2:00PM Water Cooler 1/10/2025 | bare capitalism


By Lambert Strether of Corrente.

Fowl Track of the Day

Brown Thrasher, Audrey Carroll Audubon Sanctuary, Frederick, Maryland, United States. “Very liquid sound to this birds track. Good. Human voices and Fish crows in background.” Cows, too.

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In Case You Would possibly Miss…

  1. New Covid information, Covid and mortality.
  2. LA Palisades Hearth: Misinformation.
  3. SEIU joins AFL-CIO.

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Politics

“So most of the social reactions that strike us as psychological are in actual fact a rational administration of symbolic capital.” –Pierre Bourdieu, Classification Struggles

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Trump Transition

“Trump discusses his viral second with Obama” [Politico]. “The president-elect was requested about it later in a Fox Information interview from his residence in Florida. ‘It did look very pleasant, I need to say,’ Trump stated. ‘I didn’t notice how pleasant it appeared. I noticed it in your fantastic community, just a bit whereas in the past earlier than I got here in and I stated ‘Boy, they seem like two people who like one another.’ And we in all probability do,” he stated. Trump didn’t say what he and Obama have been speaking about within the viral second. ‘We’ve got little totally different philosophies, proper? I don’t know, we simply received alongside. However I received together with everyone on that. You recognize we met backstage earlier than we went on, and I believed it was a ravishing service, however all of us received alongside very effectively.’” • In the meantime, the lipreader as soon as extra–

“Right here’s what Trump has to say about that viral trade with Barack Obama at Jimmy Carter’s funeral” [New York Post]. “Forensic lip reader Jeremy Freeman informed The Put up Thursday that it’s attainable they have been cautious of cameras being pointed at them as they sat shoulder to shoulder and wished to seem cordial. Freeman stated the 2 have been presumably chatting about worldwide agreements. At one level, Trump leaned towards Obama and stated, ‘I’ve pulled out of that. It’s the situations. Are you able to think about that?’ Trump didn’t dive into the specifics of the pleasant chat. Obama laughed as Trump added, ‘And after, I’ll.’ ‘Name me at after, yep,’ Trump stated, to which Obama replied, ‘Are you able to simply … it needs to be good.’ ‘I can’t speak, we’ve got to discover a quiet place someday. It is a matter of significance, and we have to do that exterior in order that we will take care of it, actually, right now,’ Trump allegedly stated as Obama nodded.” • However what the heck is “the foy”? Foy means “feast,” however it’s mainly Scottish. One thing at Trump’s golf course?!” Or Claire Foy? (I believed I had the reply when “FOIA” popped into my head, however that amkes no sense in context.

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“DOGE is dispatching brokers throughout U.S. authorities” [WaPo]. “Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy are sending representatives to businesses throughout the federal authorities, 4 individuals conversant in the matter stated, to start preliminary interviews that may form the tech executives’ huge ambitions to tame Washington’s sprawling forms. In latest days, aides with the nongovernmental [but not a corporation, not a 501(c)(3), not a private club, so what?] ‘Division [sic] of Authorities Effectivity’ tied to [which means?] President-elect Donald Trump’s transition staff have spoken with staffers at greater than a dozen federal businesses, stated the individuals, who spoke on the situation of anonymity as a result of they weren’t approved to talk with the media. The businesses embody the Treasury Division, the Inner Income Service and the departments of Homeland Safety, Veterans Affairs, and Well being and Human Companies, the individuals stated.” Spoken below what authority? Elon’s mother? Extra: “On the similar time, Musk and Ramaswamy have considerably stepped up hiring for his or her new entity [Oh, DOGE is an entity], with greater than 50 staffers already understanding of the workplaces of SpaceX, Musk’s rocket-building firm, in downtown Washington, two of the individuals stated. DOGE goals to have a employees of near 100 individuals in place by Trump’s inauguration on Jan. 20, they stated. Whereas a lot about DOGE stays unclear [that is, we don’t know under what authority] — together with who’s paying the salaries of those staffers or precisely how DOGE representatives work with the formal transition staff — the company outreach displays intensifying efforts by Musk and Ramaswamy to suggest what they are saying might be “drastic” cuts to federal spending and rules.” • One wonders what the DOGE onboard course of is like, and whether or not, for instance, it takes battle of curiosity into consideration.

