By Lambert Strether of Corrente.
Chicken Track of the Day
Brown Thrasher, Audrey Carroll Audubon Sanctuary, Frederick, Maryland, United States. “Very liquid sound to this birds tune. Good. Human voices and Fish crows in background.” Cows, too.
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In Case You May Miss…
New Covid information, Covid and mortality.
LA Palisades Hearth: Misinformation.
SEIU joins AFL-CIO.
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Politics
“So most of the social reactions that strike us as psychological are actually 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 dwelling in Florida. ‘It did look very pleasant, I have to say,’ Trump mentioned. ‘I didn’t notice how pleasant it seemed. I noticed it in your fantastic community, just a bit whereas in the past earlier than I got here in and I mentioned ‘Boy, they appear like two those who like one another.’ And we in all probability do,” he mentioned. Trump didn’t say what he and Obama had been speaking about within the viral second. ‘Now we have little totally different philosophies, proper? I don’t know, we simply bought alongside. However I bought together with everyone on that. we met backstage earlier than we went on, and I assumed it was a phenomenal service, however all of us bought alongside very effectively.’” • In the meantime, the lipreader as soon as extra–
“Right here’s what Trump has to say about that viral change with Barack Obama at Jimmy Carter’s funeral” [New York Post]. “Forensic lip reader Jeremy Freeman advised The Submit Thursday that it’s doable they had been cautious of cameras being pointed at them as they sat shoulder to shoulder and wished to seem cordial. Freeman mentioned the 2 had been probably chatting about worldwide agreements. At one level, Trump leaned towards Obama and mentioned, ‘I’ve pulled out of that. It’s the circumstances. 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 on the foy after, yep,’ Trump mentioned, to which Obama replied, ‘Are you able to simply … it must be good.’ ‘I can’t speak, now we have to discover a quiet place someday. This can be a matter of significance, and we have to do that outdoors in order that we will take care of it, actually, in the present day,’ Trump allegedly mentioned as Obama nodded.” • However what the heck is “the foy”? Foy means “feast,” but it surely’s mainly Scottish. One thing at Trump’s golf course?!” Or Claire Foy? (I assumed 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 aware of the matter mentioned, to start preliminary interviews that may form the tech executives’ monumental ambitions to tame Washington’s sprawling paperwork. In current 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 workforce have spoken with staffers at greater than a dozen federal businesses, mentioned 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 Inside Income Service and the departments of Homeland Safety, Veterans Affairs, and Well being and Human Companies, the individuals mentioned.” Spoken underneath 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 figuring out of the workplaces of SpaceX, Musk’s rocket-building firm, in downtown Washington, two of the individuals mentioned. DOGE goals to have a workers of near 100 individuals in place by Trump’s inauguration on Jan. 20, they mentioned. 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 workforce — the company outreach displays intensifying efforts by Musk and Ramaswamy to suggest what they are saying will probably be “drastic” cuts to federal spending and laws.” • One wonders what the DOGE onboard course of is like, and whether or not, for instance, it takes battle of curiosity under 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 suppose they need to, and will, change the political course of. Typically they managed to remain on the appropriate aspect of the road of propriety and, through the use of their wealth to do good works, did nice public providers. Typically their energy got here by way of displaying large ethical braveness that impressed a following, and never wealth, and so they circumvented the political class and adjusted the world for the higher. Typically it ended badly, in levels of humiliation and even demise [yikes], as their dedication 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 stability. Gabbard’s previous criticisms of Part 702 of the Overseas Intelligence Surveillance Act have emerged as a central subject 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 advised us in an unique assertion that she now helps Part 702, saying this system is ‘essential’ and ‘should 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 security and freedom of the American individuals,’ Gabbard mentioned. In personal conferences, senators are questioning Gabbard about laws she launched in 2020 that will repeal Part 702. Nevertheless, Gabbard now seems to be strolling that again, citing Fourth Modification protections carried out 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 switch 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 trade. Trump mentioned in a December Reality Social submit that Bo Hines would be the government director of the Presidential Council of Advisers for Digital Belongings, reporting to Sacks. Trump mentioned he plans to have the US authorities maintain slightly than promote Bitcoin holdings seized by legislation enforcement, making these property the idea of a so-called strategic Bitcoin stockpile. Trump has additionally mentioned he would love all Bitcoin to be mined within the US; this promise might show tough to meet as a result of actuality of decentralized networks and cheaper prices of power in different components 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 prison hush cash case, 10 days earlier than his inauguration for a second White Home time period. Manhattan Decide Juan Merchan sentenced Trump to “unconditional discharge,” that means no jail, no probation and no tremendous.” • Solely applicable for Hitler!
