Saturday, February 7, 2026

2:00PM Water Cooler 4/28/2022

~ Today’s Water Cooler ~

Will Pfizer’s Paxlovid Be the Game-Changer that Saves Biden’s “Test to Treat” Program?

First we had “shots in arms.” Now we have “pills in mouths.”

Links 4/28/2022

Apple Announces Unimpressive Self Service Repair Program for Some iPhone Models

After a long wait, Apple finally announced a self service repair program. New right to repair laws are still necessary.

‘Unprecedented’ Water Restrictions Ordered in Drought-Ravaged California

Severe drought in California has forced water officials to impose restrictions on outdoor watering in three southern California counties. 

Climate Migration: What Do We Really Know?

Overall, the literature on climate-induced migration suggests that people are moving already because of climate change and that increasing numbers will do so in the future, either voluntarily or not.

2:00PM Water Cooler 4/27/2022

~ Today’s Water Cooler ~

Jaishankar Calls Out Europe’s Selective Concern on Rules-Based Order

Indian external affairs minister S. Jaishankar shared views on rules-based order with world diplomats at a conference Tuesday in Delhi.

Links 4/27/2022

UN Report: Humanity Must Change The Way it Assesses and Responds to Risk, Else We Face a ‘Spiral of Self Destruction’

The UNDRR presents a drastic rethink of the approach to diaster risk reduction. Alas, current leaders and elites aren’t up to the task.

‘Elon, There Are Rules’: EU Says Twitter Must Comply With New Digital Services Act

One day after Elon Musk took over Twitter, a top European regulator gave the world’s richest man a “reality check” about how they will respond if he loosens the platform’s content moderation policies.

Protecting Biodiversity – and Making it Accessible – Has Paid Off for Costa Rica

Ample biodiversity fosters ecotourism, provided  it is paired with access to good infrastructure. Both factors are necessary to attract tourists.

2:00PM Water Cooler 4/26/2022

~ Today’s Water Cooler: Open Thread ~

Notes on Christian Smalls of the Amazon Labor Union

Press coverage of Christian Smalls and the Amazon Labor Union, now and in the future.

Trade’s Resilience to COVID-19

Future resilience requires smart diversification and exploitation of working-from-home production.