“Is Elon Musk probably the most highly effective civilian since Rasputin?” [The Telegraph]. “Historical past is scattered with ‘civilians’ for whom self-regard and excessive wealth fed a way of megalomania that made them assume they need to, and will, change the political course of. Generally they managed to remain on the appropriate aspect of the road of propriety and, by utilizing their wealth to do good works, did nice public companies. Generally their energy got here by means of displaying big ethical braveness that impressed a following, and never wealth, they usually circumvented the political class and adjusted the world for the higher. Usually it ended badly, in levels of humiliation and even loss of life [yikes], as their willpower to affect statecraft met resistance or ridicule from these supporting typical politics. Take, for instance, Grigory Rasputin….” • Take Rasputin. Please!

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“Gabbard reverses course on key intel-gathering software as nomination teeters” [Punchbowl]. “Former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (Hawaii), President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for director of nationwide intelligence, is altering her tune on a key intelligence-gathering authority she as soon as sought to repeal as her Senate affirmation hangs within the steadiness. Gabbard’s previous criticisms of Part 702 of the International Intelligence Surveillance Act have emerged as a central problem in her affirmation course of, leaving GOP senators — together with some in management — more and more skeptical concerning the former Democrat’s affirmation prospects. In her first public feedback since being nominated, Gabbard informed us in an unique assertion that she now helps Part 702, saying this system is ‘essential’ and ‘have to be safeguarded to guard our nation whereas making certain the civil liberties of People.’ ;If confirmed as DNI, I’ll uphold People’ Fourth Modification rights whereas sustaining very important nationwide safety instruments like Part 702 to make sure the protection and freedom of the American individuals,’ Gabbard stated. In non-public conferences, senators are questioning Gabbard about laws she launched in 2020 that will repeal Part 702. Nonetheless, Gabbard now seems to be strolling that again, citing Fourth Modification protections applied since then to forestall the incidental assortment of People’ information.” • Appears like some Republicans love spooks simply as a lot as Democrats do.

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“How Trump Got here Round to Crypto — and What Crypto Desires in Return” [Bloomberg]. “Trump nominated crypto supporter Paul Atkins to interchange Gensler, and that announcement helped Bitcoin climb above $100,000 for the primary time. The president-elect nominated David Sacks to the newly created place of synthetic intelligence and crypto czar. Trump can be making a crypto advisory group, made up of backers of the business. Trump stated in a December Fact Social publish that Bo Hines would be the government director of the Presidential Council of Advisers for Digital Belongings, reporting to Sacks. Trump stated he plans to have the US authorities preserve relatively than promote Bitcoin holdings seized by regulation enforcement, making these belongings the idea of a so-called strategic Bitcoin stockpile. Trump has additionally stated he would really like all Bitcoin to be mined within the US; this promise might show troublesome to meet as a result of actuality of decentralized networks and cheaper prices of vitality in different elements of the world.” • “Strategic Bitcoin” my Candy Aunt Fanny.

Lawfare

“Trump sentenced to unconditional discharge in New York hush cash case, avoiding jail” [CNBC]. “President-elect Donald Trump was sentenced with none penalties Friday in his New York legal hush cash case, 10 days earlier than his inauguration for a second White Home time period. Manhattan Choose Juan Merchan sentenced Trump to “unconditional discharge,” that means no jail, no probation and no tremendous.” • Solely acceptable for Hitler!

Democrats en déshabillé

“Opening the DNC’s Black Field” [Micah Sifrey, The American Prospect]. “In accordance with the DNC, there are 448 lively members of the nationwide committee, together with 200 elected members from 57 states, territories, and Democrats Overseas; members representing 16 affiliate teams; and 73 ‘at-large’ members who have been elected as a slate appointed in 2021 by the social gathering chairman, Jaime Harrison. For a celebration that claims the phrase ‘democratic’ and insists that it’s a champion of transparency and accountability in authorities, the official roster of those 448 voters just isn’t public. Michael Kapp, a DNC member from California who was first elected to that place by his state social gathering’s government committee in 2016, informed me the listing isn’t public ‘as a result of it’s the DNC—it’s a black field.’ He informed me that management holds tightly to the listing to forestall any organizing past their management. At the moment, we’re going to open up the DNC’s black field. The listing we’re publishing was leaked to me by a trusted supply with lengthy expertise with the nationwide social gathering. Like Kapp, this individual thinks it’s absurd that the social gathering’s roster of voting members is secret. Certainly, since there isn’t a official public listing, every of the candidates working for chair and different positions has undoubtedly needed to create their very own tallies from scratch—making it very seemingly our listing comes from a candidate’s whip operation.” • Anybody we all know?

