Jeremy Cherfas

Excellent, clear explanation. I rather liked this bit:

One strange feature of American ~popular economic discourse~ is that the rarified troubles of the very rich often get discussed as if they were “normal”, but: they are extremely not normal.

The million-dollars-in-cash-havers can fend for themselves.

Because it is so true.

Fascinating.

TIL Zibaldone, which I might just have to make my own.

Can't enough of this kind of thing.

[M]any experts consider the pallet to be the most important materials-handling innovation of the twentieth century. Studies have estimated that pallets consume 12 to 15 percent of all lumber produced in the US, more than any other industry except home construction.

Ultimately, the long-term necessity to cycle rather than mine P could be a key factor propelling humanity back to a predominantly rural, distributed and agrarian human geography.

Is anybody listening?

Teresa Cherfas reviews ‘The Return of the Russian Leviathan’ by Sergei Medvedev:

“For anyone interested in contemporary Russia, this book is an invaluable guide and will leave you smiling through tears.”

Researchers from many disciplines argue that science would get far more bang for its research buck by looking to solve broader societal contributors to disparities. Housing conditions, segregated neighborhoods, poverty, education, the burden of racism, environmental pollutants, and other factors are likely the main contributors to higher rates of disease and disability in marginalized groups. “We support wholeheartedly the study of health disparities from a wide range of disciplines,” says Michael Yudell, professor of community health and prevention at Drexel University. “Our issue is that race is a poor proxy to understand the biological factors underpinning health disparities.”

A very interesting analysis, that will probably go nowhere.

to date, nobody has rallied a mob to attack the U.S. Capitol using tastefully curated photos of bathroom remodelings.

I'm no fan of Pinterest, but this seems accurate.