Tuesday, October 14, 2025

Pikas Are Adapting to Climate Change Remarkably Well, Contrary to Many Predictions

Pikas may be resilient to cope with climate change than has previously been thought. Other environmental factorsalso diminish populations.

Cuomo Embraces New Sin Taxes to Replace Some COVID-19 Fiscal Shortfalls; Full Legalization of On-Line Betting and Adult Cannabis Use to Feature in 2021 State of the State Proposals

Governor Andrew Cuomo proposes allowing on-line betting and full cannabis legalization, two measures that would increase NY tax revenues.

Links 1/10/2021

As the Vulnerable Wait, Some Political Leaders’ Spouses Get Covid Vaccines

KHN continues its coverage of the vaccine distribution shambles, with political spouses allowed to get jabbed before those at higher risk.

Links 1/9/2021

The Economic Impact of Ancient Colonisation

How ancient colonizers left an enduring economic footprint, even at the local level.

Whoops, Dander Way Back Up: What’s With the Vaccines?

A detailed discussion around the world of some of the many ways officials and executives are impeding the districution of vaccines.

2:00PM Water Cooler 1/08/2021

By Lambert Strether of Corrente. Stormy petrels seem right just about now. #COVID19 At reader request, I’ve added this daily chart from 91-DIVOC. The data is the Johns Hopkins CSSE data. Here is the site. I feel I’m engaging in a macabre form of tape-watching, because I don’t think the peak is coming in the […]

CalPERS Making It Impossible to Hire Competent Chief Investment Officer

CalPERS is such damaged goods that it apparently can’t attract the sort of CIO it wants to hire.

Links 1/8/2021

The Insurrection at the Capitol Challenged How US Media Frames Unrest and Shapes Public Opinion

An illustration of how media framing manipulates viewer reactions.

Net-Zero Emissions Might Not Be Possible Without Nuclear Power

UC Berkeley study: “The U.S. grid will need nuclear power and hydropower to be stable with such a large share of solar and wind.”

Having Dropped for Years, US Auto Sales Plunged to 1970s Level in 2020

More Covid road kill: auto sales.

2:00PM Water Cooler 1/07/2021

~ Today’s Water Cooler ~

Children’s Hospitals Grapple With Wave of Mental Illness

A sobering look at the further decline in mental health among the young.