Realignment and Legitimacy

“The Unstoppable Rise of Vitality Realism” [Ruy Teixeira, The Liberal Patriot]. “For the final decade, Democrats and the left have ever extra eagerly embraced a local weather catastrophist narrative on vitality coverage…. So what have the Democrats gained from their fervent advocacy for local weather catastrophism? Not a lot…. Nor have Democrats been rewarded with a political bonanza for his or her embrace of local weather catastrophism. Fairly the opposite. They only misplaced the presidential election to an opponent who says “drill, child, drill” and whose precedence is affordable, ample vitality—not clear vitality…. Can Democrats wean themselves away from local weather catastrophism and their obsession with internet zero? It might be troublesome. Their internet zero dedication stems from the extraordinarily excessive precedence positioned on this objective by the educated elites and activists who now dominate the social gathering. These elites and activists—in contrast to working-class voters—imagine that nothing is extra vital than stopping world warming since it’s not only a drawback, however an ‘existential disaster’ that have to be confronted as quickly as attainable to forestall a world apocalypse.” • A lot to ponder.

Syndemics

“I’m in earnest — I cannot equivocate — I cannot excuse — I cannot retreat a single inch — AND I WILL BE HEARD.” –William Lloyd Garrison

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Covid Assets, United States (Nationwide): Transmission (CDC); Wastewater (CDC, Biobot; consists of many counties; Wastewater Scan, consists of drilldown by zip); Variants (CDC; Walgreens); “Iowa COVID-19 Tracker” (in IA, however nationwide information). “An infection Management, Emergency Administration, Security, and Normal Ideas” (particularly on hospitalization by metropolis).

Lambert right here: Readers, thanks for the collective effort. To replace any entry, do be at liberty to contact me on the deal with given with the vegetation. Please put “COVID” within the topic line. Thanks!

Assets, United States (Native): AK (dashboard); AL (dashboard); AR (dashboard); AZ (dashboard); CA (dashboard; Marin, dashboard; Stanford, wastewater; Oakland, wastewater); CO (dashboard; wastewater); CT (dashboard); DE (dashboard); FL (wastewater); GA (wastewater); HI (dashboard); IA (wastewater stories); ID (dashboard, Boise; dashboard, wastewater, Central Idaho; wastewater, Coeur d’Alene; dashboard, Spokane County); IL (wastewater); IN (dashboard); KS (dashboard; wastewater, Lawrence); KY (dashboard, Louisville); LA (dashboard); MA (wastewater); MD (dashboard); ME (dashboard); MI (wastewater; wastewater); MN (dashboard); MO (wastewater); MS (dashboard); MT (dashboard); NC (dashboard); ND (dashboard; wastewater); NE (dashboard); NH (wastewater); NJ (dashboard); NM (dashboard); NV (dashboard; wastewater, Southern NV); NY (dashboard); OH (dashboard); OK (dashboard); OR (dashboard); PA (dashboard); RI (dashboard); SC (dashboard); SD (dashboard); TN (dashboard); TX (dashboard); UT (wastewater); VA (wastewater); VT (dashboard); WA (dashboard; dashboard); WI (wastewater); WV (wastewater); WY (wastewater).

Assets, Canada (Nationwide): Wastewater (Authorities of Canada).

Assets, Canada (Provincial): ON (wastewater); QC (les eaux usées); BC (wastewater); BC, Vancouver (wastewater).

Hat tricks to useful readers: Alexis, anon (2), Art_DogCT, B24S, CanCyn, ChiGal, Chuck L, Festoonic, FM, FreeMarketApologist (4), Gumbo, hop2it, JB, JEHR, JF, JL Joe, John, JM (10), JustAnotherVolunteer, JW, KatieBird, KF, KidDoc, LL, Michael King, KF, LaRuse, mrsyk, MT, MT_Wild, otisyves, Petal (6), RK (2), RL, RM, Rod, sq. coats (11), tennesseewaltzer, thump, Tom B., Utah, Bob White (3).

