2:00PM Water Cooler 12/30/2024 | bare capitalism

By Lambert Strether of Corrente.

Chook Music of the Day

Northern Mockingbird, Miller Drive Roost (Brewer Park), Miami-Dade, Florida, United States. Very fairly!

In Case You May Miss…

1. H1B controversy rolls alongside.
2. Trump’s AI czar serving to H1Bers with fraudulent remittances.
3. Norovirus surge.
4. Amazon assaults third-party sellers once more.

Politics

“So lots of the social reactions that strike us as psychological are the truth is a rational administration of symbolic capital.” –Pierre Bourdieu, Classification Struggles

Trump Assassination Makes an attempt (Plural)

“Trial of man accused in Trump assassination try in Florida pushed again to September” [Associated Press]. “Ryan Routh’s trial will start Sept. 8 as an alternative of the beforehand scheduled Feb. 10, 2025 begin date, U.S. District Choose Aileen Cannon mentioned in an order launched on Monday…. Routh’s attorneys had requested the decide to delay the trial till no sooner than subsequent December, saying they wanted extra time to evaluate the proof towards him and determine whether or not to mount an madness protection. Routh owned 17 cellphones and quite a few different digital gadgets, and there are tons of of hours of police physique digicam and surveillance movies which were offered to the protection, Routh’s attorneys argued throughout a listening to two weeks in the past in Fort Pierce, Florida. In her order, Cannon mentioned she wished to err on the facet of offering extra time given the seriousness of the allegations, however that beginning the trial no sooner than December could be an extreme quantity. A September trial date didn’t quantity to an ‘unreasonable delay,’ she mentioned…. The decide mentioned that any madness protection or any request associated to Routh’s psychological competency should be made by early February. Any go to to the scene of the assassination try should be made by the tip of February.”

“The Nice Faux H1-B Controversy” [Roger Simon, American Refugees]. “This matches the inner MAGA dispute over H1-B visas to the proverbial T. The one ones who revenue from this kerfuffle, or no matter it’s, are the left and their fading media allies, determined for one thing to latch onto about MAGA and .” It’s so humorous to see social gathering regulars, of whichever social gathering, developing with the identical speaking factors.

“Steve Bannon Slams ‘Toddler’ Elon Musk After Tesla Proprietor Tells Critics To ‘F**ok Your self Within the Face’ As MAGA Civil Conflict Rages On” [Mediaite]. “Somebody please notify ‘Baby Protecting Companies’— have to do a ‘wellness examine’ on this toddler,’ Bannon wrote on Gettr on Friday evening in response to Musk telling his critics to ‘fuck your self within the face.’… In followup posts on Gettr, Bannon argued that H-1B visas are used as a ‘instrument’ of the tech trade to drive wages down [correct] and he advised Musk to ‘carry it.’… On his Conflict Room podcast on Friday, Bannon referred to tech leaders like Musk as ‘on the spectrum’ and incapable of taking criticism. ‘The nerds don’t take criticism,’ he mentioned. ‘They’re form of, you recognize, they’re a bit of bit all on the spectrum, proper? They don’t know– they’re not deep in social expertise.’” • Unsure Bannon is all that sturdy on social expertise both. Or the political class typically, missing empathy as they appear to do. Commentary:

Who the fuck tells tens of millions of Individuals to go fuck themselves within the face after which tells them a day later to put up extra positivity?

— Donhammed Trumpistan (@TheRealDon85) December 29, 2024

Can affirm I noticed each of President Musk’s tweets go by.

Democrats en déshabillé

That’s the stuff to provide the troops:

The Inexperienced Social gathering spoiled one other main race for us (PA SEN), simply the newest on a really lengthy listing.

As @DNC Chair, I’ll go on everlasting offense, not simply taking over the authorized battle throughout poll entry. We’ll dismantle these Republican-enablers’ infrastructure. The gloves come off.

— James Skoufis (@JamesSkoufis) December 27, 2024

“As DNC chair, I’ll maintain Greens off the poll!”

“Is the Democratic model poisonous? A rising variety of Dems marvel if going ‘impartial’ will assist them win” [Politico]. “A gaggle of operatives at main Democratic media companies are in talks about creating an organization that may assist elect left-leaning independents, based on an individual acquainted with the discussions who was granted anonymity to speak about inside planning. The enterprise would additionally again populist Democrats.” • Oh, swell.

