Wednesday, December 31, 2025

Robert Smithson, Creator of “Spiral Jetty” and the Artist for the Jackpot?

A perambulation through the works of “land artist” Robert Smithson.

Links 7/31/2022

The Russia-Ukraine War, European Financial Integration, and Crises

Fragmentation of euro area financial markets has been relatively limited, as policymakers have benefitted from reforms after and experiences with past crises, European countries and authorities reacted with quite some unity, and direct financial exposures to Russia and Ukraine are relatively small

Izabella Kaminska and Yves Will Discuss the Economy and More with Gonzalo Lira Today

Izabella Kaminska and Yves will mix things up with Gonzalo Lira on his latest roundtable.

Links 7/30/2022

Hospices Have Become Big Business for Private Equity Firms, Raising Concerns About End-of-Life Care

Expect hospice care to go the way of privately-owned nursing homes, now that private equity is geting its claws into the industry.

Book Review: A Global History of the Black Death

In “The World the Plague Made,” James Belich argues that the Black Death had a profound impact beyond Europe.

2:00PM Water Cooler 7/29/2022

By Lambert Strether of Corrente Bird Song of the Day Monotonous Lark, Limpopo, South Africa. I’m not sure if this is a duet, or an echo. * * * Politics “But what is government itself, but the greatest of all reflections on human nature?” –James Madison, Federalist 51 “They had learned nothing, and forgotten nothing.” […]

The Future of Global Catastrophic Risk Events from Climate Change

U.N.: Climate change is causing extreme events that can kill > 10 million or lead to > $10 trillion in damages, threatening societal collapse

Links 7/29/2022

The First Ever Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) of a Largish Economy, Nigeria’s eNaira, Is Already Floundering

After being launched to great fanfare in October 2021, Nigeria’s eNaira has so far had minimal impact on the country’s economy and citizens.

Michael Hudson: American Diplomacy as a Tragic Drama

American policies have become astonishingly obvious about not simply putting the US first, but also exploiting supposed partners to do so.

Xi and Biden Talk Past Each Other in Over 2 Hour Phone Call

The Xi-Biden call confirmed that despite keeping communications lines open, the two superpowers are at an impasse.

2:00PM Water Cooler 7/28/2022

~ Today’s Water Cooler ~

UPS Drivers Demand AC in Trucks Following Heat Wave: ‘It’s Like Walking Into Hell’

Delivery drivers work in what ought to be illegal conditions. Will anything change?