Keep protected on the market!

Airborne Transmission

“Science tells us that transportable air filters scale back infections. It’s time for public well being authorities to make this clear” [Journal of Infection and Public Health]. “Over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, Canadian public well being advisors and decision-makers have shared conflicted and complicated messages concerning the effectiveness of transportable air filters (PAFs) in controlling the unfold of airborne infectious illnesses… Illnesses akin to COVID-19 are transmitted by means of respiratory particles that comprise infectious materials. If these particles are available in contact with the mucous membranes of a prone particular person, there’s a danger of an infection. Generally, there’s a dose-response relationship—the extra infectious materials within the air, the higher the chance of an infection. Thus, any mitigation measures that take away these particles from the air (or inactivate infectious supplies) will scale back the chance of transmission… This science is supported by many years of analysis and public well being and well being care observe demonstrating the effectiveness of PAFs in decreasing the transmission of airborne illnesses…. Whereas proof demonstrates that filtration reduces concentrations of SARS-CoV-2 RNA within the air, this analysis shouldn’t have been required by public well being authorities earlier than implementation. PAFs, like different engineering interventions akin to seat belts, parachutes and bridges, are designed and evaluated in line with the legal guidelines of physics.” • Savage indictment of public well being and hospital an infection management,

Morbidity and Mortality

“The way forward for extra mortality after COVID-19” [Swiss Re Institute]. “4 years on from the outbreak of the pandemic in 2020, many nations worldwide nonetheless report elevated deaths of their populations. This influence seems typically unbiased of healthcare programs and inhabitants well being. This pattern is obvious even after accounting for shifting inhabitants sizes, and the vary of reporting mechanisms and loss of life classifications that make inter-country comparisons advanced. There may be additionally seemingly a level of extra mortality under-reporting…. This represents a possible problem for Life and Well being (L&H) insurance coverage, with doubtlessly a number of years of elevated mortality claims forward, relying on how normal inhabitants developments translate into the insured inhabitants. Ongoing extra mortality can have implications for L&H insurance coverage claims and reserves. Extra mortality that continues to exceed present expectations might have an effect on the long-term efficiency of in-force life portfolios in addition to the pricing of latest life insurance policies.” And: “Our normal inhabitants forecasts recommend that extra mortality will steadily tail off by 2033, to 0–3% within the US and 0–2.5% within the UK. As compared, by our calculation extra mortality in 2023 was within the vary of three–7% for the US, and 5–8% within the UK. Beneath an optimistic situation, we discover that US and UK pandemic-linked extra mortality would disappear by 2028, reverting to pre-pandemic mortality expectations. Beneath a pessimistic situation, we anticipate extra mortality to stay elevated till 2033, above pre-pandemic expectations.” • Useful chart:

“Mortality in First Eight Months of 2024 2% Increased Than Predicted” [Actuaries Digital]. Australia. The Summary:

In abstract

  • For the primary eight months of 2024, towards a baseline that features anticipated COVID-19 deaths:
    • complete mortality was 2% increased than predicted;
    • COVID-19 mortality was 70% increased than predicted;
    • Non-COVID respiratory mortality was 8% increased than predicted, with pneumonia deaths 14% increased; and
    • these outcomes are all statistically vital.
  • There have been 5 deaths from COVID-19 for each loss of life from influenza.
  • Mortality from non-respiratory causes has been near predicted.

Elite Maleficence

Mandy Cohen visits Nassau County:

I’m completely happy Cohen gave wastewater testing some wanted publicity, however this might have been an excellent time to put on a masks as an indication of resistance to Nassau County’s anti-masking ordinance.

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TABLE 1: Each day Covid Charts

Wastewater
This week[1] CDC December 30 Final week[2] CDC (till subsequent week):

2:00PM Water Cooler 1/10/2025 | bare capitalism

Variants [3] CDC December 21 Emergency Room Visits[4] CDC January 4

Hospitalization
New York[5] New York State, information January 9: Nationwide [6] CDC Janurary 9, 2005:

Positivity
Nationwide[7] Walgreens January 6: Ohio[8] Cleveland Clinic January 4:

Vacationers Information
Positivity[9] CDC December 23: Variants[10] CDC December 23

Deaths
Weekly Deaths vs. % Positivity [11] CDC January 4: Weekly Deaths vs. ED Visits [12] CDC January 4:

LEGEND

1) for charts new right now; all others are usually not up to date.

