The unimportant news thread

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

Barbie with Down's syndrome on sale after 'real women' criticism.

https://www.bbc.com/news/business-65388131

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

UN criticises the German and Namibian governments for violating the rights of Herero and Nama ethnic minorities by excluding them from talks over reparations for colonial crimes against their ancestors.


https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2023/apr/28/un-representatives-criticise-germany-over-reparations-for-colonial-crimes-in-namibia

[BWV 1080]

UN criticises the German and Namibian governments for violating the rights of Herero and Nama ethnic minorities by excluding them from talks over reparations for colonial crimes against their ancestors.


https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2023/apr/28/un-representatives-criticise-germany-over-reparations-for-colonial-crimes-in-namibia

Yep, the pre-Nazi Germans have the dubious honor of launching the first 20th Century genocide, as anyone knows who ever slogged through Gravity's Rainbow

[Karl Henning]

Boston isn't the most expensive place to live, but it's pretty close

[Todd]

Local stupidity: Shemia Fagan resigns as Oregon secretary of state following cannabis consulting scandal

The best thing about Oregon scandals is that they typically involve trifling amounts of money.  Well, that or sex with minors.

[Karl Henning]

A three-time Olympic medalist dies at 32? I should have counted on more longevity.

[JBS]

No cause of death was given. The same applies here.
He was 51.
https://arkansasrazorbacks.com/olympic-medalist-razorback-multiple-ncaa-champion-calvin-davis-passes/

[Pohjolas Daughter]

A three-time Olympic medalist dies at 32? I should have counted on more longevity.

No cause of death was given. The same applies here.
He was 51.
https://arkansasrazorbacks.com/olympic-medalist-razorback-multiple-ncaa-champion-calvin-davis-passes/

I remember, many years ago now, seeing on the news a story about a male figure skater (in his prime) who suddenly passed away.  I believe that it was due to an unknown heart issue that he had.

Yes, he had a heart attack whilst practicing with his wife. 

https://olympics.nbcsports.com/2020/11/20/sergei-grinkov-death-ekaterina-gordeeva/

PD

[drogulus]

Boston isn't the most expensive place to live, but it's pretty close

    I've lived in the same apartment since 2014 with small increases over the years. If/when I move I'll stay in NE not because I love it that much but to avoid the horror of living someplace else. An important factor for the future is NE comes out better on climate change than most of the rest of the country. I expect the region will get more expensive because of that.

[Todd]

Eleven Chemical Plants in China and One in the U.S. Emit a Climate Super-Pollutant Called Nitrous Oxide That's 273 Times More Potent Than Carbon Dioxide

Proven, low-cost pollution controls could quickly curb those emissions, but neither China nor the U.S. require abatement measures used by other plants around the world.

[Todd]

From CEPR:

Short form summary: New Report Finds that Economic Sanctions Are Often Deadly and Harm People's Living Standards in Target Countries

Longer form article: The Human Consequences of Economic Sanctions

[drogulus]

    Will this recession ever end? Maybe just in time for the next one, you think?



     Powell plays ball with the shrinksters not out of conviction (no, he's not that) but to maintain the fallacious belief that all forms of inflation are subject to Fed policy, in spite of the obvious fact that higher costs all over the world could only be lowered by a deliberate policy to maim the US economy.

     Powell doesn't want that, and I think he's trying to take a performative course to muffle critics on the shrinky side with the understanding that the growth contingent speak more softly lest they be accused of ignoring inflation. Powell is certainly aware of the uselessness of his efforts, which would work if they could. They can't, but the game will go on.

[Florestan]

Erdogan might become history.

[LKB]

Erdogan might become history.

I don't really know whether that would be good or bad for the Turks, but I'm pretty damn sure it would be good for NATO ( and Sweden ).

[Pohjolas Daughter]

I found this news to be quite heartening (and an interesting read):

https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20230514-a-new-life-for-londons-lost-rivers

PD

EDIT:  I also ran across this article.  I hadn't heard of the term hyporheic zone 'til now.  Fascinating before and after photos and how they are trying to create --restore actually--healthy brooks and rivers.  https://inews.co.uk/news/turkey-brook-london-river-save-uk-waterways-2312081

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

Argentina raises interest rate to 97%.


https://edition.cnn.com/2023/05/15/business/argentina-interest-rates-inflation/index.html

[Todd]

[US] Consumer debt passes $17 trillion for the first time despite slide in mortgage demand

[BWV 1080]

Diane Feinstein forgets that she was out for three months

[Karl Henning]

Argentina raises interest rate to 97%.


https://edition.cnn.com/2023/05/15/business/argentina-interest-rates-inflation/index.html

Ouch!

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

Ouch!

Inflation is higher than 100 percent, so you'll lose asset anyway.