Small decentralized desalination plants hold the promise of low enough cost to use on brackish agricultural water.
Monday, January 20, 2025
2:00PM Water Cooler 11/27/2024
~ Today’s Water Cooler: Politics, syndemics; Blame cannons thunder after Kamala campaign team podcast; Investigation into attempts to assassinate Trump seem curiously silent; Boeing delivery, layoff woes ~
Israel Agrees to Ceasefire in Lebanon After Ground Invasion Fails
An initial look at the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon.
EU Nears Finish Line on Trade Deal With South American Bloc in an Effort to Deal Blow to China
It’s unlikely to do much vis-à-vis China, but will be bad news for the environment and majority of Europeans already reeling from Ursula’s other strategic “victories.”
How Trump Attorney General Pick Pam Bondi Did Favors for Donors and Gift-Givers in Florida
Another deep dive into Pam Bondi’s impressive record of corporate cronyism.
Monetary Policy in Response to Tariff Shocks
If the Trump tariff scheme weakens the economy enough, the Fed would do better to ease rather than tighten even if inflation increases.
Thanksgiving Holiday Schedule
Have a happy Turkey Day! We will be kicking back a bit over the holiday weekend in light of (hopefully) lower news flow.
2:00PM Water Cooler 11/26/2024
~ Today’s Water Cooler: Politics, syndemics; “Joy” at Bluesky; Trump team drags feet on signing ethics and transparency agreements; “Everyone is taking their skim” (of Democrat campaigns); Boeing 737 DHL plane crashes. In Lithuania. ~
Taxpayers Spend 22% More Per Patient to Support Medicare Advantage – The Private Alternative to Medicare That Promised to Cost Less
How Medicare Advantage, with less coverage than traditional Medicare via gatekeeping and thin networks, is a bad deal for taxpayers too.
Trump’s Inflation-Stoking 25% Mexico and Canada Tariff Scheme
Trump’s latest tariff threat is quickly getting a lot of well-warranted criticism.
Is Trump About to Deal a Mortal Blow to NAFTA 2.0?
The USMCA trade agreement, in its fifth year of existence and up for renegotiation in 2026, is already looking frail.
COP29 Puts World on Course for More Extreme Weather – and More Deaths
COP29 summit proves change won’t come until floods and wildfires are killing tens of thousands in rich Global North cities
CDC’s Conflicted HICPAC Anti-Airborne Goons Grasp “Baggy Blues” with Cold, Dead Hands, Vote to Infect More Patients with Airborne Diseases
HICPAC improves its process a little, but with the same lethal outcome