Realignment and Legitimacy

“Luigi Mangione’s indictment is one other instance of the hazards of terror prices” [TruthOut]. “Tacking terrorism onto the indictment permits the district legal professional to improve the homicide prices from the second to the primary diploma; underneath New York legislation, first-degree homicide prices are usually reserved for crimes like serial or mass killings or the homicide of law enforcement officials…. It’s arduous to not see the bloated prices within the context of Mangione’s current ascent to quasi-folk hero standing…. This outpouring of public resentment has unnerved well being care executives. Firms scrambled to wash details about their C-suites from the web and known as up personal safety particulars. Bragg made a broad reference to this concern in a press convention. ‘This was a killing that was supposed to evoke terror and we’ve seen that response,’ he advised reporters on December 17. ‘This was not an strange killing.’” • With a very good evaluate of different “terrorism” prices, together with tenting at Cop Metropolis.

“UnitedHealthcare taught us methods to disclaim claims: Former worker” [NewsNation]. ” A former UnitedHealthcare claims consultant says staff had been systematically skilled to disclaim medical claims and rush distressed clients off cellphone traces, revealing inside practices on the nation’s largest well being insurer amid rising scrutiny of the trade. Natalie Collins, who labored for UnitedHealthcare for 9 months, mentioned Saturday on ‘NewsNation Prime’ that workers acquired ‘so many alternative methods to disclaim’ claims throughout their two to 3 months of coaching, with supervisors typically standing behind representatives instructing them on denial strategies. ‘We weren’t given correct instruction to truly pay the declare, and there wasn’t sufficient monies in sure information in sure corporations to pay medical claims,’ Collins mentioned. ‘We must simply get the shopper off the cellphone as quick as we might.’”

* * *

“Kansas as soon as required voters to show citizenship. That didn’t work out so nicely” [Associated Press]. “Kansas imposed a proof-of-citizenship requirement over a decade in the past that grew into one of many largest political fiascos within the state in current reminiscence. The legislation, handed by the state Legislature in 2011 and carried out two years later, ended up blocking the voter registrations of greater than 31,000 U.S. residents who had been in any other case eligible to vote. That was 12% of everybody in search of to register in Kansas for the primary time. Federal courts in the end declared the legislation an unconstitutional burden on voting rights, and it hasn’t been enforced since 2018. Kansas gives a cautionary story about how pursuing an election concern that the truth is is extraordinarily uncommon dangers disenfranchising a far better variety of people who find themselves legally entitled to vote. The state’s prime elections official, Secretary of State Scott Schwab, championed the thought as a legislator and now says states and the federal authorities shouldn’t contact it. ‘Kansas did that 10 years in the past,’ mentioned Schwab, a Republican. ‘It didn’t work out so nicely.’”

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

Covid Assets, 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 Common 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 handle 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 reviews); 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 secure on the market!

Transmission: Norovirus

“Norovirus circumstances are rising within the U.S., CDC information exhibits” [Axios]. Instances of a extremely contagious abdomen bug are rising throughout the U.S., based on new information from the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention (CDC). Norovirus may cause ghastly bouts of vomiting and diarrhea because of irritation of the of the abdomen and intestines, per the CDC. It’s additionally the primary explanation for foodborne sickness within the U.S., based on the well being company…. The virus typically spreads in ‘confined areas’ like cruise ships, day care facilities, and school dorms, the journal added.” • Tranmission is claimed to be droplet-based: Vomit, feces… So I needed to examine, “confined areas” being a purple flag–

“Aerosol Transmission of Norovirus” [Viruses]. “Norovirus (NoV) is a significant explanation for acute gastroenteritis outbreaks worldwide. A complete understanding of the transmission mode is of nice significance for the prevention and management of the NoV an infection. Presently, the transmission modes of NoV embrace contact, food-borne, water-borne and aerosol transmission. The primary three modes are extra frequent, whereas aerosol transmission is seldom reported…. NoV aerosol transmission typically happens concurrently with person-to-person transmission, together with the contact with contaminated people and contaminated environments. Subsequently, a rigorous investigation and evaluation are required when figuring out the transmission mode. There’s additionally an absence of normal sampling gear and procedures for viral aerosols, which hinders a greater understanding of the supply, focus, particle measurement, residence time, motion and distribution of viral aerosols. As well as, we have to set up an efficient in vitro tradition system to judge the infectivity of NoV aerosols, which is one other problem that that’s at the moment exists. At current, most circumstances of NoV aerosols are associated to vomiting, and diarrhea-related ones are much less frequent. Additional analysis is required to analyze the function of diarrhea and bathroom flushing within the transmission of NoV aerosols, together with the focus of aerosols in bathrooms and their infectivity. Latest reviews have indicated salivary transmission as a brand new mode of transmission [74]. Subsequently, it’s important to discover whether or not actions akin to coughing, speaking, sneezing and different behaviors of contaminated people contribute to the aerosol transmission of NoV. It’s essential to additional discover the aerosol transmission mechanism of NoV to supply a theoretical foundation for formulating prevention and management insurance policies.” • We don’t know as a result of we’re not checking. Can’t we not less than rule aerosol transmission out?

