In “Ends of the Earth,” Neil Shubin travels north and south to explore the frontiers of polar science and history.
Recent Items
Sunday, April 20, 2025
Book Review: The Dazzling Complexity of the Polar Realm
Topics: Doomsday scenarios, Environment, Global warming, Guest Post
Posted by Yves Smith at 6:28 am | 6 Comments »
How Worker-Owned News Outlets Are Changing the Media Industry
For growing numbers of media companies, employee ownership offers journalistic freedom and job stability.
Topics: Guest Post, Income disparity, Media watch, Social values
Posted by Yves Smith at 6:07 am | 15 Comments »
Coffee Break: Covid Denialism Is Not a Cure; Updates on the War on Cancer and Medicare
Covid and cancer are not going away soon, but if Dr. Oz has his way, Medicare might.
Topics: Africa, Coffee Break, Health care, Pandemic, Politics, Privatization, Science and the scientific method, Social policy, Social values
Posted by KLG at 2:00 pm | 29 Comments »
The Next American Constitution
Trump’s Constitution-trampling has historical predecents. Where might we be headed?
Topics: Banana republic, Free markets and their discontents, Guest Post, Income disparity, Legal, Politics, Social policy, Social values, Surveillance state, Technology and innovation, The destruction of the middle class
Posted by Yves Smith at 10:21 am | 112 Comments »
As AI’s Power Grows, So Does Our Workday
Staffers uing AI are putting in more hours relative to non-AI-deploying positions. So who is working for whom?
Topics: Guest Post, Health care, Ridiculously obvious scams, Surveillance state, Technology and innovation, The destruction of the middle class
Posted by Yves Smith at 9:55 am | 16 Comments »
Links 3/28/2025
Topics: Links
Posted by Conor Gallagher at 6:55 am | 138 Comments »
Banks and Payment Card Companies Form a Discount Cartel to Take Down Cash in “Cash-Addicted” Germany
The cash assassins set their sights on Europe’s biggest economy.
Topics: Guest Post
Posted by Nick Corbishley at 6:45 am | 11 Comments »
Explosive New Book Argues Facebook Is a Global Engine of Harm and Corruption. Is Reform Possible?
Insert variable
A new expose on Facebook confirms some known abuses while also describing malign influence in unexpected corners of the world
Topics: Free markets and their discontents, Guest Post, Media watch, Politics, Regulations and regulators
Posted by Yves Smith at 3:24 am | 24 Comments »
AI Robot Pets Can Be Adorable and Emotionally Responsive. They Also Raise Questions About Attachment and Mental Health
A discussion of AI companions consider some, but perhaps not enough, of the downsides.
Topics: Guest Post, Health care, Social values, Surveillance state, Technology and innovation
Posted by Yves Smith at 10:39 am | 16 Comments »
Links 3/27/2025
Topics: Links
Posted by Conor Gallagher at 6:55 am | 201 Comments »
Payday Loan Apps Cost New Yorkers $500 Million Plus, New Study Estimates
A new study estimates the cost of payday loans in New York as the state debates tightening rules on these fintechs beyond existing usury laws
Topics: Banking industry, Credit markets, Free markets and their discontents, Guest Post, Income disparity, Legal, Regulations and regulators, Ridiculously obvious scams, The destruction of the middle class
Posted by Yves Smith at 6:54 am | 13 Comments »
House Speaker Johnson Threatens to Defund Federal Courts
The Trump war against the judiciary reaches a new fevered pitch, with Speaker Johnson threatening Federal court funding.
Topics: Banking industry, Doomsday scenarios, Guest Post, Legal, Politics
Posted by Yves Smith at 3:16 am | 92 Comments »
Ukraine Rare Earths Deal Is Nonsense To Mining Experts
Professionals try to put a stake in the heart of the Trump rare earths deal palaver.
Topics: Commodities, Doomsday scenarios, Economic fundamentals, Guest Post, Politics, Ridiculously obvious scams, Russia
Posted by Yves Smith at 2:45 am | 36 Comments »
Russia-US Negotiations: Trump Criticism Follows the Bad Sign of the Lack of a Joint Statement After Last Round and the Iran Angle
Having barely started, the US-Russia negotiaions are already going a bit pear shaped.
Topics: Banana republic, Media watch, Politics, Russia
Posted by Yves Smith at 11:21 am | 57 Comments »
Links 3/26/2025
Topics: Links
Posted by Conor Gallagher at 6:55 am | 149 Comments »