Sunday, December 28, 2025

Some Additional Comments on the Russian Counter-Sanction of Requiring Gas Payments in Roubles

Attempting to clear some of the fog around the Russia counter-sanction of requiring rouble payment for gas by “unfriendly nations.”

How Fossil Fuel Governments Control the IPCC

The work of the IPCC is necessary. That’s why it’s important that the UN not be the owners of the go-to reports it issues.

2:00PM Water Cooler 3/24/2022

~ Today’s Water Cooler ~

How This Month Produced a Mind-Boggling Warm-Up in Eastern Antarctica (and the Arctic)

Why part of Antarctica suffered wildly out of band warmth.

Links 3/24/2022

Russia Counter-Sanctions “Unfriendly Nations” by Requiring Gas Payments in Roubles; Dallas Fed Predicts 2022 Global Recession if Russian Energy Supply Remains Restricted

Clearing up misunderstandings about the Russian move to require unfriendly countries to pay roubles for gas.

The Subtle Psychology of Nudges During a Pandemic

For years, the U.S. and U.K. governments embraced the concept of nudges to change social behavior. Then came Covid-19.

Inside the Chaotic Charter Schools Run by For-Profit Accel Schools

Yves here. It might seem easy to dismiss the child-warehousing-masquerading-as-education perpetrated by Accel Schools as a charter school outlier. But as this article explains, Accel embodies a new trend to profit-maximization and asset stripping in this arena. By Jeff Bryant, a writing fellow and chief correspondent for Our Schools. He is a communications consultant, freelance […]

2:00PM Water Cooler 3/23/2022

~ Today’s Water Cooler ~

Stagflation Threat: Be Pragmatic, Not Dogmatic

More discussion of the current, misguided central bank use of interest rates to combat inflation, and what will probably become stagflation.

Links 3/23/2022

Russia Sanctions Collateral Damage: Diesel Shortage Risk Worsening, EV Batteries

More on the “soon to be with us” sanctions-induced diesel shortage, along with EV battery woes.

Sanders Opposes America COMPETES Act Over Billions in ‘Corporate Welfare’

Sanders takes on the supposed US competitiveness-boosting COMPETES Act as corporate grifting.

Michael Hudson Discusses Russia Sanctions Blowback on the Renegade

Michael Hudson revisits how US sanctions will ultimately hurt its economy more than Russisa’s, as crippling the dollar hegemony.

2:00PM Water Cooler 3/22/2022

~ Today’s Water Cooler ~