Reader Bob H asked for an occasional musical feature. I’m being self-indulgent and offering a recent find: the remarkable Dimash Qudaibergen.
Tuesday, October 14, 2025
2:00PM Water Cooler 4/30/2021
~ Today’s Water Cooler ~
Social Tipping Points and Forecasting Norms Changes
What does it take to move the norms needle?
How Dodgy Government Accounting Fueled Rapid Rise of Federal Student Loans
Why the student loan mess is even worse than you thought.
A Lifetime “at War”
Even for those comfortably ensconced in the US, war-making has been a constant backdrop for all but the oldest Americans.
America Hasn’t Reckoned with the Coup That Blasted the Black Middle Class
The Wilmington coup is the only successful and lasting armed overthrow of a legitimate municipal government in American history on U.S soil.
2:00PM Water Cooler 4/29/2021
By Lambert Strether of Corrente. Bird Song of the Day From El Salvador. Who knew there could be a bird species called the “Thick-knee”? “Man busted for trying to smuggle 36 birds into the US under his clothes for birdsong contests” [Boing Boing (Re Silc)]. “Authorities at New York City’s JFK Airport nabbed Kevin Andre […]
Shhhh, They’re Listening – Inside the Coming Voice-Profiling Revolution
Voice profiling….a brave new world of business shysterdom?
Private Equity and Hedge Fund Barons Having a Hissy Over Carried Interest Grift Because Biden Isn’t Staying Bought
The end of the carried interest loophole has been long in coming. Will the sell-by date finally arrive?
Major Parties’ Climate Programs Are Miles Apart
As high as the stakes are, the struggle between the Dems and the GOP over climate change feels too much like intramural sport.
Why Workers Memorial Day Is a National Call to Action
On the odd decision by American labor unions to have their own solidarity day, the Workers Memorial Day, rather than participate in May Day.
How Biden’s Request for More Education Funding Would Shift More Power to the Federal Government
Biden’s plan to increase Title I funding is at least in part intended to increase Federal influence over education. New York is resisting.