Retail: “Amazon sellers are in revolt over a brand new coverage they are saying hurts income and provides up guarded enterprise information” [Modern Retail]. ” Beginning March 10, 2025, Amazon will solely pay again sellers for the product manufacturing value, not the total retail value, which is how the e-tailer at the moment reimburses sellers for misplaced or broken objects. … What’s extra, in an effort to calculate the payouts, sellers have considered one of two choices. They will let Amazon decide the manufacturing value. Within the announcement, Amazon mentioned such estimates could be ‘primarily based on a complete analysis of comparable merchandise offered by Amazon, by different sellers and thru wholesale channel.’ Nonetheless, sellers who spoke to Fashionable Retail mentioned they’re anxious that this might result in inaccurate or low-ball estimates. Alternatively, sellers can present their manufacturing prices, akin to proof of value of sourcing, on to Amazon. For sellers, this raises critical privateness issues over how precisely their personal manufacturing value information can be used.” Certainly! Extra: “A Wall Road Journal investigation from 2020 discovered that Amazon has allegedly used information from third-party sellers to assist develop its private-label items. Manufacturers have claimed that Amazon copies their merchandise and undercuts them with costs that make it troublesome to compete. Amazon has since pulled again on its private-label enterprise to alleviate regulatory scrutiny. … To AmpliSell’s [Joshua] Rawe, Amazon sellers have two ‘intently guarded secrets and techniques’: one, their manufacturing value information. And two, who their producer is. ‘With Amazon saying, ‘Hey, give us your value,’ that’s like giving up your aggressive benefit to those sellers,’ Rawe mentioned. ‘They’re like, ‘Properly if I provide you with my value, you’re going to exit and work out find out how to supply it cheaper and create an Amazon model of my product.’ That’s each vendor’s worst concern.’” • Within the midst of being sued by FTC as a monopoly, too.

Healthcare

“Lengthy COVID Lawsuits Coming, however Not Prone to Succeed” [MedScape]. ” simply when COVID lawsuits seem like dwindling out, authorized consultants see a brand new lawsuit danger on the horizon — lengthy COVID claims. Whereas some say it’s uncertain the claims will succeed, the lawsuits might nonetheless create authorized complications for docs within the type of money and time. Lengthy COVID claims are outlined as complaints that allege {that a} prognosis of lengthy COVID was missed or delayed and that precipitated hurt or damage. Lawsuits can also embrace claims by which sufferers allege that they had been misdiagnosed as having lengthy COVID once they had been actually affected by one other situation. The chance of lengthy COVID lawsuits underscores the significance of physicians taking proactive steps to guard themselves from legal responsibility when treating sufferers who might need the situation, say authorized consultants. ‘There are authorized requirements that say new, unestablished scientific rules shouldn’t be first examined by a jury, they need to be acknowledged and established inside their [professional] space,” Kolbert mentioned. ‘Whereas we’re seeing lawsuits associated to lengthy COVID, I believe it’s actually placing the cart earlier than the horse, as a result of there must be societal recognition that we’re nonetheless studying find out how to outline and deal with lengthy COVID.’” • Perhaps, however once we depart the horse in entrance of the cart, nothing occurs both….

Class Warfare

“By default, capital will matter greater than ever after AGI” [Effective Altruism Forum]. “First: labour means human psychological and bodily effort that produces one thing of worth. Capital items are issues like factories, information centres, and software program—issues people have constructed which might be used within the manufacturing of products and providers. I’ll use ‘capital’ to discuss with each the inventory of capital items and to the cash that may pay for them. I’ll say “cash” once I need to exclude capital items. The important thing financial impact of AI is that it makes capital a an increasing number of normal substitute for labour. There’s much less have to pay people for his or her time to carry out work, as a result of you’ll be able to exchange that with capital (e.g. information centres working software program replaces a human doing psychological labour).” • “All the time was.” Commentary:

Information of the Wired

Did we not focus on this subject in some unspecified time in the future? I used to gather charts like this. Like when actual wages flattened.