~ Today’s Water Cooler ~
Saturday, February 7, 2026
Patent Buyouts Can Help Win the Race Against Coronavirus Mutations
Instead of merely obtaining the surplus vaccines of rich countries, and relying on unpredictable donations, the existing Covid-19 Vaccines Global Access initiative should acquire the most promising vaccine patents and offer free production licenses.
Michael Hudson on Renegade Inc.: China’s Fortune Cookie Crumbles
Michael Hudson discusses China’s campaign to limit the influence of Western investors.
Nick Turse: Remembering America’s Civilian War Dead
Time for the US to take a hard look at the magnitude of civilan deaths incurred as a by-product of our Middle East nation-breaking.
Jackpot Readiness: The (Literal) Pressure Cooker
A potted history of the pressure cooker, and the values immanent within the technology.
Public Health Experts ‘Flabbergasted’ That Biden Still Hasn’t Picked an FDA Chief
At the heart of the tension is finding a nominee who balances the agency’s dual responsibilities of protecting public health while also working with the drug, medical device and other industries to approve products and treatments for market.
When McDonalds Came to Denmark
How Danish workers got McDonalds to comply with local labor practices, including high wages.
Federal Police Reform Talks Have Failed – But Local Efforts Stand a Better Chance of Success
Federal police reform was unlikely to go anywhere, but what might succeed?
2:00PM Water Cooler 9/24/2021
~ Today’s Water Cooler ~
It Isn’t Over When The Fat Lady Sings – The First Russian Strategic Assessment of the Australia-UK-US (Aukus) Submarine Deal
A look at the AUKUS deal in light of Chinese and Russian submarine capabilities.
HSBC Bet the Bank on China, Now It’s Paying the Price
The UK’s biggest bank is exposed to Evergrande and the Chinese real estate market. It’s also trapped in the middle of an escalating economic war between the world’s two superpowers.
