Some of the rich are feeling the pinch. Is this a passing phenomenon or a sign of things to come?
Friday, January 2, 2026
Why Aren’t Americans Rising Up Like the People of Chile and Lebanon?
Americans are not big on protests, and people abroad are perplexed
2:00PM Water Cooler Special: Warren’s #MedicareForAll Transition Plan Is Set Up to Fail
Warren’s transition plan, like her pay-for plan, introduces unmotivated dependencies that make #MedicareForAll unlikely to pass, charitably from poor political judgment, less charitably because she doesn’t want the bill to pass.
2:00PM Water Cooler 11/18/2019
Today’s Water Cooler: Forever trade war, Iowa polling, Trump, Warren, impeachment, Obama legacy, housing, frack sand collapse, container shipping, aircraft sales, robot cars to increase driving, giant structures in the universe, junk, landfills, more efficient toilets, dentistry, the press, wage theft, Hokusai
Plastics Watch: Recycling, Raccoons, and Rubbish
Even a massive recycling campaign won’t make a dent in the plastics problem, as long as the industry ramps up production; some thoughts on raccoons, and rubbish.
The Joker to Guy Fawkes: Why Protesters Around the World are Wearing the Same Masks
Discussion of role of masks in global protest, as Hong Kong’s mask ban is ruled unconstitutional by High Court.
FAA Pushes Back on Boeing Pressure to Recertify 737 Max by Year End; Agency Also Considering Major Revamp of Certification Process
Remarkably, the new FAA chief Steve Dickson is standing up to Boeing and planning widespread reforms at the agency.
America’s Arms Sales Addiction
The sorry history of how US arms sales have made the world less safe, and aren’t all that good for America either.
Blockbuster WSJ Investigation: How Google Interferes With Its Search Algorithms and Changes Your Results
WSJ publishes results documenting how Google tweaks its search algorithms and adjusts your search results, to privilege large over small, and muddled middle perspectives.
Left Twitter Responds With Viral #TooFarLeft Hashtag After Obama Counsels Democrats to Tamp Down Progressive Ambitions
Sampling of tweets responding to counsel to Democrats to sideline left-leaning twitter feeds.
Do We Actually Grow from Adversity?
Americans in particular like to reframe hardship as an opportunity to grow….but how valid is that notion?
Non-Financial Private Debt Overhang: Post War German Debt Reforms as a Model for a Modern Debt Jubilee?
Private debt levels are even higher than in 2008 but super low interest rates make that look less worrisome than it arguably should be. T. Sabri Öncü ponders how to go about large scale debt relief.
