEO earnings calls and analyst ratings.
Foreign Bodies: Pandemics, Vaccines and the Health of Nations
Simon Schama’s book on pandemics and vaccines is highly informative, although KLG takes issue with Schama’s defense of Anthony Fauci.
Consulting Ethics: McKinsey Pays Additional $230 Million Opioid Settlement, Bringing Total to $870 Million
McKinsey’s latest payoff to avoid admiting culpability reveals some of the inherent problems with high-end management consulting.
FCC Chair Confirms Plan to Reinstate Net Neutrality Rules Eviscerated Under Trump
The much-delayed appointment of a new FCC chair sets up the agency to roll back an anti-internet-freedom rule change under Trump.
2:00PM Water Cooler 9/26/2023
~ Today’s Water Cooler ~
Fracking Fallout: Is America’s Drinking Water Safe?
After many years, concerns about the impact of fracking on aquifers are finally going mainstream.
Original Sin: How the Weak Legal Foundations of NATO Make Negotiations With Russia Virtually Impossible
As if there weren’t already a boatload of impediments to a settlement of the Ukraine war, NATO’s inability to enter into treaties is a biggie
Back to Business As Usual: The US Is Once Again Vigorously Stirring the Pot in Its Own “Backyard”
From Peru to Uruguay, to Ecuador and Guyana, the US is seeking to rebuild its strategic influence in Latin America, one gun at a time.
US Surveillance Firm’s Charm Offensive to UK Councils and Police Forces
US surveillance firm Fusus wants to bring supposed state of the art ‘real-time crime centres’ to the UK – with one being trialled this month
Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo: A Conservative Assault on the Administrative State
Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo is an even bigger case than United States v. Google, Inc.
2:00PM Water Cooler 9/25/2023
~ Today’s Water Cooler: Open Thread ~