2) For a full-size/full-resolution picture, Command-click (MacOS) or right-click (Home windows) on the chart thumbnail and “open picture in new tab.”

NOTES

[1] (CDC) Seeing extra crimson and extra orange, however nothing new at main hubs.

[2] (CDC) Final week’s wastewater map.

[3] (CDC Variants) XEC takes over. That WHO label, “Ommicron,” has completed an excellent job normalizing successive waves of an infection.

[4] (ED) Just a little uptick.

[5] (Hospitalization: NY) Positively jumped.

[6] (Hospitalization: CDC). Leveling out.

[7] (Walgreens) Leveling out.

[8] (Cleveland) Continued upward pattern since, effectively, Thanksgiving.

[9] (Vacationers: Positivity) Leveling out.

[10] (Vacationers: Variants). Positivity is new, however variants haven’t but been launched.

[11] Deaths low, positivity leveling out.

[12] Deaths low, ED leveling out.

Stats Watch

Employment State of affairs: “United States Unemployment Charge” [Trading Economics]. “The unemployment price in the USA went all the way down to 4.1% in December of 2024 from 4.2% within the earlier month, beneath market expectations of 4.2%.”

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Manufacturing: “FAA says as much as 574 Boeing 767 plane might require touchdown gear inspections” [Aerotime]. “The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has introduced that as much as 574 Boeing 767 plane might require touchdown gear inspections as a part of an Airworthiness Directive (AD). The AD, issued on January 8, 2025, raised considerations over touchdown gear on US-registered 767-200s, 767-300s and 767-300 Freighters following an incident throughout upkeep. In accordance with the FAA, the AD was ‘prompted by a report of a predominant touchdown gear (MLG) collapse occasion following upkeep the place a grinder was working exterior of its enter parameters, leading to attainable warmth harm to the outer cylinder of the MLG.’”

Manufacturing: “Airbus Tops Rival Boeing with 766 Jet Deliveries in 2024” [Inc]. “Airbus delivered 766 jets in 2024 and appeared sure to take care of management of the jetmaking business for a sixth yr as arch-rival Boeing recovers cautiously from a protracted inside disaster, firm information confirmed.” However importantly: “Aerospace provide chains have been below stress due partially to an exodus of skilled employees in the course of the pandemic, with aviation competing with different sectors to recruit new labour.”

Tech: “Predictions Scorecard, 2025 January 01” [Rodney Brooks]. Enjoyable stuff. Here’s a helpful chart of failed predictions for robotic vehicles:

Legend: Dates in parens: When prediction was made. Dates in blue: When prediction will come true. Pink shading: Flawed prediction. Orange arrow: retraction.

And the kicker:

Professional tip: Take into consideration this historical past of business prognostications about totally autonomous driving being simply across the nook while you learn right now’s prognostications about LLMs taking jobs, en masse, within the subsequent couple of years, or humanoid robots being dust low cost and having the ability to discover ways to do any human handbook activity actual actual quickly now. You recognize you may have seen this film earlier than…

Very a lot value studying in full (The creator is Panasonic Professor of Robotics emeritus at MIT).

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At the moment’s Worry & Greed Index: 28 Worry (earlier shut: 32 Worry) [CNN]. One week in the past: 33 (Worry). (0 is Excessive Worry; 100 is Excessive Greed). Final up to date Jan 10 at 3:28:04 PM ET.

Zeitgeist Watch

Thanks, Mr. Presidents:

Lord is aware of I maintain no temporary for California Democrats (“Every part is like CalPERS”). However that is so over-the-top my tendency is to low cost any Republican protection of the California fires to zero.

