Thursday, December 25, 2025

Judge Rules CalPERS Violated Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act by Holding Improper Closed Session After Ben Meng Resignation

CalPERS got a bloody nose in court. Maybe the board will wise up and behave better in the future.

As Debt, Inflation and Hunger Rises, Latin America’s Fate Lies Once Again in Wall Street’s Hands

We’ve seen this movie before and it rarely ends well.

The Privilege of Staying Home: COVID and the Highly Skilled Workforce

At home work during the pandemic allowed most skilled workers to choose immobility, which could affect future work and migration patterns

2:00PM Water Cooler 12/20/2021

~ Today’s Water Cooler ~

Mind-Boggling White House Presser Deploys Covid Blame Cannons, Vaporizes “Public Health” (and Walensky Slays)

Biden’s three stooges hold a presser.

Alone and Lonely: The Economic Cost of Solitude

This column distinguishes between two forms of solitude – loneliness and living alone – and studies their influence on the economic performance of European regions at the local level.

Links 12/20/2021

The Democrats Go Full Götterdämmerung as Manchin Makes DOA of BBB Official; Omicron Undermines Scapegoating the Unvaxxed

The Democrats may finally be getting their comeuppance.

Russia’s Non-Aggression Pact Is an Offer for Germany To Realize the US Won’t Negotiate Because the Blin-Needle Gang Will Fight to the Last German, Then Run Away

How the US plans to leave Europe holding the bag if Russia eyepoking ends up badly.

Carbon Pipelines in the Hawkeye State

A new, enormous boondoggle?

Links 12/19/2021

The Infrastructure Bill’s Hydrogen Funding Is a Big Win for the Oil and Gas Industry

Even Sen. Joe Manchin admits a major flaw in the industry spin underpinning blue hydrogen’s supposed climate credentials.

Links 12/18/2021

The Magnificent History of the Maligned and Misunderstood Fruitcake

Does the fruitcake get a bum rap?

How a Group of Starbucks Workers Emerged Victorious in Their Union Fight

How Starbucks, long hostile to unions, lost a fight with workers in Buffalo despite management pulling out all the stops.