Democrats en déshabillé
“Opening the DNC’s Black Field” [Micah Sifrey, The American Prospect]. “Based on the DNC, there are 448 energetic 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 had 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 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, advised me the listing isn’t public ‘as a result of it’s the DNC—it’s a black field.’ He advised me that management holds tightly to the listing to forestall any organizing past their management. At this time, 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 is no such thing as 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 Power 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 power 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 simply misplaced the presidential election to an opponent who says “drill, child, drill” and whose precedence is reasonable, considerable power—not clear power…. Can Democrats wean themselves away from local weather catastrophism and their obsession with web zero? It might be tough. Their web zero dedication stems from the extraordinarily excessive precedence positioned on this purpose 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 international warming since it isn’t only a downside, however an ‘existential disaster’ that should be confronted as quickly as doable to forestall a worldwide apocalypse.” • A lot to ponder.
Syndemics
“I’m in earnest — I can’t equivocate — I can’t excuse — I can’t retreat a single inch — AND I WILL BE HEARD.” –William Lloyd Garrison
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Covid Sources, United States (Nationwide): Transmission (CDC); Wastewater (CDC, Biobot; contains many counties; Wastewater Scan, contains 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 happy to contact me on the tackle given with the vegetation. Please put “COVID” within the topic line. Thanks!
Sources, 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 experiences); 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).
Sources, Canada (Nationwide): Wastewater (Authorities of Canada).
Sources, 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 secure on the market!
Airborne Transmission
“Science tells us that moveable 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 moveable air filters (PAFs) in controlling the unfold of airborne infectious ailments… Ailments resembling COVID-19 are transmitted by way of respiratory particles that include infectious materials. If these particles are available contact with the mucous membranes of a prone particular person, there’s a danger of an infection. On the whole, there’s a dose-response relationship—the extra infectious materials within the air, the larger the danger of an infection. Thus, any mitigation measures that take away these particles from the air (or inactivate infectious supplies) will scale back the danger of transmission… This science is supported by a long time of analysis and public well being and well being care observe demonstrating the effectiveness of PAFs in lowering the transmission of airborne ailments…. 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 resembling seat belts, parachutes and bridges, are designed and evaluated in keeping 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 international locations worldwide nonetheless report elevated deaths of their populations. This impression seems typically unbiased of healthcare programs and inhabitants well being. This pattern is clear even after accounting for shifting inhabitants sizes, and the vary of reporting mechanisms and demise classifications that make inter-country comparisons complicated. There’s additionally seemingly a level of extra mortality under-reporting…. This represents a possible problem for Life and Well being (L&H) insurance coverage, with probably a number of years of elevated mortality claims forward, relying on how common 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 recent life insurance policies.” And: “Our common inhabitants forecasts counsel that extra mortality will step by step 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. Below an optimistic state of affairs, we discover that US and UK pandemic-linked extra mortality would disappear by 2028, reverting to pre-pandemic mortality expectations. Below a pessimistic state of affairs, we count on extra mortality to stay elevated till 2033, above pre-pandemic expectations.” • Helpful chart:
How the Pandemic Elevated US Deaths!Visualized in 8 charts by @jwgale in @enterprise
1. The Covid Pandemic Fueled a 4-Yr Mortality Surge within the US pic.twitter.com/H6CW6ya0sO
— Ziyad Al-Aly, MD (@zalaly) December 30, 2024
“Mortality in First Eight Months of 2024 2% Larger Than Predicted” [Actuaries Digital]. Australia. The Summary:
In abstract
For the primary eight months of 2024, in opposition to a baseline that features anticipated COVID-19 deaths:
whole mortality was 2% greater than predicted;
COVID-19 mortality was 70% greater than predicted;
Non-COVID respiratory mortality was 8% greater than predicted, with pneumonia deaths 14% greater; and
these outcomes are all statistically vital.There have been 5 deaths from COVID-19 for each demise from influenza.
Mortality from non-respiratory causes has been near predicted.
