Category Archives: Guest Post

How ‘Dupes’, Fast Fashion and China’s Economic Slowdown Spell Disaster for the Luxury Sector

The luxury goods market is in bad shape, an indicator of how the moderately well off and “aspirational” shoppers are under income stress.

2:00PM Water Cooler 1/22/2025

Today’s Water Cooler: Politics, Syndemics; Trump’s executive orders; Trump and AI; Oh, Elon; The Inaugural: Melania’s hat; the seating chart ~

NATO as the Fly in Russia’s Baltic Sea Soup

The West uses common, minor, and likely accidental damage to a few submarine cables to further militarize the Baltic Sea and harass the “shadow fleet.”

Knowing Less About AI Makes People More Open to Having It in Their Lives – New Research

A study on receptivity to AI use sadly skips over some fundamental questions.

Close to 30 Million Americans Face Limited Water Supplies, Government Report Finds

Struggles over water use and cost are set to intensify as usage outstrips supplies.

2:00PM Water Cooler 1/21/2025

~ Today’s Water Cooler: Politics, Syndemics; January 6 pardons; DOGE Executive order; Improving surgical masks (many methods) ~

How Los Angeles Can Fireproof Communities, Not Just Houses

Ideas about how to reduce fire risk in Los Angeles do not appear to go far enough.

Cold War 2.0 in Mexico: US and Russian Embassies Lock Horns Over International Study Programs

The German embassy also joined the pile-on, with slapstick consequences.

How Trump 2.0 Could Herald a New Age of Authoritarian Capitalism

To discuss: “Trump’s weaponisation of US power poses a threat to peace, prosperity and the planet.”

Trump Shreds Emoluments Clause with New Memecoin while Norms Fairy Weeps (and Melania Joins the Fun)

Even tech bros are aghast.

2:00PM Water Cooler 1/20/2025

~ Today’s Water Cooler: Politics, Syndemics; Democrats take their farewells; DOGE commissars; A web beyond the platforms ~

There’s No Growth, so What Should Labour Do?

Labour’s dilemma — which has parallels in other countries — leads to vague aspirations that are almost meaningless, and probably undeliverable. So, what should it do?

For Homeless Seniors, Getting Into Stable Housing Takes a Village — And a Lot of Luck

Another indictment of America’s claims of superiority: a coming tsunami of homeless elderly

Los Angeles Fires: A Guide for Making Sure Your Home Insurer Pays What It Owes