~ Today’s Water Cooler ~
Thursday, December 25, 2025
On the Loss of Public Spiritedness in the West and the Impact on Politics
The boundaries between politics and commerce aren’t as clear in Japan and China as in the West, and we may not be better off for that.
More Cheery Omicron News
The latest Omicron findings.
Climate Change: Where’s the Beef?
McDonald’s continues to dodge meaningful movement on climate change policies, which would require a big shake-up of its beef dominant product mix. Meanwhile, three supermarket chains have dropped Brazilian beef suppliers over deforestation concerns.
Mirabile Dictu! Appeals Judge Rejects $4.5 Billion Purdue Pharma Opioid Settlement for Giving Sacklers Release from Civil Suits
A surprising but welcome smackdown of the Purdue Pharma settlement that would have let the Sacklers secure their considerable loot.
2:00PM Water Cooler 12/16/2021
~ Today’s Water Cooler ~
Build Back Better Verges on Collapse as Manchin Attempts to Kill Child Tax Credit
How Manchin is putting a lump of coal in Biden’s Christmas stocking.
Omicron: Fog of Information and Definitions
More Omicron updates and musings.
Thomas Ferguson: Is the U$A a Democracy?
Thomas Ferguson, a top expert on money and politics, weighs in on how much democracy is there with so much wealth and power in so few hands.
Colorado Hospitals in ‘Critical Condition’ as State Weathers Another Surge
Vignettes on how care gets compromised as hospitals start to be overwhelmed.
2:00PM Water Cooler 12/15/2021
By Lambert Strether of Corrente. Bird Song of the Day Nice and long, so you can make your coffee now. Another migratory bird (with accompaniment). * * * #COVID19 Lots of charts today: Vaccination by region: A roller coaster. More data problems? (I have also not said, because it’s too obvious, that if by Bubba […]
Being Rich Does Not Make You More Generous. It Makes You Meaner.
Why relying on the kindness of strangers, particularly rich ones, is not such a hot idea.
