Wednesday, September 24, 2025

Political Hashtags Like #MeToo and #BlackLivesMatter Make People Less Likely to Believe the News

A study finds that using hashtags in tweets about news stories turns a lot of readers off. But is that a valid conclusion?

Links 11/28/19

Thanksgiving Alone

On withstanding the pressure to have a normal Thanksgiving.

Leaked US Trade Talks Show How Trump Is Dictating Johnson’s Approach to a Hard Brexit

Far from Brexit letting the UK takw back control, it has entered into a relationship where it holds none of the cards.

2:00PM Water Cooler 11/27/2019

Today’s Water Cooler: Trump and the WTO, Biden, Buttigieg, Bloomberg, Sanders, Trump, Warren, impeachment, #MedicareForAll and fear, Amazon workers, Google workers, emoji, Californian v. Australian wildfires, plastics, humanure, life expectancy, Sheila Rowbotham, natural language processing, data

Federal Prosecutors Initiate Criminal Probe of Six Opioid Manufacturers and Distributors

Federal prosecutors in Brooklyn have initiated an investigation that could lead to criminal charges against at least six opiods companies.

BBVA Compass Branch Manager Retaliates Against Elderly Customer Via Trying to Have State Agency Deem Her Incompetent on Fabricated Grounds

A BBVA Compass vice president retaliates against a long-standing customer for seeking an Americans With Disabilities Act accommodation and documenting his incompetent, high-handed responses.

Links 11/27/19

Obama Privately Considered Leading ‘Stop-Bernie Campaign’ to Combat Sanders 2020 Surge: Report

Obama would try and stop Sanders if it looks likely Bernie would get the nomination – regardless of whether that’s the best shot to defeat Trump.

The Privatized Internet — Entire .ORG Domain Registry Sold to Investment Equity Firm “Ethos Capital”; Registration Fee Restrictions Removed

Private equity grifting meets internet domain names.

2:00PM Water Cooler 11/26/2019

Today’s Water Cooler: Biden, Bloomberg, Booker, Buttigieg, Sanders, Warren, impeachment, fun generational quiz, consumer confidence, manufacturing, international trade in goods, housing, Barneys, whales and carbon, game characters, Race GPS, Kim Kardashian, Schrödinger’s kittens

Repo Madness: Fed Plumbing Gone Awry

How the Fed’s fingerprints are all over the repo mess.

Links 11/26/19

Financing a Global Green New Deal: System Change Needed

Discussion of a contested topic: How to pay for a Green New Deal.

Sir Ivan Rogers Plays Cassandra Again, Warns of Likely 2020 Brexit Trade Negotiations Train Wreck

Another incisive Brexit reading by Sir Ivan.