“California wildfires: Police shoot down celebrities floating arson theories” [FOX]. “‘THERE IS an ARSONIST right here in LA,’ actor Henry Winkler wrote on Wednesday on X. ‘Could you be overwhelmed you unrecognizable !!! The ache you may have induced !!!’ Actress Alison Sweeney merely responded, ‘agreed.’ Singer Chris Brown took to his Instagram tales on Thursday and wrote, ‘Somebody beginning these fires. S— don’t add up.’ ‘Dancing with the Stars’ professional Peta Murgatroyd shared a tweet that was initially posted by political and cultural media character Xaviaer DuRousseau that reads: ‘LOS ANGELES / SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA THERE ARE AT LEAST FIVE MEN GOING AROUND IN SKI MASKS STARTING FIRES. KEEP AN EYE OUT.” However: “Regardless of the assorted claims, the Los Angeles Police Division informed Fox Information Digital, “We’ve got not acquired any stories of arson.’” • I don’t know why we’d imagine actors on this, any greater than, say, mainstream economists (of whom, see beneath). Then once more–

“Homeless man with ‘flamethrower’ busted on suspicion of arson close to LA’s Kenneth Hearth after residents detain him” [New York Post]. “One witness informed Fox 11 that the suspect was ‘very centered on transferring ahead’ with what the described as being extra like a blowtorch. ‘He was like, ‘I can’t cease. I can’t cease. I’m not placing this down. I’m doing this,” the witness stated. ‘And we’re like, ‘We are able to’t be doing that proper now.’” So a residents arrest is carried out: “Quickly after the suspect was taken into custody, the Los Angeles Police Division confirmed it was investigating the Kenneth Hearth as seemingly arson. ‘At the moment, that’s what we imagine. It’s being investigated as a criminal offense,’ LAPD Senior Lead Officer Sean Dinse initially informed KTLA. The most important crimes squad was introduced in as a result of he was ‘a attainable arson suspect,’ LAPD Assistant Chief Dominic Choi informed reporters in an replace later Friday. Nonetheless, the homeless man had so-far solely been arrested on a felony parole violation as a result of ‘there was not sufficient possible trigger to arrest this individual on arson or suspicion on arson,’ Choi stated. ‘This investigation is ongoing, nonetheless,’ he confused, thanking the residents who tackled him and known as it in. It was not instantly clear what felony the suspect, who has nonetheless but to be publicly recognized, was on parole for.” • So, the Kenneth fireplace, and I think about that Winkler, et al., are considering of the Palisades fireplace. That stated, my priors did kick in. Strengthened as they continually are….

“Economists Are within the Wilderness. Can They Discover a Method Again to Affect?” [New York Times]. • By no means have I felt happier to know of Betteridge’s Regulation.

Class Warfare

“The Labor Motion Simply Notched Two Huge Wins” [The New Republic]. “One so seldom has the chance to report excellent news about labor unions that when two good issues occur within the area of 24 hours that’s a triumph. The primary is a rebuke to the incoming Trump administration. The second is an unacknowledged favor to it (however, extra importantly, to the nation as effectively). Merchandise One is that the Service Staff Worldwide Union, reversing a foul resolution 20 years in the past to disaffiliate with the AFL-CIO, is rejoining the labor federation. Even Andy Stern, who as SEIU president took the union out of the AFL-CIO and sought (ultimately, unsuccessfully) to construct a rival federation known as Change to Win with the Teamsters and 5 smaller unions, stated Wednesday that that is ‘an acceptable time to unite SEIU’s power with different unions.’ The transfer will broaden AFL-CIO membership from practically 13 million to just about 15 million. (Change to Win was a bust. It misplaced most of its associates, stopped calling itself a labor federation, and now operates as one thing known as the Strategic Organizing Heart.) Merchandise Two is that the Worldwide Longshoremen’s Affiliation, or ILA, which represents dockworkers on the East Coast and within the Gulf of Mexico, reached a deal on a brand new contract, averting a second dockworker strike. The primary strike, in October, lasted three days earlier than a wage deal was reached below heavy stress on administration from the Biden White Home, with additional negotiations postponed till after the presidential election.”