Elite Maleficence
Mandy Cohen visits Nassau County:
⏪ to once I visited a wastewater facility in Nassau County in November 2023. Be taught extra about how this software helps us higher perceive & monitor ailments on the native stage 👇 pic.twitter.com/y9vqEGkW0R
— Mandy Ok. Cohen, MD, MPH (@CDCDirector) January 10, 2025
I’m completely satisfied Cohen gave wastewater testing some wanted publicity, however this could 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: Day by day Covid Charts
Wastewater
This week[1] CDC December 30
Final week[2] CDC (till subsequent week):
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 in the present day; all others aren’t 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 purple 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 executed an important job normalizing successive waves of an infection.
[4] (ED) A bit of uptick.
[5] (Hospitalization: NY) Undoubtedly 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 Scenario: “United States Unemployment Charge” [Trading Economics]. “The unemployment charge in america went right 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 issues over touchdown gear on US-registered 767-200s, 767-300s and 767-300 Freighters following an incident throughout upkeep. Based on the FAA, the AD was ‘prompted by a report of a primary touchdown gear (MLG) collapse occasion following upkeep the place a grinder was working outdoors of its enter parameters, leading to doable 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 seemed sure to keep up management of the jetmaking trade for a sixth 12 months as arch-rival Boeing recovers cautiously from a protracted inner disaster, firm information confirmed.” However importantly: “Aerospace provide chains have been underneath stress due partly to an exodus of skilled staff 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 useful chart of failed predictions for robotic automobiles:
Legend: Dates in parens: When prediction was made. Dates in blue: When prediction will come true. Pink shading: Mistaken prediction. Orange arrow: retraction.
And the kicker:
Professional tip: Take into consideration this historical past of trade prognostications about absolutely autonomous driving being simply across the nook whenever you learn in the present day’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 learn to do any human handbook job actual actual quickly now. you might have seen this film earlier than…
Very a lot price studying in full (The writer is Panasonic Professor of Robotics emeritus at MIT).
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At this time’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:
It’s over for Gavin pic.twitter.com/kTPAOU96uA
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 10, 2025
Lord is aware of I maintain no transient for California Democrats (“The whole lot 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. ‘Might you be overwhelmed you unrecognizable !!! The ache you might have brought on !!!’ 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 advised Fox Information Digital, “Now we have not acquired any experiences 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 advised Fox 11 that the suspect was ‘very targeted 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 mentioned. ‘And we’re like, ‘We will’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. ‘Presently, that’s what we imagine. It’s being investigated as against the law,’ LAPD Senior Lead Officer Sean Dinse initially advised KTLA. The foremost crimes squad was introduced in as a result of he was ‘a doable arson suspect,’ LAPD Assistant Chief Dominic Choi advised reporters in an replace later Friday. Nevertheless, 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 mentioned. ‘This investigation is ongoing, nevertheless,’ he careworn, 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 pondering of the Palisades fireplace. That mentioned, my priors did kick in. Bolstered as they consistently 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 Large 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 house 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 Workers Worldwide Union, reversing a nasty determination 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, mentioned Wednesday that that is ‘an applicable time to unite SEIU’s energy with different unions.’ The transfer will develop AFL-CIO membership from almost 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 underneath heavy stress on administration from the Biden White Home, with additional negotiations postponed till after the presidential election.”
“Inmates Can Make Up Almost A Third Of These Combating California Fires” [Forbes]. “Whereas the thirteenth Modification ended slavery in america, a loophole permits individuals convicted of crimes to be pressured to work for public or personal enterprises. On this case, these tasked with firefighting volunteer for these positions and should meet sure standards. They don’t seem to be assigned with out their consent. Their pay scale was doubled in 2023, and relying on the ability stage and the duty assigned, they both obtain $0.16 to $0.74 an hour or a most day charge 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 day by day meals price range 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 damage charges amongst all jail staff 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, resembling axes, with the purpose of ravenous the hearth of gasoline to proceed to burn.” However: “Throughout the latest U.S. election, California voters rejected Proposition 6, a poll measure that will have banned pressured labor in state prisons.” • What actually bugs me is that the prisoners, having paid their debt to society are then barred from changing into firefighters. That’s insane.
Information of the Wired
“Scientists mystified by large 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 revolutionary know-how to investigate seismic waves, researchers have recognized large constructions that problem basic theories about how our planet shaped 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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JennyBesserit writes: “Fall vines, Portland, Maine.” Since readers like yesterday’s purple leaves a lot….
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