Saturday, January 17, 2026

Links 5/19/2023

EU Adopts “Pragmatic Approach” To Sharing Its Citizens’ Most Precious Data With US Department of Homeland Security

“The EU’s own top court has ruled on multiple occasions that the USA does not offer adequate privacy protections for non-citizens, yet the Commission and the member states are planning to open up their biometric databases to the [DHS].”

‘Adversarial Actors, Home and Abroad’

Which non-foreign adversarial types do elites have in mind when they promote domestic censorship and news blockades?

‘Market Fundamentalism’ Is an Obstacle to Progress

Why market cheerleaders are bad for you.

2:00PM Water Cooler 5/18/2023

~ Today’s Water Cooler: Open Thread ~

CalPERS Chief Investment Officer Musicco and Son in NBA Playoffs Courtside Seats Next to Billionaire Warriors Owner and Kleiner Perking Partner Joe Lacob. What Gives?

Another case of a CalPERS executive, here Chief Investment Officer Nicole Musicco, making clear they think they are above California law

Links 5/18/2023

Deaths of Despair Now Significant Among the Young

The US cancer of deaths of despair has progressed from less educated middle aged whites to the young of all stripes.

China and the Revenge of the Sanctioned

How US ham-handed use of force and misreadings of key players’ interests, allowed China to suddenly take a leadershp role in the Middle East

Is The U.S. Preparing To Punish OPEC?

Has the US still not worked out that there are some parties it can’t push around, and OPEC might be one of them?

Sitrep on Relocation Plans

My plans to leave Mountain Brook, Alabama are about to come to fruition.

2:00PM Water Cooler 5/17/2023

~ Today’s Water Cooler ~

US Efforts To Turn Farm Animal Poop into Biofuel Spark Concerns

Manure biofuel seems to be taking off despite red flags such as explosions and environmental damage.

Links 5/17/2023

Some US National Security Experts Call for Peace in Ukraine

While it is now acceptable to suggest negotiating an end to the Ukraine conflict, that’s still a long way from a needed consensus.