Friday, October 16, 2026

Coffee Break: Coffee Break: A Further Note During Nobel Prize Month

Last week we discussed several Nobel Prizes that were not awarded in Medicine or Physiology, and I promised to return to the topic.  Left out last week was the Nobel Prize never awarded to Rosalind Franklin, who provided the data that conclusively demonstrated the helical structure of double-stranded DNA, of which genes are made. The […]

Fear and Loathing of MMT

Exploring how interest rates and foreign exchange could affect spending choices in an MMT-aware currency issuer.

Links 10/16/2026

What Is Happening With India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI), the World’s Largest Real-Time Payments System?

For the first time since its launch a decade ago, merchants will soon have to pay fees to use the system. Some are suggesting that Washington may be behind the move.

West Asian War: Ansar Allah Hits Enemy HQ in Aden

Ansar Allah hit the enemy HQ in Aden and denied firing at Medina. CENTCOM claimed control of Hormuz as ship attacks hit new highs.

The Mortality Costs of Climate Change

Rising temperatures inflict a higher mortality cost than other extreme weather events.

It’s Official: Israel Will Dump the U.S. and Become ZISIS

Israeli strategists push decoupling from a waning U.S. as Israel veers toward a ZISIS model and risks internal collapse

Americans Who Go to Church and Trust Science Are Also More Likely to Believe in Ghosts and Curses, New Research Shows

Who’d have thunk it? You can believe in science and rationality and also believe in ghosts.

How Non-State Alliances Are Reshaping the Global Order

Non-state actors, aka rebels, are purportedly getting more external support. What are the roots of this shift?

Links 10/15/2026

Saudi National Arrested for Spying at OpenAI

Abdulrahman Alfozan, an OpenAI employee and a citizen of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has been arrested for attempting to bug a meeting room.

West Asia War: Riyadh Ravaged, Battles in Yemen, Iranian Mines Sink Ship

Saudi Arabia and Ansar Allah continued to trade bombs and ballistic missiles. Battles continue in Yemen. More ships hit in the Strait. 

Short Iran War + Ansar Allah v. Saudis Update

Today’s Iran war news: IIran and Ansar Allah have dug into “ever be escalating” mode as the US may be manning up too.

Coffee Break: CoreWeave the Canary in the AI Credit Coal Mine?

CoreWeave had a brutal day on the stock and credit markets yesterday, and may indicate troubles coming for the broader AI industry.

Record Tanker Rates Leave Heavy Crude Stranded in the Americas

Nosebleed high tanker rates, thanks to Iran attacks on vessels, are producing oil supply chain breakage on the other side of the planet.