“Inmates Can Make Up Practically A Third Of These Combating California Fires” [Forbes]. “Whereas the thirteenth Modification ended slavery in the USA, a loophole permits individuals convicted of crimes to be compelled to work for public or non-public enterprises. On this case, these tasked with firefighting volunteer for these positions and should meet sure standards. They aren’t assigned with out their consent. Their pay scale was doubled in 2023, and relying on the talent degree and the duty assigned, they both obtain $0.16 to $0.74 an hour or a most day price of $5.80 to $10.24. Most of their lunches encompass a easy sandwich—two items of white bread with a number of slices of bologna—plus an apple. Their each day meals finances of roughly $4 per day is hardly sufficient to maintain them for his or her excessive quantity of handbook labor. Incarcerated firefighters have a few of the highest harm charges amongst all jail employees and are 4 occasions extra more likely to maintain accidents in comparison with different firefighters. Additionally, they work a few of the longest hours and have a few of the hardest duties to execute. They don’t shoot water hoses; they use powered chainsaws and handbook hand instruments, akin to axes, with the objective of ravenous the hearth of gasoline to proceed to burn.” However: “Throughout the newest U.S. election, California voters rejected Proposition 6, a poll measure that will have banned compelled labor in state prisons.” • What actually bugs me is that the prisoners, having paid their debt to society are then barred from turning into firefighters. That’s insane.

Information of the Wired

“Scientists mystified by huge constructions discovered deep beneath the Pacific Ocean” [StudyFinds]. “Miles beneath the Pacific Ocean, in a area of Earth’s mantle the place typical knowledge says nothing uncommon ought to exist, scientists have found one thing extraordinary. Utilizing progressive expertise to investigate seismic waves, researchers have recognized huge constructions that problem basic theories about how our planet fashioned and advanced. It’s as if we’ve found a brand new geological continent – not on Earth’s floor, however deep inside it.” • R’lyeh?

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Contact data for vegetation: Readers, be at liberty to contact me at lambert [UNDERSCORE] strether [DOT] corrente [AT] yahoo [DOT] com, to (a) learn how to ship me a examine in case you are allergic to PayPal and (b) to learn how to ship me pictures of vegetation. Greens are tremendous! Fungi, lichen, and coral are deemed to be honorary vegetation! In order for you your deal with to seem as a credit score, please place it initially of your mail in parentheses: (thus). In any other case, I’ll anonymize by utilizing your initials. See the earlier Water Cooler (with plant) right here. From JennyBesserit:

JennyBesserit writes: “Fall vines, Portland, Maine.” Since readers like yesterday’s crimson leaves a lot….

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About Lambert Strether

Readers, I’ve had a correspondent characterize my views as real looking cynical. Let me briefly clarify them. I imagine in common applications that present concrete materials advantages, particularly to the working class. Medicare for All is the prime instance, however tuition-free school and a Put up Workplace Financial institution additionally fall below this heading. So do a Jobs Assure and a Debt Jubilee. Clearly, neither liberal Democrats nor conservative Republicans can ship on such applications, as a result of the 2 are totally different flavors of neoliberalism (“As a result of markets”). I don’t a lot care concerning the “ism” that delivers the advantages, though whichever one does should put frequent humanity first, versus markets. Could possibly be a second FDR saving capitalism, democratic socialism leashing and collaring it, or communism razing it. I don’t a lot care, so long as the advantages are delivered.

To me, the important thing problem — and for this reason Medicare for All is at all times first with me — is the tens of hundreds of extra “deaths from despair,” as described by the Case-Deaton research, and different latest research. That giant physique depend makes Medicare for All, on the very least, an ethical and strategic crucial. And that degree of struggling and natural harm makes the considerations of identification politics — even the worthy battle to assist the refugees Bush, Obama, and Clinton’s wars created — vivid shiny objects by comparability. Therefore my frustration with the information circulation — at present for my part the swirling intersection of two, separate Shock Doctrine campaigns, one by the Administration, and the opposite by out-of-power liberals and their allies within the State and within the press — a information circulation that continually forces me to deal with issues that I regard as of secondary significance to the surplus deaths. What sort of political financial system is it that halts and even reverses the will increase in life expectancy that civilized societies have achieved? I’m additionally very hopeful that the persevering with destruction of each social gathering institutions will open the area for voices supporting applications just like these I’ve listed; let’s name such voices “the left.” Volatility creates alternative, particularly if the Democrat institution, which places markets first and opposes all such applications, isn’t allowed to get again into the saddle. Eyes on the prize! I really like the tactical degree, and secretly love even the horse race, since I’ve been running a blog about it each day for fourteen years, however all the things I write has this attitude in the back of it.











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